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CAPSULES AND RANKING

Team (Record): 1. Chicago (42-6)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Looking bad for us doomsayers. Bulls are one game off last season’s pace. (1)

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Team (Record): 2. Lakers (35-13)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): So far, so good. They aren’t where they need to be, but they’re better than they were. (2)

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Team (Record): 3. Miami (36-12)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Riles has bad news for Checketts. He’s got 24 road wins, only nine away games left. (4)

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Team (Record): 4. Detroit (34-12)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Pistons can’t be this good, but after the first half they had, they deserve it. (9)

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Team (Record): 5. Utah (33-14)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Jazz went back to Seattle, beat SuperSonics again. One more home win for 4-0 sweep. (7)

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Team (Record): 6. Houston (32-16)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Lost six, Drexler’s out six weeks. Rockets better get No. 8 spot, rest those old guys. (3)

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Team (Record): 7. Seattle (32-15)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Karl is talking about Nate McMillan’s return as if he’s Magic Johnson. (5)

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Team (Record): 8. New York (34-14)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Larry Johnson, who has a 19-point average, has scored that many twice this season. (6)

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Team (Record): 9. Atlanta (31-15)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Bench (Newbill? Boyce?) keeps Hawks from going higher as they await Henderson. (9)

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Team (Record): 10. Orlando (24-20)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Seikaly, who won comeback player award once, has averaged 20-10 since Dec. 1. (12)

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Team (Record): 11. Charlotte (29-19)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): How do you start Muggsy Bogues, Tony Smith and are sixth-best in East? (10)

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Team (Record): 12. Cleveland (25-22)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): All-Star hosts prepare huge bash for guests who have been ordered to attend. (12)

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Team (Record): 13. Portland (25-23)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Jail Blazers lose last five. They should see Rodman’s shrink this weekend. (11)

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Team (Record): 14. Minnesota (23-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): After an 8-17 start, T-Wolves are 15-8, within six wins of franchise record. (16)

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Team (Record): 15. Indiana (23-23)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Larry Brown wants to trade everyone, but management ain’t going for it. (17)

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Team (Record): 16. Milwaukee (21-26)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Bucks are 6-14 since Christmas. Let’s hope Santa brought them parachutes. (15)

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Team (Record): 17. Washington (22-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): If only Bullets would let Chris Webber run the show, as Coach Fish did at Michigan. (14)

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Team (Record): 18. Sacramento (21-28)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Win a few, lose a few. Kings are hoping Brian Grant’s return changes things. (19)

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Team (Record): 19. Clippers (19-25)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Great weekend: Rout Lakers, go 5-1, climb to seventh in West, no Fitch practices. (20)

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Team (Record): 20. Phoenix (17-31)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Braced for playoff run. Suns might as well, the Cavaliers have their No. 1 pick. (17)

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Team (Record): 21. Toronto (17-29)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Grizzlies finished ahead of one established team last season. Now they lead four. (22)

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Team (Record): 22. Denver (16-32)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Nuggets have won seven of 11, but they started 9-28 and it’s too late. (25)

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Team (Record): 23. Golden State (17-29)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Confirmed lottery reservation. Better pick someone who feels like playing. (21)

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Team (Record): 24. Dallas (16-28)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Nellie gets $7.5 million over five years. Not enough to preside over this crater. (23)

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Team (Record): 25. New Jersey (12-30)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Local favorite: Coach Calipari has gone from UMass to AMess. (24)

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Team (Record): 26. Philadelphia (12-34)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Coleman cleared to play, sits out with cut finger (no gag), bruised feelings. (28)

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Team (Record): 27. San Antonio (11-30)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Dominique Wilkins, 34, makes 11 starts, leads in scoring, second in rebounds. (26)

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Team (Record): 28. Boston (11-35)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): M.L. Carr, losing what little he had, chal lenges Mourning, Rozier to fights. (27)

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Team (Record): 29. Vancouver (9-42)

Comment (Last Week’s Rank): Stu Jackson gets first win, but it’s against the Celtics. Does that count? (29)

GAME OF THE WEEK

CLIPPERS AT SACRAMENTO

* When--Thursday. Time--7:30 p.m. TV--Channel 9.

* Storyline--It’s not really the biggest game. It’s not even the biggest local story, but it’s huge in Clipperdom, where they’re aching for their first playoff appearance in four seasons and third in 13 in Los Angeles. This starts a swing taking them to Phoenix on Friday, putting them up against two rivals for the Nos. 7 and 8 spots in two nights.