The Times’ NBA rankings: L.A. team in top 5, but it’s not Lakers

Records through Friday’s games

Top of the Pops

1. Miami (7-3) — Amazing how Dwyane Wade seems to get older after losses, younger after wins. (1)

2. San Antonio (7-2) — Maybe we should call it Top of the Pop(ovich). One spot away. (2)

3. Memphis (7-1) — Fastbreaking, not walking, in Memphis. Grizzlies first to beat Knicks. (6)

4. Oklahoma City (7-3) — Kendrick, never take on someone (Randolph) with dogs named Gucci & Prada. (3)

5. Clippers (6-2) — Four-game trip features first venture out of the cozy Pacific time zone. (4)

Climbing the charts

6. Boston (5-4) — Celtics mirroring stock market volatility. #buyrondo (5)

7. New York (6-1) — Seats suddenly opened up on bandwagon after first loss. (8)

8. Dallas (5-5) — Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman last played together when it counted . . . in Lithuania last fall. (7)

9. Denver (4-5) — Power forward Kenneth Faried had 20 rebounds to 18 for Heat starters in Thursday’s loss. (10)

10. Houston (4-5) — Kelvin Sampson 2-2 since stepping in during Kevin McHale’s leave of absence. (9)

11. Brooklyn (5-2) — Avery Johnson, the “Little General,” making The Association must-see TV. (12)

12. Chicago (5-3) — Best K.C. Johnson tweet: “Wish I had saved those ‘Draft Michael Beasley over Derrick Rose’ emails.” (11)

Stuck in the middle (without you)

13. Lakers (4-5) — Wonder who will be hosting the Buss family Thanksgiving dinner this year? (14)

14. Minnesota (5-4) — John Howard fulfills his Minnesota destiny. Only took nine years to get there. (15)

15. Indiana (4-6) — Pacers win round one of the Rick Carlisle derby. (13)

16. Milwaukee (5-2) — Next test for early road success (3-0) comes Monday at Charlotte. (16)

17. Philadelphia (5-4) — New Christmas game! Twelve days of Andrew Bynum’s haircuts. (18)

18. Golden State (5-4) — Standing headline: David Lee continues to defy his many critics. (17)

19. Utah (4-6) — The Salt Lake branch of the Clippers continues to struggle on the road (1-6). (19)

20. Atlanta (4-4) — Flu bug 2, Hawks 2. The ATL continues to completely own the Kings. (20)

21. Orlando (3-5) — Need a road win? Detroit conveniently landed on the schedule Friday night. (21)

22. Phoenix (4-6) — Future goal for Goran Dragic: Maybe Dwight Howard eventually will know both of his names. (25)

B-siders

23. New Orleans (3-4) — Biggest news comes off court as GM Dell Demps signs extension. (22)

24. Portland (4-5) — Damian Lillard doing best to keep rookie-of-the-year sweepstakes a two-man race. (23)

25. Cleveland (2-6) — Discovering that victory over the Clippers was actually a mirage. (24)

26. Charlotte (4-3) — League’s youngest player, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 19, averaging 11.1 points through Friday. (29)

27. Toronto (2-6) — Guard Kyle Lowry could be out for another week or maybe two with ailing ankle. (27)

Remainder bin

28. Sacramento (2-7) — Never too early for a closed-door team meeting after another loss. (26)

29. Detroit (1-9) — Around here, one win usually gets you one spot away from rock bottom. (30)

30. Washington (0-7) — Rock bottom meet Wizards. #freetrevorariza. (28)