THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

MARK HEISLER’S NBA RANKINGS, COMMENTS:

GAME OF THE WEEK

*--* No Team (Rec) Comment (last week) 1 SAN ANTONIO (21-10) They’re back: Spurs just went 12-0, even if none were vs. Lakers or Kings. (3) 2 LAKERS (20-7) Robin and his Merry Men, as Rick Fox called them, aren’t so merry now. (1) 3 SACRAMENTO (20-8) Oops: Now Webber’s return has been set back until mid-January, or February. (2) 4 MINNESOTA (19-10) Hudson, almost-hero of last spring, joins Timberwolves’ nifty little backcourt. (5) 5 INDIANA (21-10) Miller, who lays in weeds until spring, overdoing it at career-low 9.3 points. (4) 6 DALLAS (17-12) His next bright idea: Fort Worth paper says Cuban wants Rasheed Wallace. (7) 7 NEW ORLEANS (19-11) Mashburn a month away. Davis made 38% of threes last month, 21% this one. (6) 8 HOUSTON (16-13) Of course, if Shaq won’t guard Yao on pick-roll, it’s not such a mismatch. (8) 9 DENVER (18-11) Nuggets are an official success, having already won more than last season. (9) 10 NEW JERSEY (16-13) They just won eight of 10, so Byron Scott is safe, at least for another week. (15) 11 PORTLAND (14-13) Dump Wallace now or save $34 million in tax, salary by letting him go in summer? (12) 12 DETROIT (17-13) Larry Brown turning another team around. Problem is, this one didn’t need it. (10) 13 UTAH (16-13) Expected fade didn’t materialize on long East trip as Jazz went 3-3. (13) 14 GOLDEN STATE (14-13) Wild West: Warriors were No. 12 before dumping Lakers, Kings last week. (16) 15 MEMPHIS (15-15) With Jason Williams out and Earl Watson starting at point, Grizzlies went 7-2. (11) 16 TORONTO (14-14) Carter once shot 6.7 free throws a game, now at 5.6. Raptors say it’s the refs. (14) 17 CLIPPERS (12-13) Maggette No. 3 in free-throw attempts at 8.4 a game, and it’s not the refs. (17) 18 SEATTLE (13-14) Ray Allen returns. Just what SuperSonics needed, another shooting guard. (19) 19 MILWAUKEE (15-14) Another expected fade that’s sure taking its time materializing. (21) 20 BOSTON (15-15) Help wanted: Pierce leads Celtics in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals. (20) 21 PHILADELPHIA (14-15) No. 2 pick, Ashton Kutcher look-alike Kyle Korver, at 56% on threes this month. (18) 22 MIAMI (12-18) Lost among all the Heat’s wing players is Caron Butler, averaging 4.5 points. (23) 23 PHOENIX (10-20) Stoudemire, who was supposed to be back by now, out until mid-January. (22) 24 NEW YORK (12-19) Oops: Sprewell gets 31 in Garden and taunts Dolan in Thomas’ debut. (24) 25 CLEVELAND (9-21) OK, where are people who dogged him? James averaged 28 in last nine. (25) 26 CHICAGO (9-20) Skiles now 5-8 as city goes right from Da Bears season to Da Cubs season. (26) 27 WASHINGTON (8-20) So much for that front line of future: Brown, Haywood lose starting jobs. (27) 28 ORLANDO (8-23) Good news: Trying again. Bad news: Magic players waited until they were 1-19. (29) 29 ATLANTA (8-23) 2-12 December wraps up yet another season in the Land the NBA Forgot. (28)

*--*

DENVER at CLIPPERS

When -- Wednesday. Time -- 6:30 p.m. TV -- Fox Sports Net.

Story line -- This New Year’s Eve special matches two teams with exciting young players and entertaining styles. The Nuggets, who have a lot more going than Carmelo Anthony, are 13-6 since their 5-5 start. The Clippers have a lot more going than last season’s gloomy crew and are 6-2 since their 6-11 start.