THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

Makr Heisler’s NBA Rankings and Comments:

GAME OF THE WEEK

SAN ANTONIO AT LAKERS

*--* Rank Team (rec.) Comment (last week’s ranking) 1 DALLAS(38-10) Oops: Playing Kings at home without Webber, making 13 threes, Mavericks still lose. (1) 2 SAN ANTONIO(33-16) Hornets offer Campbell. Spurs prefer cap space for Kidd, Olowokandi or Brad Miller.(4) 3 PORTLAND(32-16) If Trail Blazers don’t unravel, as they have, look out: In last 17 on road, they’re 14-3. (3) 4 LAKERS(24-23) Yes, they’re back. If Kobe keeps this up, he’s back on the MVP short list. (12) 5 SACRAMENTO(34-17) Oops: With Webber out until end of month, Kings slide into break on 3-6 fade. (2) 6 DETROIT(32-15) Chauncey Billups en fuego, averaging 17 since Jan. 1, shooting 44% on threes. (5) 7 INDIANA(34-15) Team President Walsh tells Thomas to knock off that everyone’s-out-to-get-us stuff. (6) 8 NEW JERSEY(34-15) He should get dissed more often: Martin averages 21 after All-Star snub. (7) 9 UTAH(29-20) Mailman happier than he has been in years, pulls scoring average back over 20. (8) 10 MINNESOTA(29-20) Garnett may not be a great scorer, but Timberwolves’ fire all flows from him. (9) 11 PHOENIX(29-21) Danger sign: Stoudemire’s agent drops him, upset by all turmoil around him. (10) 12 HOUSTON(26-22) Shaky road record (7-15) makes Rockets Lakers’ No. 1 target of opportunity. (11) 13 BOSTON(27-22) Baker out with “light-headedness.” Agent says he has been treated for depression.(13) 14 MILWAUKEE(25-23) The little rascals can still shoot: Bucks make league-best 39% of three-pointers.(15) 15 NEW ORLEANS(26-24) That’s so Elden: Campbell now the backup, isn’t expected to be re-signed.(16) 16 PHILADELPHIA(25-24) Brown says press blew his bad day out of proportion and he’ll stay, for moment.(14) 17 WASHINGTON(24-25) It’s more like MJ of old than old MJ as he goes for 45 vs. Hornets. (18) 18 ORLANDO(24-26) Magic always overachieved for Rivers, but now in major funk, 1-5 going into break. (17) 19 GOLDEN STATE(21-27) Most wins since ‘96-97. Dampier asks: “Are balloons coming down from ceiling?” (19) 20 NEW YORK(21-27) Desperate as usual to do something, Knicks shopping Sprewell, which is dumb. (20) 21 SEATTLE(21-27) Anderson has trade value -- for cap space -- because his deal’s almost up. (21) 22 CLIPPERS(17-32) So much for easy-to-re-sign theory: Odom says he’d love to be a Knick. (22) 23 TORONTO(14-34) Sign in stands: “Vince, Vince, he’s our man, if he can’t do it, LeBron can.”(27) 24 ATLANTA(19-30) Teams line up for Ratliff, Terry. If AOL could just find buyer for the team. (24) 25 CHICAGO(17-32) Hope of moving Crawford in package with Fizer ends as Marcus blows out knee. (25 26 MIAMI(17-32) Rebuilding, it’s not as much fun as it looks: Riley lashes out at refs again.(26) 27 MEMPHIS(13-35) West says Grizzlies need a star. They’ll have to wait until Gasol grows into one. (23) 28 DENVER(12-37) Next generation: Hilario outscores Chandler, 19-6, as Nuggets beat Bulls. (28) 29 CLEVELAND(10-40) Might be too wacky: Davis pulls a Rodman, takes off shoes after being subbed. (29)

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When -- Friday. Time -- 7:30 p.m. TV -- Fox Sports Net, ESPN.

Story line -- The Lakers comes out of the break with 11 of their first 14 games at home, including this interesting one. The Lakers have won 14 of 18. With 20-year-old Tony Parker averaging 18 points in January, the Spurs have won 19 of 25.