The Times’ NBA rankings

Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. ATLANTA: Hawks allow NBA-best 96.1 points a game, average 26.1 assists, second-best. NBA-best 15-game win streak. (1)

2. GOLDEN STATE: Out of Steph’s shadow: Klay Thompson has NBA-record 37-point quarter. Gotta be an All-Star. (2)

3. MEMPHIS: Marc and Pau Gasol are first brothers voted as All-Star starters. Will Zach Randolph join teammate Marc? (3)

4. CHICAGO: Derrick Rose goes off with rare obscenity-laden outburst. Afterward, Bulls beat San Antonio, win at Dallas. (9)

5. CLEVELAND: Are Cavs back on championship track after the sky was falling? They have won five straight games. (13)

6. CLIPPERS: Showing more enthusiasm for each other. Now they need to improve upon three-game win streak. (10)

7. PORTLAND: Good news for Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge postpones surgery for torn ligament in left thumb, will play. (4)

8. HOUSTON: Bad news for Rockets: Dwight Howard wore walking boot after injuring his right ankle at Phoenix. (5)

9. DALLAS: Mavericks not so good against the best in the West — just 2-8 against Western Conference playoff teams. (6)

10. WASHINGTON: John Wall voted in as starter for East All-Stars. Still leads NBA in assists, averaging 10.0 per game. (7)

11. TORONTO: Love above the border: Kyle Lowry becomes just the third Raptor voted in as an All-Star starter. (8)

12. SAN ANTONIO: Coach Gregg Popovich five wins shy of 1,000 for his career; he’s 995-460 in 19 seasons with the Spurs. (11)

13. PHOENIX: Suns can score, but not defend. They are third in scoring (107.1), but allow the third-most points (105). (12)

14. NEW ORLEANS: Need win streak to compete for playoff spot. Won back-to-back games for first time in a month. (16)

15. OKLAHOMA CITY: Thunder will board, but won’t pass much. Top-ranked in rebounds (46.6), 26th in assists (20.2). (15)

16. MILWAUKEE: Now losing games at home: Bucks 2-6 at Bradley Center since Dec. 22, 9-10 overall. (14)

17. MIAMI: Heat already has lost as many games at home (8-13) this season as in last two seasons combined of Big 3 era. (17)

18. DETROIT: Somehow, the Pistons are in East playoff race after a 5-23 start. They have gone 12-3 since Dec. 21. (22)

19. CHARLOTTE: Hornets are getting healthy. Al Jefferson returns after missing nine games with groin injury. (21)

20. BROOKLYN: Nets supposedly have weapons, but average only 95.5 points a game. Averaged 91.3 in losing nine of 11. (18)

21. DENVER: JaVale McGee suited up Friday, but still missed his 24th consecutive game because of lower left leg strain. (19)

22. INDIANA: Streaky losers: Pacers have had losing streaks this season of six, eight and now seven games. (20)

23. BOSTON: Winning the close ones: Celtics earned last-second victories last week at Portland and Denver. (26)

24. ORLANDO: Magic has a bright spot in center Nikola Vucevic, tied for NBA lead in double-doubles with 26. (24)

26. UTAH: Still searching for consistency. Haven’t won more than two straight all season, and that was a month ago. (25)

25. SACRAMENTO: DeMarcus Cousins fourth in scoring (24.2), third in rebounds (12.6), tied for first in double-doubles (26). (23)

27. LAKERS: What does future hold for Kobe Bryant and team? Has torn right rotator cuff; owed $25 million next season. (27)

28. NEW YORK: Knicks win! Knicks win! Knicks win! Season-high three-game winning streak. Who says they’re tanking? (30)

29. PHILADELPHIA: 76ers have lost eight of nine on the road by an average of 24.8 points per game. Back in tank mode? (28)

30. MINNESOTA: ‘Wolves lose anywhere. The team with the worst record in the NBA has lost 10 straight games at home. (29)