Miami — The 2026‑27 NBA season has begun with an unprecedented number of lopsided victories. After just over one‑tenth of the schedule, the league’s average winning margin stands at 13.8 points per game, eclipsing the previous record set in the 1949‑50 season (13.4 points). If the trend continues, this will be the fourth straight season in which the NBA sets a new victory‑margin record.
Blowouts dominate the early schedule
So far, 15 games have been decided by 30 points or more, while only 13 contests have been decided by three points or fewer. That disparity makes the current season the most one‑sided at this point in the past 60 years. Fourteen of the league’s 30 teams have not yet experienced a game decided by three points or less.
New Orleans Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley lamented his team’s 51‑point loss to the Golden State Warriors, calling it “a hard‑knocked” defeat. The loss marked the largest margin of the season to date. Chicago Bulls are being outscored by an average of 16.7 points per game, a figure that would set a new league‑worst record if it holds.
Other teams feeling the heat include the Charlotte Hornets, which have already suffered three defeats by at least 33 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks, who are being outscored by nearly 15 points per game and have endured three losses of 25 points or more. Milwaukee’s coach Taylor Jenkins framed the struggle as “an opportunity” rather than a setback, emphasizing the need for adjustments.
Close games remain scarce
The flip side of the blowout trend is a startling scarcity of tight contests. Only 13 games have been decided by three points or fewer, the fewest at this stage of a season in six decades. By comparison, there were 25 such games at the same point last season and 38 in the 2024‑25 campaign.
Atlanta Hawks lead the league in close‑game success, standing 2‑0 in games decided by three points or less. No other team has won more than one such game. The Pelicans (1‑2) and Brooklyn Nets (0‑2) are the only clubs to have lost more than one of these tight matchups.
Scoring at a historic pace
Three elite scorers are turning heads with their rapid point production. Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs are each averaging more than one point per minute of play.
Wembanyama’s recent 40‑point, 11‑rebound, nine‑block performance came in just 25 minutes against the Phoenix Suns, according to Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. Doncic is posting a 1.09 points‑per‑minute rate, while Curry sits at 1.07. Only Wilt Chamberlain has previously achieved a full‑season point‑per‑minute average, doing so in 1961‑62 with 1.04 points per minute.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised Curry’s consistency, noting the veteran is now on a six‑game streak of at least one point per minute.
What the numbers mean for fans
While early‑season statistics can swing dramatically, the current data suggest a season of dominant performances and few nail‑biters. Fans of teams on the losing end of blowouts may find hope in the coaches’ emphasis on growth and adjustment. Meanwhile, supporters of the league’s top scorers can look forward to more high‑octane offense as the season progresses.
As the NBA moves deeper into its schedule, the balance between dominant victories and tightly contested games will likely shape narratives around team resilience, coaching strategy, and player development.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
