THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS, COMMENTS:

No. Team (Rec.) Comment (last week’s rank)

1 SACRAMENTO

(45-16) After stories of doom on knee, Webber gets 26 points, 12 rebounds in 30 minutes. (1)

2 INDIANA

(46-16) Bionic Artest, supposedly out six weeks for thumb surgery, back in 12 days. (3)

3 MINNESOTA

(44-18) Almost dumped, Olowokandi impresses enough to get starting job back. (2)

4 SAN ANTONIO

(42-21) Not that they’d want to try it longer than a week: Spurs went 4-1 without Duncan. (4)

5 LAKERS

(40-21) Just in case you were wondering if things could get any worse ... (5)

6 DALLAS

(39-22) Maverick routs at Minnesota, San Antonio after 19-4 run show it’s still just them. (7)

7 NEW JERSEY

(38-23) What, them worry? With 11-game lead in division, Nets lock up No. 2 seeding. (6)

8 DETROIT

(40-25) Had to happen: Brown down on both of teams’ “stars of future,” Prince, Okur. (8)

9 HOUSTON

(35-26) Shaq, Lakers and their fans may not be ready for a new day, but it’s here. (9)

10 MEMPHIS

(38-24) Still flying under the radar, Grizzlies have gone 32-16 since 6-8 start. (10)

11 DENVER

(33-30) On calling the Nuggets a playoff lock: Chick took a few out of refrigerator too. (11)

12 MILWAUKEE

(33-29) Trading Thomas opens playing time for Mason, averaging 19 over last five. (13)

13 NEW ORLEANS

(33-29) Mashburn-Davis tandem doesn’t work? In 17 games team is 8-9. (12)

14 UTAH

(31-32) Jaded former yahoo fans go wild as their little nobodies win five of six. (15)

15 PORTLAND

(30-32) Return of Jail Blazers: Wells, Wallace win there on successive nights. (14)

16 NEW YORK

(28-35) Houston back, 7 of 11 at home with road games vs. 76ers, Wizards, Bulls. (18)

17 CLEVELAND

(27-36) Rookie race is heating up, but if Cavaliers make playoffs, it has to be James. (20)

18 CLIPPERS

(25-36) Pressure’s off, but not quite a honeymoon with close losses making them crazy. (16)

19 GOLDEN STATE

(25-35) Van Exel to have knee surgery, preparing for next season (and next team.) (17)

20 SEATTLE

(27-35) There’s something called “the trap of the middle,” and SuperSonics are in it. (21)

21 MIAMI

(27-36) When Wade stops getting hurt, you’ll see something, but it happened again. (19)

22 BOSTON

(27-36) Ainge wants lottery pick, but it’s not easy to fall out of the race in the East. (24)

23 TORONTO

(26-36) Ace GM Grunwald just got team needing size Dion Glover, Rod Strickland. (22)

24 PHOENIX

(21-42) Out of the playoff race, but hoping to remain in the picture for Bryant. (25)

25 PHILADELPHIA

(25-38) This one’s definitely in refrigerator and the Jell-O isn’t even jiggling. (23)

26 WASHINGTON

(20-40) After 12 games, Stackhouse asks to shut it down. GM Grunfeld: Not so fast. (26)

27 CHICAGO

(18-44) Skiles looks as if he’s tanking as Linton Johnson, Ron Dupree play in crunch. (27)

28 ATLANTA

(20-42) Looking at it on the positive side, the Lakers just made the Hawks’ season. (29)

29 ORLANDO

(18-46) Never say die, but OK to say “rest”: McGrady says back may sit him down. (28)

*

GAME OF THE WEEK

NEW JERSEY at LAKERS

When -- Today. Time -- 12:30 p.m. TV -- Channel 7

Story line -- The Lakers have become an incredible high-wire act and Someone Up There keeps shaking the wire.