THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

GAME OF THE WEEK

MINNESOTA at LAKERS

*--* No Team (Rec) Comment (last week) 1 MINNESOTA (29-12) NBA’s hottest team? Try Timberwolves, who were 9-8 on Dec. 1, are 20-4 since. (4) 2 SAN ANTONIO (29-16) Ginobili may be game’s most exciting player but just lost job to Turkoglu. (2) 3 SACRAMENTO (30-11) Another kingpin goes on the road, where it won’t be winning three of four. (1) 4 INDIANA (33-13) Stop the bandwagon: People were getting excited till they lost last two. (3) 5 DETROIT (29-15) As well as they defend, Pistons don’t win when their guards don’t score. (5) 6 HOUSTON (25-17) Van Gundy bringing back old Knick gang: Ewing, Weatherspoon, Mark Jackson. (9) 7 DALLAS (27-16) Who’s next, Shawn Kemp? Just struck out trying to acquire Rasheed Wallace. (8) 8 DENVER (26-19) Amazing but true: Nuggets are past the halfway point, on a 47-win pace. (11) 9 MILWAUKEE (24-19) Amazing but true. Bucks are past the halfway point, on a 46-win pace. (12) 10 MEMPHIS (24-18) After 20 months on job, West’s new team trails old one by 2 1/2 in the West. (15) 11 NEW JERSEY (21-20) Forget vote of confidence, Scott can use extension as losing streak hits five. (6) 12 LAKERS (26-15) On bright side, this season they may get home-court advantage in first round. (7) 13 NEW ORLEANS (25-19) Hurry back, Jamal Mashburn, et al.: Just went 3-6 and Baron Davis is out too. (10) 14 TORONTO (20-21) Dropping like a rock with Artist Formerly Known as Vince hurting. (14) 15 SEATTLE (22-20) Small, light and hurt in training camp, Ridnour struggling with transition. (16) 16 BOSTON (22-23) Baker saga nearing end: Team can claim latest violation breached contract. (17) 17 CLIPPERS (18-23) After three games, Matt Barnes’ rebounds per minute were No. 2 in the league. (19) 18 UTAH (21-22) Without Malone, Stockton, Harpring and Kirilenko, they’re way overmatched. (13) 19 NEW YORK (20-26) Happily, they’re in East: After 15-24 start, 5-1 run gets them to No. 8. (21) 20 MIAMI (18-26) Rookie you have to see, Dwyane Wade, returns after missing 12 games. (22) 21 GOLDEN STATE (18-25) Not hard to see where this is headed: Veterans grumbling about Musselman. (23) 22 PHILADELPHIA (19-25) Uh-oh (cont.): Iverson says he feels teammates pointing fingers at him. (18) 23 PORTLAND (17-24) Trail Blazers, who have never been in lottery, warming up for their debut. (20) 24 PHOENIX (16-28) Forget cutting this guy for cap space: Johnson averaging 21 since trade. (25) 25 CLEVELAND (15-28) Better be good: Only $300K guaranteed in 2004-05 so they can drop McInnis. (24) 26 ORLANDO (12-32) Happily, they’re in East: Players insist they can make playoffs. No, really. (29) 27 WASHINGTON (13-29) Maybe they can win 25, after all: Arenas and Stackhouse due back after break. (28) 28 ATLANTA (13-31) Nets sold for $300 million. Hawks, Thrashers AND Philips Arena went for $250 million. (27) 29 CHICAGO (12-31) Skiles now 8-19. Bill Cartwright or Tim Floyd couldn’t have done that? (26)

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

You remember the Lakers? They used to be a good team that played here. Kobe Bryant is back and they hope Shaquille O’Neal is too so they can find out if they’re still in the Timberwolves’ class.