Early in the 2026-27 NBA season, blowout victories have been far more common than closely contested games, according to an Associated Press analysis by Tim Reynolds.
The trend marks a notable shift from recent seasons, where a higher proportion of games were decided by single-digit margins. Through the first weeks of the campaign, a significant majority of matchups have been decided by large margins, while games decided by narrow margins remain rare.
Analysts suggest the disparity may reflect roster imbalances, scheduling quirks, or strategic adjustments as teams adapt to new rules and player movement. The pattern will be monitored closely as the season progresses to determine whether it persists or normalizes.
