NBA Defense vs Small Forwards: Every Team Ranked (2026/27)
Statyx · Updated Nov 12, 2026
Over the last 30 days through Nov 12, 2026, the Utah Jazz allow the most points to small forwards, 31.8 per game, and the Detroit Pistons allow the fewest, 10.9. Every team below is ranked for what it allows to small forwards: rank 1 is the toughest defense and 30 the softest.
Every NBA defense vs small forwards, softest first
Per game over the last 30 days. The small number is the team's rank: 1 toughest, 30 softest.
| Team | GP | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | STL | BLK | TO | FG% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Jazz | 12 | 31.830 | 10.826 | 4.113 | 4.028 | 2.117 | 1.019 | 3.320 | 47.6%24 | 83.0%26 |
| Denver Nuggets | 10 | 29.629 | 9.922 | 5.722 | 4.028 | 1.13 | 0.814 | 2.310 | 45.9%22 | 87.5%29 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 12 | 29.628 | 12.930 | 6.325 | 4.130 | 2.014 | 1.629 | 3.625 | 45.7%21 | 78.9%20 |
| Sacramento Kings | 11 | 28.527 | 11.328 | 6.527 | 3.726 | 2.426 | 1.326 | 3.322 | 44.8%16 | 76.6%17 |
| Golden State Warriors | 12 | 28.526 | 9.721 | 5.823 | 3.723 | 2.427 | 0.811 | 3.829 | 45.6%20 | 90.6%30 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 13 | 27.725 | 10.724 | 5.721 | 3.827 | 2.628 | 1.019 | 3.727 | 45.3%18 | 68.2%6 |
| Toronto Raptors | 12 | 25.824 | 9.419 | 5.824 | 3.219 | 2.324 | 1.223 | 4.630 | 48.2%26 | 81.4%23 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 12 | 25.223 | 9.217 | 4.315 | 3.723 | 1.35 | 0.817 | 3.625 | 43.8%13 | 83.1%27 |
| Phoenix Suns | 11 | 24.922 | 11.829 | 7.230 | 3.422 | 2.119 | 0.816 | 3.728 | 38.1%1 | 68.9%7 |
| Houston Rockets | 12 | 24.621 | 9.520 | 4.517 | 2.69 | 3.030 | 0.43 | 2.613 | 44.9%17 | 72.0%10 |
| Miami Heat | 11 | 24.420 | 10.725 | 7.129 | 3.320 | 2.325 | 1.427 | 2.615 | 41.7%6 | 72.7%11 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 12 | 24.219 | 8.714 | 3.46 | 2.69 | 1.813 | 1.325 | 2.716 | 45.6%19 | 78.5%19 |
| Indiana Pacers | 12 | 24.017 | 9.217 | 4.416 | 2.711 | 2.829 | 0.78 | 3.219 | 42.2%7 | 68.0%4 |
| Washington Wizards | 13 | 24.017 | 10.423 | 6.528 | 2.12 | 2.223 | 0.818 | 2.918 | 49.2%27 | 76.5%16 |
| LA Clippers | 10 | 23.816 | 7.24 | 4.619 | 3.725 | 1.711 | 0.814 | 2.310 | 53.4%30 | 79.4%21 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 12 | 23.615 | 8.110 | 4.214 | 2.815 | 2.221 | 0.31 | 2.817 | 42.2%8 | 74.1%13 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 12 | 23.514 | 8.815 | 5.120 | 2.918 | 2.117 | 0.811 | 3.320 | 43.5%11 | 81.8%24 |
| Boston Celtics | 12 | 22.212 | 10.927 | 6.426 | 3.321 | 1.812 | 1.629 | 3.323 | 39.4%3 | 66.7%3 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 12 | 22.212 | 7.99 | 3.912 | 2.47 | 1.69 | 0.811 | 3.524 | 44.0%14 | 75.0%14 |
| Orlando Magic | 11 | 21.011 | 7.35 | 3.69 | 2.713 | 2.222 | 1.224 | 2.512 | 47.7%25 | 75.5%15 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 12 | 18.810 | 8.312 | 3.710 | 2.815 | 2.014 | 0.78 | 2.613 | 47.0%23 | 68.0%4 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 11 | 18.79 | 8.311 | 3.58 | 2.35 | 1.58 | 0.55 | 1.52 | 43.5%10 | 72.9%12 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 12 | 18.78 | 8.513 | 3.34 | 2.814 | 1.69 | 1.528 | 2.39 | 43.6%12 | 76.7%18 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 11 | 18.47 | 7.98 | 4.518 | 2.917 | 2.014 | 0.54 | 2.28 | 44.0%15 | 71.0%9 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 13 | 17.76 | 9.216 | 2.83 | 2.24 | 1.46 | 1.019 | 1.96 | 43.1%9 | 69.6%8 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 12 | 17.45 | 7.23 | 3.46 | 2.711 | 1.02 | 0.31 | 1.84 | 51.0%28 | 84.0%28 |
| New York Knicks | 11 | 17.04 | 6.52 | 3.45 | 2.58 | 1.57 | 1.019 | 1.52 | 40.5%4 | 64.9%2 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 11 | 15.73 | 7.57 | 3.911 | 2.46 | 2.119 | 0.55 | 2.07 | 39.3%2 | 80.6%22 |
| Chicago Bulls | 10 | 13.82 | 7.46 | 2.72 | 2.23 | 0.91 | 0.710 | 1.21 | 52.6%29 | 63.6%1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 11 | 10.91 | 5.31 | 1.91 | 1.81 | 1.24 | 0.67 | 1.95 | 41.0%5 | 82.4%25 |
Softest and toughest defenses vs small forwards
- Most points allowed: the Utah Jazz (31.8 per game); the Detroit Pistons allow the fewest (10.9).
- Most rebounds allowed: the New Orleans Pelicans (12.9 per game); the Detroit Pistons allow the fewest (5.3).
- Most assists allowed: the Phoenix Suns (7.2 per game); the Detroit Pistons allow the fewest (1.9).
- Most threes made allowed: the New Orleans Pelicans (4.1 per game); the Detroit Pistons allow the fewest (1.8).
- Most steals allowed: the Houston Rockets (3.0 per game); the Chicago Bulls allow the fewest (0.9).
- Most blocks allowed: the Boston Celtics (1.6 per game); the Dallas Mavericks allow the fewest (0.3).
- Forces the fewest turnovers: the Toronto Raptors (4.6 per game); the Chicago Bulls forces the most (1.2).
Using defense vs small forwards on a player prop
Start from the player's own numbers: his recent minutes, his role and his line. Then look at his opponent here. A defense in the bottom ten for points allowed to small forwards has given up more than most to players in his spot over the last month, which is a reason to look closer at an over; a top ten defense is the opposite.
Defense vs position is one input, not a pick. A month is a small sample, injuries change who a team puts on small forwards, and the player's minutes matter more than the matchup. Each NBA game page shows the same rank for the matchup.
How this is counted
For each defense we take every game it played in the last 30 days and add up what its opponents produced, player by player, by each player's listed position, from official box scores. The table shows the per game average and the team's rank among all 30. It is rebuilt as each night's box scores come in; this version runs through Nov 12, 2026.
NBA defense vs small forwards: questions
- Which NBA team allows the most points to small forwards?
- The Utah Jazz, 31.8 per game over the last 30 days through Nov 12, 2026. The Detroit Pistons allow the fewest, 10.9.
- Which NBA team allows the most rebounds to small forwards?
- The New Orleans Pelicans, 12.9 per game over the last 30 days through Nov 12, 2026. The Detroit Pistons allow the fewest, 5.3.
- Which NBA team allows the most assists to small forwards?
- The Phoenix Suns, 7.2 per game over the last 30 days through Nov 12, 2026. The Detroit Pistons allow the fewest, 1.9.
- Which NBA team allows the most threes made to small forwards?
- The New Orleans Pelicans, 4.1 per game over the last 30 days through Nov 12, 2026. The Detroit Pistons allow the fewest, 1.8.
- How is defense vs position counted?
- Every game a defense played in the last 30 days, with each opposing player counted at his listed position. The numbers are what all of that team's opponents at the position produced per game, from official box scores. Rank 1 is the toughest defense and 30 the softest; for turnovers, forcing more ranks tougher.
- Is this table free?
- Yes. The table is free to read. The same ranks appear on each NBA game page, in the Trend Zone and in each player's Position Defense panel.