What happened: The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers hold the top records in their respective conferences three weeks into the 2026-27 NBA regular season. Los Angeles leads the Western Conference at 10-2 after earning a 124-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. Philadelphia paces the Eastern Conference at 9-2 following a 127-121 win against the Chicago Bulls.
Why it matters: The standings mark early validation for both rosters after LeBron James departed the Lakers in free agency during the offseason. Luka Doncic has guided Los Angeles to the West's best record, while James has helped propel Philadelphia to the summit of the East. Both clubs have established early separation at the top of their conferences through the first dozen games.
By the numbers: The Lakers lead the Western Conference at 10-2 with a six-game winning streak through 12 games. The 76ers pace the Eastern Conference at 9-2 through 11 games.
What to watch: Philadelphia hosts the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night in a meeting between the Eastern Conference's top two seeds. Los Angeles looks to extend its winning streak to seven games in its next outing.