HOW THEY RANK

Broderick Turner ranks the 30 teams. Last week’s ranking in parentheses; statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. GOLDEN STATE: Five-game win streak ends at Denver as Curry, Thompson, Iguodala and Bogut rest. (2)

2. ATLANTA: Hawks still haven’t lost three straight games all season and have lost two in a row just three times. (1)

3. CLEVELAND: Is Kyrie Irving best-ever Robin for LeBron James’ Batman? Career-high 57 at Spurs raises question. (5)

4. PORTLAND: Trail Blazers are just 15-14 on road, with next five at Toronto, Washington, Miami, Orlando, Memphis. (3)

5. SAN ANTONIO: Despite loss to Cavaliers at home, hot Spurs have won six of seven and are 24-8 at AT&T Center. (7)

6. MEMPHIS: After 1-3 trip, Coach David Joerger says his team has some “complacency going on.” Still No. 2 in West. (4)

7. HOUSTON: Someone has to rebound. Rockets give up 38 offensive rebounds in back-toback losses, 22 to Utah. (6)

8. CLIPPERS: Desperately need Blake Griffin (elbow), Jamal Crawford (calf) back. Team says Griffin closer than Crawford. (8)

9. CHICAGO: Rookie Nikola Mirotic giving much-needed lift, averaging 20.1 points, 8.6 rebounds this month. (9)

10. NEW ORLEANS: Keeping pressure on Thunder for final playoff spot in West. Pelicans are tied with OKC for eighth. (16)

11. TORONTO: Home cooking: Raptors lose three straight on the road, win first game back at home, where they are 22-11. (10)

12. WASHINGTON: Showing signs of life again, winning last two (Charlotte, Memphis) by an average of 23 points. (14)

13. OKLAHOMA CITY: Westbrook still on a tear, gets sixth triple-double in eight games to keep team in playoff picture. (11)

14. INDIANA: NBA-best 9-1 since All-Star break. May soon get Paul George (leg) back to help solidify playoff spot. (17)

15. DALLAS: Just who are the Mavericks? Got whipped by 33 points by Cleveland, beat the Clippers by 30 in next game. (12)

16. MILWAUKEE: Bucks are 15-19 in road games, including 0-3 this month. Next two are at Memphis, New Orleans. (15)

17. CHARLOTTE: Kemba Walker back after missing 18 games (knee) as Hornets try to keep playoff spot in East. (13)

18. PHOENIX: Sliding out of super-tough West playoff picture. Brandon Knight out with an ankle injury. (18)

19. MIAMI: Still fighting for playoff spot in East; Heat a halfgame behind Hornets for eighth and has Cleveland next. (19)

20. BOSTON: Celtics still in playoff hunt in East after winning three straight games and five of six. (20)

21. UTAH: May have found a center, as Rudy Gobert averages 10.2 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.5 blocks in 17 starts there. (23)

22. DENVER: Nuggets 5-2 since interim Coach Melvin Hunt replaced Brian Shaw. Beat Warriors and Hawks. (24)

23. BROOKLYN: Playoff chances fading in East after fifth consecutive loss. Seventh-worst scoring team (96.3) in NBA. (22)

24. DETROIT: Clinched seventh straight losing season; Andre Drummond, NBA’s No. 2 rebounder (13.4), a bright spot. (21)

25. SACRAMENTO: Losing to the 76ers guaranteed that the Kings will have their ninth consecutive losing season. (26)

26. ORLANDO: Can’t win away from home. Magic’s road losing streak at 10 games; its last road win was two months ago. (25)

27. LAKERS: Back to their losing ways, having dropped six of seven. At least that helps their lottery chances. (27)

28. PHILADELPHIA: Rallied from 18 down to beat Kings. Not bad for a team averaging NBAlow 90.7 points per game. (29)

29. MINNESOTA: Young team still not playing any defense; allowing an NBA-high 105.4 points per game. (28)

30. NEW YORK: Finally beat a Western Conference team this season. Of course it was only the lowly Lakers. (30)