NBA TOP TO BOTTOM

Team (Record): Comment (Last week’s rank)

1. Chicago (57-17): Rollin’, rollin, ‘rollin’. One left on road vs. winning team, at Cleveland. (1)

2. Seattle (56-18): Mailman usually greases opposite number, but Baker gets standoff in showdown. (3)

3. Utah (55-18): Third loss since break was one the Jazz had to win. SuperSonics now control tiebreaker. (2)

4. Lakers (54-20): We’ll see if they have enough go-to guys; they have attitude covered. (4)

5. Miami (53-22): Only Mourning could suffer broken cheekbone and still be listed as “day to day.” (5)

6. San Antonio (52-23): Spurs on 15-5 run as Robinson’s return shores up Duncan’s supporting cast. (8)

7. Indiana (51-23): Getting Mullin helped, but 55 points vs. Spurs suggests they still need firepower. (6)

8. Charlotte (47-27): Beware wrath of agent David Falk: Of Hornets who won 50 in 1994-95, only Curry remains. (7)

9. Phoenix (49-25): Fans restless as Ainge’s overachievers finally plateau at 10-7 in March. (9)

10. Atlanta (44-29): Going where no one will again: Wilkens at 1,114 victories, 171 up on No. 2 Fitch. (10)

11. Cleveland (42-32): Not that Fratello did it with mirrors: Lakers scatter them like children. (12)

12. Portland (41-33): Show him what he has won: Rider has now been suspended for seven games, $350,000 worth. (13)

13. New York (41-34): What, us outgunned? Knicks’ 6-9, 6-7, 6-5 front line falls to 7-1, 7-0, 6-11 Spurs. (11)

14. Minnesota (38-36): Peeler’s run continues: In his last eight games, he’s 18 for 34 on three-pointers. (15)

15. New Jersey (38-36): Oh, by the way, winner in race for No. 8 in East gets Bulls in first round. (19)

16. Washington (37-37): Looking good: Wizards lost four in row down the stretch by a total of 76 points. (16)

17. Houston (37-37): Stick a fork in Rockets: Barkley, Drexler return as they lose at home to Warriors. (14)

18. Orlando (36-36): Owner Pat Williams headed for lottery for first time since he got Shaq and Penny. (18)

19. Detroit (34-41): Ads with Laimbeer paid off: Hill shows teeth to referee, gets first ejection. (17)

20. Boston (33-41): Celtics already have improved by more games (18) than they won (15) last season. (20)

21. Milwaukee (33-41): Penny of north: Brandon back. Missed eight weeks because of . . . ankle sprain? (21)

22. Philadelphia (28-46): Been down so long, it looks like up to the 76ers: Most wins in six seasons. (22)

23. Sacramento (26-48): Usual graceful exit: Polynice is suspended for spitting in coach’s direction. (23)

24. Dallas (19-56): Be grateful for small favors: 8-8 March is Mavericks’ best month in three years. (24)

25. Golden State (16-59): Quiet riot: If you didn’t know the Warriors were trying to win, it’d be hard to tell. (27)

26. Vancouver (16-57): Sound of splashing: Grizzlies, Clippers, Raptors have won four total in two weeks. (25)

27. Clippers (16-58): What else would you expect: Pacers score 55 points, hit them for 128 in next game. (26)

28. Toronto (15-58): How can Raptors suspend Oliver Miller for cavorting with a fellow mascot? (28)

29. Denver (9-65): Crunch time: One more at home against a losing team--Thursday vs. Kings. (29)

Game of the Week

MIAMI AT NEW YORK

* When--Wednesday. * Time--5 p.m. * TV--TBS.

* Story line--This might not be the best rivalry in the league, but it’s the most bitter--and if the Knicks can’t climb past the Cavaliers, they might soon be meeting in the first round of the playoffs, with Pat Riley’s beloved Patrick Ewing back in the fray.