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

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 13: Many seminary graduates are choosing not to become pastors. Rebecca J. Cole received her Master of Divinity and is becoming a community organizer on Capitol Hill. She hugs another graduate after the ceremony. The 2013 Commencement ceremony for Wesley Theological Seminary was held on May 13 at the Washington National Cathedral. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

Eager to minister, but not from the pulpit

An increasing number of divinity students who don’t plan to become pastors envision using their degrees to “minister” in a...

ARLINGTON, VA- MAY 17: Thousands of bike enthusiasts took to the streets Friday, May 17, 2013 in celebration of Bike to Work day. Bikers leave the Rosslyn Gateway Park pit stop on Friday morning. Commuter Connections and The Washington Area Bicyclist Association hosted cyclists at 70 pit stops across the metropolitan region. (Photo by Amanda Voisard/For the Washington Post)

Thousands participate in Bike to Work Day

More than 14,000 people registered for the area's annual celebration of commuting on two wheels.

epa03704474 A Muslim woman at the ThetKalPyin temporary relief camp near Sittwe in Rakhine State, Western Myanmar, 17 May 2013. A total of 13 people were confirmed dead in neighboring Bangladesh as people began to return home from shelters, a day after Cyclone Mahasen hit the coast, officials said 17 May. EPA/NYEIN CHAN NAING

Photos of the day

Cyclone Mahasen, Texas tornadoes, puffin census, melting Swiss glacier and more.

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 16: American Idol Season 12 Winner Candice Glover (C) is seen onstage during Fox's 'American Idol 2013' Finale Results Show at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on May 16, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Candice Glover wins 12th season of ‘American Idol’

The 23-year-old vocal powerhouse from St. Helena Island, S.C., tops competition in her third try.

US actress Claire Julien smiles on May 16, 2013 while posing during a photocall for the film 'The Bling Ring' at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Cannes, one of the world's top film festivals, opened on May 15 and will climax on May 26 with awards selected by a jury headed this year by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Claire Julien, David Hasselhoff, Freida Pinto, Candice Glover, Martin Short and more.

**LOC IMAGE** Geo. Hamilton, Assistant Superintendent, Cambria Iron Mills house, Johnstown Flood, May 31st, 1889. (Photo by Ernest Walter Histed / Library of Congress)

The Johnstown Flood of 1889

On May 31, 1889, the South Fork dam that held Lake Conemaugh failed, and 20 million tons of water descended upon Johnstown, Pa. The flood claimed the lives of 2,209 people and spurred...

HACIPASA, TURKEY - MAY 5: Syrian refugee Hala ponders her life on the run on Sunday, May 5, 2013, in Hacipasa, Turkey. Three times this morning, the sounds of aircrafts were followed by explosions that shook the ground. Hacipasa, which sits just across the river border from Syria, is home of several hundred Syrian refugees who have been displaced by their home country's conflict. For a year, Hala and her family have been displaced from their home village in Syria because of violent conflict. After bouncing from village to village, fleeing bombings that seemed to follow them, the family crossed into Turkey six weeks ago. Initially, the family was deported back into Syria, where they lived in camps for internally displaced Syrians. But when the camps were bombed, the family was allowed to cross into Turkey. Hala said, 'The blood of the people who died in Syria, the martyrs, is our sad song, but nobody is listening.' (Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Turkey faces a refugee crisis

More than 400,000 Syrians have crossed into Turkey seeking refuge from the conflict at home. Finding its resources stretched, Turkey is urgently appealing for international aid and...

(FILES) In this file picture taken on January 31, 2013 British football player David Beckham poses presenting his new jersey after a press conference at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. David Beckham is to retire from professional football at the end of the season, his representative announced on May 16, 2013. The 38-year-old midfielder has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan, as well as winning 115 caps for England, and recently won the French Ligue 1 championship with Paris Saint-Germain. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFEFRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images

David Beckham announces his retirement

The 38-year-old British soccer superstar says he will retire when his French team’s season ends May 26.

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