THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS, COMMENTS (Last week’s rank)

BIG THREE MINUS ONE

1. DALLAS (27-7): It’s in the stars: Nowitzki outscores Duncan, 36-18, as Mavericks win in San Antonio. (1)

2. PHOENIX (24-8): Only other member of an exclusive club: Just went 23-3, averaging 114. (2)

SECOND ECHELON

3. SAN ANTONIO (23-11): An 0-3 slide reawakens fears about advancing age, declining athleticism. (3)

4. UTAH (24-10): Had to happen: 7-5 after 17-5 start as Sloan auditions shooting guards. (4)

5. LAKERS (22-11): Even without old hops Kobe’s never been better, shooting 47% as assists zoom. (6)

6. HOUSTON (21-12): He’s b-a-c-k? Rockets go 5-1 as McGrady goes for 19-17-31-38-31-44. (10)

7. CHICAGO (20-14): Sixth-man prize renamed Ben Gordon Award: Just got 40-22-21-41 off bench. (5)

8. CLEVELAND (21-12): Larry Hughes, averaging 14, kicks it up to 19 over seven and they win six. (8)

9. DETROIT (19-12): 1-3 without Billups. Saunders says assistant Terry Porter looks “good to me.” (7)

10. ORLANDO (20-14): Brian Hill has them No. 5 on defense, No. 2 in opponents’ shooting. (11)

11. WASHINGTON (19-13): Big Three cooking again: Arenas, Butler, Jamison combine for 72 a game. (9)

MEANWHILE, IN BATTLE FOR NO. 7-8 SEEDINGS

12. MINNESOTA (16-15): Foye, lost for first six weeks, averages 14 as they go 4-1. (16)

13. INDIANA (18-16): Whole way less than sum of parts: O’Neal rant latest sign roster is split. (14)

14. GOLDEN STATE (18-17): Instead of Davis and Richardson, Davis, Matt Barnes and Monta Ellis? (15)

15. SACRAMENTO (14-17): Bibby dials in, shooting 53% over five after making 35% in first 25. (18)

16. MILWAUKEE (16-17): Bucks, who averaged 116 and went 5-0, average 102 and go 1-3. (13)

17. DENVER (16-15): 3-5 since brawl, with J.R. Smith back Monday but ‘Melo not until Jan. 22. (12)

LOST, REBUILDING OR IN ATLANTIC RACE

18. NEW JERSEY (14-19): 3-1 run gets them to within five games of .500 and tie for first in Atlantic. (19)

19. TORONTO (14-19): Bosh back as they beat Hawks, end 0-3 skid and move into first-place tie. (22)

20. NEW YORK (15-21): No longer (totally) lame: Went 2-3 out West, start three-game homestand. (20)

21. BOSTON (12-20): Bad news on Pierce “stress reaction”: Return date pushed back two weeks. (27)

22. PORTLAND (14-20) +: Lost at home to Bosh-less Raptors, Pierce-less Celts, post-Iverson 76ers. (21)

23. MIAMI (13-19): How low can they go? No. 11 in East with No. 12 Boston one game back. (23)

24. MEMPHIS (8-26): West appoints Barone to play kids. They go 2-2, averaging 120. (29)

25. NEW ORLEANS (12-21): Fun while it lasted: 1-5 since Chris Paul left, averaging 86. (25)

26. SEATTLE (13-23): GM says 3-13 dive has them all upset, putting Bob Hill on notice. (24)

27. CHARLOTTE (9-23): Just got McInnis, former Tar Heel, proven shot-maker and pain in neck. (26)

28. PHILADELPHIA (9-24) : Larry Brown returns as VP to help Billy King, who needs all he can get. (30)

29. ATLANTA (10-21): Even Billy Knight can’t mess up this draft, but I wouldn’t take chance. (28)

30. CLIPPERS (15-19): Not that they’re messed up, but that was Hawks’ second win in a month. (17)