Golden State More

1. Golden State Warriors (Record: 21-2; last week’s rank: 1): The Warriors are the ninth team in NBA history to start with a 21-2 record or better and play at Memphis and against the Thunder this week.









Memphis More

2. Memphis Grizzlies (Record: 19-4; last week’s rank: 4): The Grizzlies have a brutal schedule this week: Golden State, at San Antonio, Chicago and at Cleveland.









Portland More

3. Portland Trail Blazers (Record: 18-6; last week’s rank: 3): The Blazers play the Spurs on Monday for the first time since the defending champions ousted them from the playoffs.









Houston More

4. Houston Rockets (Record: 18-5; last week’s rank: 5). James Harden led Houston to an 8-3 record when Dwight Howard was out with a knee injury and leads the team in scoring, assists and steals per game.









San Antonio More

5. San Antonio Spurs (Record: 17-7; last week’s rank: 2): San Antonio faces Portland twice, Memphis, Dallas, the Clippers and Oklahoma City in its next six games.









Toronto More

6. Toronto Raptors (Record: 18-6; last week’s rank: 8): Toronto has been atop the East for a month. Kyle Lowry is the only player in the league averaging 21 points and more than 10 assists in December.









Dallas More

7. Dallas Mavericks (Record: 17-8; last week’s rank: 7) It’s uncertain how long Chandler Parsons will be out with lower back soreness. The Mavs host the Spurs on Saturday.









Los Angeles More

8. Los Angeles Clippers (Record: 16-7; last week’s rank: 6) The Clippers, who have lost two straight, are 15-2 when scoring 100 points or more and 1-5 when scoring less than 100.









Oklahoma City More

9. Oklahoma City Thunder (Record: 11-13; last week’s rank: 19): Here come the Thunder, winners of six straight. They are 6-1 since Kevin Durant returned from a broken foot.









Washington More

10. Washington Wizards (Record: 17-6; last week’s rank: 9): The Wizards have won four straight – the longest current winning streak in the Eastern Conference – and seven of their last eight.









Atlanta More

11. Atlanta Hawks (Record: 16-7; last week’s rank: 10): The Hawks’ next two games are against two fellow East contenders in Chicago and Cleveland.









Chicago More

12. Chicago Bulls (Record: 15-8; last week’s rank: 12): Add Doug McDermott (knee surgery) to the list of injured rookie lottery picks with Joel Embiid, Aaron Gordon and Julius Randle.









Cleveland More

13. Cleveland Cavaliers (Record: 13-9; last week’s rank: 11): Since scoring 37 points against New York on Dec. 4, Kyrie Irving has averaged just 14.4 points in his past five games.









Phoenix More

14. Phoenix Suns (Record: 12-13; last week’s rank: 15): The Suns have lost five straight and could soon get passed by the Thunder for the eighth spot in the West.









Milwaukee More

15. Milwaukee Bucks (Record: 12-12; last week’s rank: 15) The Bucks have scored 100 points or more in 12 of their last 14 games. The last time Milwaukee did that was in 1991.









New Orleans More

16. New Orleans Pelicans (Record: 11-12; last week’s rank: 16) Jrue Holiday has averaged 22.2 points and 8.4 assists the past four games. More will be needed if Anthony Davis (chest) remains sidelined.









Sacramento More

17. Sacramento Kings (Record: 11-13; last week’s rank: 13): Owner Vivek Ranadive fired head coach Michael Malone on Sunday. Malone was hired in June 3, 2013, 15 days before general manager Pete D’Alessandro.









Denver More

18. Denver Nuggets (Record: 10-14; last week’s rank: 17) The injury-riddled Nuggets have lost six of their last seven games. It won’t get any easier with the Rockets and Clippers up next.









Miami More

19. Miami Heat (Record: 11-13; last week’s rank: 18): Keep an eye on forward Chris Bosh, who missed his first game of the season in Sunday’s loss to Chicago with a slight calf strain.

Story continues