NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (record) Comment (last week’s position)

1. Lakers (29-5) After that one in Seattle, the road is apparently clear to 77-5. (1)

2. Portland (25-8) Trying to keep up: Trail Blazers go 6-1, lose game in standings to Lakers. (2)

3. San Antonio (23-12) Save our ship: Admiral gets back-to-back 20s for first time in seven weeks. (3)

4. Indiana (22-10) Pacers send Bender, Harrington to tell kids to stay in school. No, really. (4)

5. Utah (22-10) Slow and steady: Jazz No. 22 in scoring, No. 1 in efficiency, shooting 47%. (6)

6. Seattle (20-13) Better have Nurse Ratched make cocoa; the cuckoos are going to need it. (12)

7. New York (20-13) Controversies R Us hanging in there with what passes for Eastern elite. (7)

8. Miami (21-11) What home-court advantage? Heat loses in new arena to Grizzlies and Nets. (5)

9. Phoenix (19-13) Running out of suckers: Suns latest to turn down Rodman overture. (8)

10. Charlotte (18-15) Come back, Eddie: Hornets have gone 2-6 since Jones left the lineup. (9)

11. Toronto (18-14) Get over it: Grief-stricken Carter gets 14-13 after Dream Team snub. (10)

12. Sacramento (18-12) Jon Barry’s Bench Mob has outscored opposing subs in 20 of 30 games. (11)

13. Philadelphia (19-15) Happening at last: 76ers win four of five, are 18-11 since 1-4 start. (14)

14. Detroit (18-15) Hello, next level: Grant Hill averages 31.3 as Pistons win six in row. (17)

15. Milwaukee (19-15) Here’s how hard up they are: Bucks trying to deal for Ike Austin. (13)

16. Denver (17-15) Fat cat pays $280 million for stinko Mavericks, and Ascent still can’t find buyer. (15)

17. Minnesota (16-14) Malik Sealy, starting in Peeler’s place, averages 17 in Timberwolves’ 8-1 run. (16)

18. New Jersey (13-20) Oof: Casey says Jayson Williams might not make it back this season. (18)

19. Orlando (16-18) So Magic was overachieving, after all: Gutty no-names lose six of seven. (19)

20. Atlanta (12-21) Wilkens ill, sits out. Hawks insist he isn’t sick of team, it was flu. (21)

21. Cleveland (14-19) Cavalry limping over hill? Ilgauskas hopes to return by end of month. (22)

22. Houston (10-23) Why bother? Olajuwon is working out again, hoping to return this week. (24)

23. Dallas (10-23) Nellie losing it? Nose to nose with Mailman in duel of 275-pounders. (25)

24. Clippers (10-22) After breakout vs. Pacers, everybody better get off Olowokandi’s back. (26)

25. Vancouver (8-24) Players, who helped topple Brian Hill, start 4-6 under Lionel Hollins. (27)

26. Golden State (6-26) OK, maybe it wasn’t P.J.; Warriors play harder, but they’re 0-5 for Saint. (28)

27. Chicago (5-26) Just like glory days (almost): Kukoc returns and Bulls win three in row. (29)

28. Boston (14-18) Rebuilding program looking threadbare after Celtics’ second loss to Bulls. (20)

29. Washington (10-23) Time to back up the truck after losing twice in a week to then 2-26 Bulls. (23)

GAME OF THE WEEK

LAKERS at INDIANA

When--Friday Time--5 p.m. PST

TV--Channel 9, TNT

* Story line--The Lakers have barely been tested recently, hitting their stride just as the schedule teed up a row of clay pigeons in Staples, but now they’re on the road again, against one of the East’s best. This will be the Lakers’ first trip to the Pacers’ much-admired Conseco Fieldhouse, and it promises to be a hot night in the new barn.