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CAPSULES AND RANKING

Team (Record): 1. Chicago (34-4)

Comment: Tell Jason Caffey he’s in there again

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Team (Record): 2. Houston (30-9)

Comment: We’ll see where team is today (see below)

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Team (Record): 3. Lakers (28-12)

Comment: There’s another level they need to reach

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Team (Record): 4. Seattle (28-11)

Comment: So thin, team signed Terry Cummings, 35

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Team (Record): 5. Miami (28-10)

Comment: 19 road wins, five home losses

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Team (Record): 6. New York (27-11)

Comment: 11 road wins, four home losses

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Team (Record): 7. Utah (26-12)

Comment: Back on its usual 55-win pace

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Team (Record): 8. Detroit (28-9)

Comment: Amazing: No. 3 in point differential

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Team (Record): 9. Atlanta (25-11)

Comment: Local sights: Stone Mtn., Mt. Mutombo

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Team (Record): 10. Cleveland (21-16)

Comment: Couldn’t last and hasn’t

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Team (Record): 11. Charlotte (22-16)

Comment: Rice averaging 31 in January

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Team (Record): 12. Portland (21-17)

Comment: Beat Lakers on road, fell to Raptors at home

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Team (Record): 13. Washington (20-18)

Comment: For all hype, might win 45

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Team (Record): 14. Milwaukee (18-19)

Comment: Stalled; 3-8 since Christmas

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Team (Record): 15. Indiana (17-19)

Comment: Smits looks like this ain’t happening

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Team (Record): 16. Minnesota (17-21)

Comment: After 8-17 start

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Team (Record): 17. Orlando (15-19)

Comment: Hardaway shooting 38%, but he’s 8-3

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Team (Record): 18. Phoenix (14-25)

Comment: Welcome home, sailor

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Team (Record): 19. Clippers (14-22)

Comment: Lorenzen Wright?

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Team (Record): 20. Golden State (15-23)

Comment: Routs 76ers in Clueless Bowl

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Team (Record): 21. Sacramento (16-24)

Comment: One gun short of a posse

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Team (Record): 22. Toronto (13-24)

Comment: Stoudamire outduels Anderson in Portland

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Team (Record): 23. Dallas (13-23)

Comment: Got its kicks with 66 vs. Magic

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Team (Record): 24. New Jersey (10-26)

Comment: Calipari-Pack: problems?

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Team (Record): 25. Denver (10-29)

Comment: 8,072 to see Nuggets-Cavaliers

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Team (Record): 26. Boston (9-27)

Comment: New center: Antoine Walker

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Team (Record): 27. Philadelphia (8-29)

Comment: Coming hard on outside in Duncan derby

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Team (Record): 28. San Antonio (10-26)

Comment: Admiral had better heal faster

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Team (Record): 29. Vancouver (7-32)

Comment: Yet to discover defensive switching

GAME OF THE WEEK

CHICAGO AT HOUSTON

* When--Today. Time--11:30 a.m. TV--Channel 4.

Storyline--The Bulls bombed the Rockets eight days ago, 110-86, as Charles Barkley shot two for 11. Teammates urged him to show up this time--”If we had that kind of intensity from Fathead on Saturday, maybe we’d have won that [Bulls] game too,” Mario Elie said after Barkley had lit up the Knicks, “and write that so he’ll read it.” But Barkley probably won’t make it. He sprained an ankle in Wednesday’s game, sat out Friday’s and is questionable.