Victor Wembanyama Shines, Luka Doncic Injured

With under two weeks left, the power rankings paint a season of contrasts: perhaps the deepest MVP race ever, rampant tanking that will reshape the draft, and playoff positioning up for grabs. San Antonio holds the top spot behind Victor Wembanyama and a hot team run, Oklahoma City lurks close, and the Lakers suffered a blow as Luka Dončić left a blowout early with a hamstring issue. At the bottom, teams like Washington, Brooklyn and Utah are openly chasing losses while rookies and role players flash promise. Merlin sees a league tilting between immediate title hopes and long futures. The Spurs look built for now, but injuries and a razor-tight MVP fight could rewrite narratives overnight. The tank will hand some teams real lottery leverage, and the next two weeks will feel like a crystal ball being shaken.