The Times’ NBA rankings

Broderick Turner ranks the 30 teams. Last week’s ranking in parentheses; statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. GOLDEN STATE: Closing in on franchise-best record, and on home-court advantage throughout West playoffs. (1)

2. CLEVELAND: Whether LeBron James is MVP or not, Cavaliers have lost just seven times in 35 games since Jan. 15. (2)

3. ATLANTA: Hawks, a No. 8 playoff seed last year, clinch top seed in East for just second time in franchise history. (3)

4. HOUSTON: Dwight Howard (knee) is back, but this is still the James Harden show. Rockets clinch playoff berth. (4)

5. CLIPPERS: Win sixth straight, clinch fourth straight playoff berth. But still need Jamal Crawford (calf) back. (6)

6. SAN ANTONIO: Here come those Spurs! They’ve won five of six, trying to move up in West standings. (5)

7. CHICAGO: Getting Jimmy Butler (elbow), Taj Gibson (ankle) healthy has helped Bulls win four of five, move up in East. (8)

8. MEMPHIS: Staggering to the finish line with back-to-back ugly losses, by 22 to Cavaliers and by 23 to Warriors. (7)

9. PORTLAND: Having LaMarcus Aldridge (finger) back helps Trail Blazers win two straight after five-game losing streak. (9)

10. OKLAHOMA CITY: Kevin Durant done for the season. Can The Energizer, Russell Westbrook, get team to playoffs? (12)

11. TORONTO: Raptors clinch second straight Atlantic Division title but are just 7-13 since the All-Star break. (11)

12. DALLAS: Big blow for Mavericks, losing leading scorer Monta Ellis (19.1 points per game) to right knee injury. (13)

13. WASHINGTON: Cooling at the wrong time. Wizards started season 31-15 but have gone 10-17 since, fallen to fifth in East. (10)

14. MILWAUKEE: Won back-to-back games over playoff contenders to get back to .500 and solidify hold on sixth spot. (16)

15. NEW ORLEANS: Pelicans keep playoff hopes alive by breaking four-game losing skid. Sitting in ninth spot in West. (15)

16. BOSTON: Play has been up and down, with two wins in six games, but Celtics still holding onto eighth playoff spot. (17)

17. BROOKLYN: Still fighting for a playoff spot. Nets have won six of eight and are just half a game out of eighth position. (22)

18. PHOENIX: Running out of time to get a playoff spot in West. Suns lose two straight and have only nine games left. (18)

19. MIAMI: Playoff hopes ride on health of guard Dwyane Wade, who’s playing with a balky left knee. (14)

20. INDIANA: Sliding in wrong direction for playoff spot in East. Pacers lose seven of eight after winning seven straight. (20)

21. CHARLOTTE: Wobbling down the stretch, losing eight of 10 to drop to 11th in East, but still 1 1/2 games from eighth spot. (21)

22. DETROIT: Reggie Jackson has two triple-doubles since joining Pistons, averaging 12.2 assists over last five games. (23)

23. DENVER: Nuggets playing better under interim Coach Melvin Hunt, going 8-6 since he took over for Brian Shaw. (24)

24. UTAH: Jazz playing out the string, has lost four straight games after winning seven of eight. (19)

26. ORLANDO: Where’s the defense? Magic has allowed at least 104 points in six of last seven, has lost nine of 10. (25)

25. SACRAMENTO: DeMarcus Cousins gives Kings something to hang hat on; second in NBA with 44 double-doubles. (26)

27. PHILADELPHIA: Nerlens Noel showing promise; career highs in points (30), rebounds (14) against Clippers. (27)

28. LAKERS: At 19-52, on pace for worst record in club history; ‘57-58 Minneapolis Lakers were 19-53, a .264 percentage. (28)

29. MINNESOTA: Andrew Wiggins pushing for the rookie of the year. Has four games with at least 30 points this season. (29)

30. NEW YORK: Tanks-R-Us: Knicks have already tied the franchise record for losses in a season. (30)