1. Indiana Pacers (27-6)

The Pacers, 7-1 since losing to the Heat, still lead the league in scoring defense (88.9). (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

2. Miami Heat (26-8)

Five different Raptors guarded LeBron James on Sunday. He scored 30 points anyway. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (27-7)

After starting the season 13-0 at home, the Thunder have dropped three of five in front of the home faithful. Russell Westbrook, meanwhile, is on crutches. (Photo by Richard Rowe/NBAE via Getty Images)

4. Portland Trail Blazers (26-8)

Portland is 13-4 at home, 13-4 on the road. Consistency is king. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)

5. San Antonio Spurs (26-8)

The Spurs lost at home to the Knicks last Thursday. Mind officially blown. (Photos by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)

6. Golden State Warriors (23-13)

The Warriors have won nine straight games and beat the Heat 123-114 in Miami thanks to 36 points from Stephen Curry. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

7. Los Angeles Clippers (23-11)

Losing Chris Paul’s league-leading 11.2 assists for six weeks is back-breaking. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

8. Phoenix Suns (20-12)

Phoenix is 11-3 over its last 14 games. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

9. Houston Rockets (22-13)

The Rockets are 9-8 since December 1. That’s not terrible, but that’s not championship-caliber, either. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

10. Dallas Mavericks (19-14)

The Mavs have lost four straight home games, which is something you can’t do when you’re a sub-.500 team on the road. (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

11. Atlanta Hawks (18-16)

The Hawks are just 3-3 since almost beating the Heat in Miami on Dec. 23. All three wins came against losing teams – by a combined five points, no less – and two of the losses were to losing teams, the Magic and Bulls, by seven points apiece. Not good. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

12. Toronto Raptors (16-16)

Toronto had won five straight before falling 102-97 to the Heat on Sunday, but the Raptors were competitive. Let’s see how they fare against the Pacers in Indy on Tuesday. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

13. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-17)

Minnesota lost at home to the Thunder 115-111 on Saturday. Kevin Love scored 30; Kevin Durant scored 48. (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)

14. New Orleans Pelicans (15-17)

A loss to the Heat on Tuesday would drop New Orleans to a season-high three games under .500. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

15. Memphis Grizzlies (15-18)

If not for a four-game winning streak in November, this team would be just about irrelevant. (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

16. Denver Nuggets (16-17)

After eight straight losses, two straight wins. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

17. Washington Wizards (14-17)

A losing record at home, a losing record on the road. That’s the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, folks. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)

18. Chicago Bulls (14-18)

Chicago, which has the worst offense in the NBA (91.3 points per game), jumped five spots in these rankings. That’s how bad the rest of the league is. (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

19. Detroit Pistons (14-20)

Detroit is actually better on the road (8-8) than at home (6-12). (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

20. Los Angeles Lakers (14-20)

The Lakers are 5-12 in their last 17 games. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

21. Charlotte Bobcats (15-20)

Charlotte is one of just two teams in the league yet to win a divisional game (Memphis is the other). Not exactly elite company. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

22. Brooklyn Nets (12-21)

Joe Johnson’s buzzer-beater against Oklahoma City will likely go down as the highlight of the season. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)

23. Boston Celtics (13-21)

Boston has lost four straight and seven of eight. (Photo by Richard Rowe/NBAE via Getty Images)

24. Philadelphia 76ers (12-21)

The 76ers have won four straight – all on the road – including a 101-99 win against Portland. The four-game winning streak makes Philadelphia the hottest team in the Eastern Conference. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

25. Utah Jazz (11-25)

Remember how the Jazz started 1-14? Well, they’re 10-11 ever since. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)

26. Sacramento Kings (10-22)

The Kings, who have the second-worst scoring defense in the league (104.5 points), have scored 105+ points in each of their last nine wins. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

27. New York Knicks (10-22)

Trading Carmelo Anthony for Blake Griffin would be a coup of epic proportions. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

28. Cleveland Cavaliers (11-23)

The Cavs are 1-8 in their last nine games. That one win came at home against the Magic in overtime. (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)

29. Orlando Magic (10-23)

The Magic opened November by winning three straight. They’ve since gone 7-21.
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

30. Milwaukee Bucks (7-26)

This feels like a college team. Three of the Bucks’ top four scorers – Brandon Knight, John Henson and Khris Middleton – are 23 or younger. (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)