NBA power rankings

Michael Lee evaluates the best teams in the National Basketball Association.

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1. Oklahoma City

The Thunder appears set to finish as the top seed in the West, especially now that they have three players capable of scoring 30 points (in the same game). James Harden is making a stronger case to claim sixth man of the year after scoring a career-high 30 in a win over Phoenix. Last week: 2

Sue Ogrocki / AP

2. Chicago

The Bulls had their eight-game losing streak come to an end at home against Orlando, but they have greater concerns now that all-star forward Luol Deng is struggling because of a torn ligament in his left wrist that he has been playing with for more than a month. Last week: 3

Charles Cherney / AP

3. Miami

The Heat streak of 456 regular season games with a three-pointer was snapped this week. Despite shooting 0-for-10 from beyond the arc against Atlanta, Miami still won. The return of Chris Bosh following the death of his grandmother should ensure more wins. Last week: 1

Andrew Innerarity / REUTERS

4. San Antonio

Manu Ginobili and T.J. Ford have both returned from injuries to the underrated Spurs, who finally have their full complement of healthy players for the first time in two months. Ginobili had 17 points and six assists in a win over New York. Last week: 4

Darren Abate / AP

5. Memphis

Zach Randolph is close to returning: He is back participating in full contact practices with the Grizzlies and traveling with the team on their current three-game road trip. Memphis was 1-3 with Randolph this season, but has figured out how to win in absence. Last week: 9

LANCE MURPHEY / REUTERS

6. Orlando

Just another wacky week in Dwight Howard’s Magic Kingdom. Two days after blowing a 20-point lead and losing to Charlotte, the NBA’s worst team, Orlando defeated Chicago, which entered the game with the NBA’s best record. Last week: 7

Charles Rex Arbogast / AP

7. Indiana

After returning from his first all-star appearance, Roy Hibbert struggled in his next four games, missing 16 of 26 field goals. But another concern for the Pacers is that they lost seven straight games against teams with winning records. Last week: 5

Dave Martin / AP

8. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers lost eight of first 15 games after Chauncey Billups was lost for the season with a ruptured left Achilles tendon. Caron Butler is certainly starting to feel the affect. He scored a combined two points in losses to Minnesota and New Jersey. Last week: 6

LM Otero / AP

9. Philadelphia

Former No. 2 overall pick Evan Turner has been inserted into the starting lineup in favor of Sonny Weems and responded with 12 rebounds in a loss to Milwaukee and a career-high 26 points – his first double-digit scoring game in a month – in a win over Boston. Last week: 10

Alex Brandon / AP

10. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers went from believing they were championship contenders after defeating Miami at home, but have started finger-pointing and blaming Coach Mike Brown after losing consecutive road games to the lowly Pistons and Wizards. Last week: 8

Rob Carr / GETTY IMAGES

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

A protestor in a Guy Fawkes mask walks past razor wire outside a security perimeter of the G-8 summit in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland on Monday, June 17, 2013. The summit is taking place under heavy security, with some 7,000 police lining roads and checking vehicles. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

Photos of the day

G-8 summit, massive protests rock Brazil, Britain’s Royal Ascot and more.

Two-year old male rat named Dyatlik wears a costume during a rodent exhibition in Minsk, Belarus, Saturday, June 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Animal views

Rodent exhibition, swimming with elephants, Mexico’s feline mayoral candidate and more.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: Johnathon Carrington, valedictorian at Dunbar High School, laughs with family and friends after his school's graduation ceremony at Howard University on Friday, June 14, 2013, in Washington, DC. Carrington, who grew up in Tyler House public-housing apartments and is graduating from one of DC's low-performing high schoolsy, where academic expectations are high. (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Johnathon’s journey

Johnathon Carrington graduated Friday as the valedictorian of his neighborhood school, Dunbar High, and is headed to Georgetown University. But Carrington, 17, is nervous, and so are...

U.S. actress Sandra Bullock poses for the media during a photocall to promote her latest move 'The Heat' in Berlin June 18, 2013. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)

Eye on entertainment

Sandra Bullock, Jessica Sanchez, Snooki, Billy Porter, Billy Crystal, Sean Hayes, Gwen Stefani and other celebrities.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 16: Reenactors dressed as knights stage a medieval jousting competition at Eltham Palace on June 16, 2013 in Eltham, England. The 'Grand Medieval Joust' event at Eltham Palace, an English Heritage property which was the childhood home of King Henry VIII, aims to give a great insight into life at the palace during the medieval period. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

The Grand Medieval Joust

The Grand Medieval Joust at Eltham Palace, an English Heritage property that was the childhood home of King Henry VIII, aims to lend insight through reenactment into life at the palace...

In this June 8, 2013 photo, youth compete in the Sao Carlos slum local soccer tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The pitch is just dirt and the incandescent lights aren't so bright. But when the boys' feet strike the football in the Sao Carlos slum as night falls every Saturday, big league dreams glow, inflated by the hope of escaping the shantytown with sporting skills. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Brazil’s other soccer fields

With the Confederations Cup opening this week and the World Cup one year away, all eyes are on Brazil, where soccer is arguably played with more passion and art than anywhere else....

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: John F. Tatum Sr. hugs his grandson John F. Tatum III during his annual Father's Day block party on Sunday, June 16, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post)

Father’s Day picnic in Northeast D.C.

A decades-old backyard barbecue in Northeast Washington draws hundreds in honor of dads everywhere. “It’s off-the-chain fun,” says Butch McNair, who has worked one...

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 16: Miss Connecticut USA Erin Brady reacts after being crowned Miss USA during the 2013 Miss USA pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on June 16, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Miss USA 2013

Miss Connecticut USA Erin Brady is crowned Miss USA 2013 in Las Vegas.

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