Golden State More

1. Golden State Warriors (Record: 17-2; last week’s rank: 2): The Warriors, without David Lee, have opened with a franchise-best start. They have won 12 straight games and are 10-1 on the road.









San Antonio More

2. San Antonio Spurs (Record: 15-5; last week’s rank: 4): Center Tiago Splitter (calf), who has only played 10 minutes this season, could return Tuesday at Utah.









Portland More

3. Portland Trail Blazers (Record: 16-4; last week’s rank: 3): The Blazers, who have played 12 of 20 games at home, opened a five-game road trip Sunday at New York with their fourth consecutive win.









Memphis More

4. Memphis Grizzlies (Record: 16-4; last week’s rank: 1): The Grizzlies fell from the top spot after losing two of three, but are still off to the best start in franchise history.









Houston More

5. Houston Rockets (Record: 16-4; last week’s rank: 7). One sign that Dwight Howard (knee) could return soon: he took part in an intense workout Sunday, a source said.









Los Angeles More

6. Los Angeles Clippers (Record: 14-5; last week’s rank: 9) The Clippers have won seven straight games and nine of their past 10. Five of their next six games are against the East.









Dallas More

7. Dallas Mavericks (Record: 16-6; last week’s rank: 5): The Mavericks are 6-0 this season when forward Chandler Parsons scores at least 20.









Toronto More

8. Toronto Raptors (Record: 15-5; last week’s rank: 6): Toronto has allowed 100-plus points in seven straight games, which is the longest such streak during coach Dwane Casey’s tenure.









Washington More

9. Washington Wizards (Record: 13-6; last week’s rank: 10): The Wizards went 3-1 after point guard John Wall averaged 13.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds over the past four games.









Atlanta More

10. Atlanta Hawks (Record: 13-6; last week’s rank: 12): Atlanta is now tied for second in the Eastern Conference with Washington (1½ games behind frontrunner Toronto) after winning six straight games.









Cleveland More

11. Cleveland Cavaliers (Record: 11-7; last week’s rank: 14): LeBron James has earned a double-double in six of his last seven games, averaging 23 points and 10.1 assists in that stretch.









Chicago More

12. Chicago Bulls (Record: 12-8; last week’s rank: 8): Derrick Rose missed nine of 11 field-goal attempts in a loss to Golden State on Saturday and has shot 32.7 percent the past four games.









Phoenix More

13. Phoenix Suns (Record: 12-9; last week’s rank: 15): Isaiah Thomas (ankle), who averages 15.5 points per game, could return Monday against the Clippers after missing the past six games.









Sacramento More

14. Sacramento Kings (Record: 10-10; last week’s rank: 13): DeMarcus Cousins will be out another week after being diagnosed with viral meningitis and it’s uncertain when he will return.









Milwaukee More

15. Milwaukee Bucks (Record: 11-11; last week’s rank: 16): The surprising Bucks have come back to Earth, losing six of their past 10 games. A tough stretch against the West is up next.









New Orleans More

16. New Orleans Pelicans (Record: 9-10; last week’s rank: 18) Forward Anthony Davis is tied with Kobe Bryant and James Harden as the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 25.2 points per game.









Denver More

17. Denver Nuggets (Record: 9-11; last week’s rank: 17) Up-and-down Denver has lost three straight games following a 7-1 stretch. Next up: Toronto, Miami, Houston and San Antonio.









Miami More

18. Miami Heat (Record: 9-11; last week’s rank: 11): Miami has lost four straight while allowing opponents to average 107.7 points per game. The hot-scoring Suns are up next Tuesday.









Oklahoma City More

19. Oklahoma City Thunder (Record: 7-13; last week’s rank: 19): In case you were wondering, the Thunder is 4½ games out of the eighth and final West playoff spot with 62 games remaining.

Story continues