The Times’ NBA rankings
Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:
1. GOLDEN STATE: Curry fastest to 1,000 career three-pointers; Warriors have won 14 straight home games. (2)
2. ATLANTA: Hawks not afraid of the big, bad West. Just won nine straight games against Western Conference teams. (3)
3. PORTLAND: Solid on defense and offense. Ranked first in points allowed (96.1) and seventh in scoring (103.8). (1)
4. DALLAS: Routed at home by Pistons, but still have won six of last seven by averaging 109.1 points, 2nd-best in NBA. (5)
5. WASHINGTON: Guard John Wall tied for league lead in double-doubles (points-assists) with 21. Assists leader (10.3). (9)
6. HOUSTON: Leads NBA in three-pointers attempted and made, and still ranks fourth in defense, allowing 97.3. (8)
7. RAPTORS: Where’s the defense? Raptors have allowed more than 100 points during four-game losing streak. (7)
8. CHICAGO: Bulls need to warm up. They have averaged 95.1 points on 38.8% shooting in last seven games, going 4-3. (6)
9. MEMPHIS: Zach Randolph returned after missing nine games with right knee soreness; Grizzlies still lost six of 10. (4)
10. CLIPPERS: We’re talking about practice! Clippers practiced three times last week, went 2-1 afterward. (10)
11. SAN ANTONIO: Manu Ginobili suffered back spasms that forced him out, adding to list of issues for Spurs. (14)
12. PHOENIX: Sharing the wealth. Five players averaging at least 14 points a game, led by Goran Dragic’s 16.9. (13)
13. MILWAUKEE: Has five players averaging in double figures. Brandon Knight (18.1) leads team in scoring. (15)
14. CLEVELAND: Are the moves enough to please LeBron James? Cavs acquire Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Timofey Mozgov. (11)
15. NEW ORLEANS: In his return to the bench, Tyreke Evans produced 21 points, 10 rebounds. Sixth-man candidate? (16)
16. OKLAHOMA CITY: Friday was first time this season Durant, Westbrook scored at least 25 points in same game. (12)
17. MIAMI: Can somebody get a rebound here? Heat still worst rebounding team in NBA, grabbing 36.2 a game. (18)
18. INDIANA: Inching up to No. 8 playoff spot in East. Averaging six points more a game in last 14 games. (21)
19. BROOKLYN: Deron Williams out with fractured rib, Kevin Garnett resting; lost four straight after reaching .500. (17)
20. CHARLOTTE: Little Big Man. The 6-1 Kemba Walker has scored 29, 30, 33, 31 in four straight wins for Hornets. (27)
21. DENVER: Ty Lawson averaged 19.6 points, Arron Affalo 23 in last five games; Nuggets win four out of five. (20)
22. DETROIT: Addition by subtraction? Pistons went 5-23 before Josh Smith trade, then won seven in a row. (24)
23. SACRAMENTO: Defense is lacking. Kings give up the fourth-highest amount of points in the NBA, 104.2 a game (19).
24. ORLANDO: Bad combination — can’t score or rebound. Ranked 28th in scoring (93.6), 28th in rebounding (40.7). (23)
26. BOSTON: Total rebuild mode. Celtics trade Jeff Green to Memphis, Brandan Wright to Phoenix for draft picks. (22)
25. UTAH: Increased defensive intensity. Gave up 92.5 points a game in last 12 games, tops in NBA in that stretch. (25)
27. LAKERS: Went 1-1 last week when Kobe Bryant was resting. Lakers 2-3 overall when Bryant takes a break. (26).
28. PHILADELPHIA: Kings of the road — well, sort of. Five of 76ers’ six wins have come on the road. Go figure! (29)
29. MINNESOTA: Andrew Wiggins scored 20 points or more in six consecutive games, easily rookie-of-the year leader. (28)
30. NEW YORK: Bad numbers — 5: fans who wore bags at Knicks game; $1,700: price of their tickets; 14: losing streak. (30)
More to Read
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.