The Times’ basketball rankings

Last week’s ranking in parentheses, statistics are through Friday’s games:

1. HOUSTON: Rockets are scoring points (104.3, eighth-best in NBA) and playing defense (89.7, second-best). (9)

2. GOLDEN STATE: Warriors (4-0) are off to their best start since opening 5-0 during the 1994-95 season. (2)

3. MEMPHIS: Grizzlies off to best start in franchise history (6-0) because of league-best scoring defense (86.7). (6)

4. CHICAGO: Though Bulls are winning, fans worry that Derrick Rose is missing games with ankle injuries. (8)

5. TORONTO: Kyle Lowry had a triple-double with 13 points, 10 assists, 11 rebounds Friday against Wizards. (11)

6. SACRAMENTO: Kings (5-1) have won five in a row, their best start since the 1999-2000 season. (20)

7. DALLAS: A nice bounce-back win at Utah after getting blown out at Portland by 21 points. (11)

8. PORTLAND: Trail Blazers had impressive victories at home over Cleveland and Dallas before losing to Clippers. (15)

9. CLEVELAND: Cavaliers fans can relax after their team won its last game — until the next crisis. (7)

10. MIAMI: Chris Bosh is averaging a double-double with 24.2 points, 11 rebounds through five games.

11. CLIPPERS: Here are two problems: Last in rebounding (33.8) and have allowed the sixth-most points (104.2). (3)

12. WASHINGTON: Wizards are 19th in NBA in scoring, averaging 97.7 points, but they’re 11th in defense (97.0). (13)

13. SAN ANTONIO: The defending champions are resting players, shooting 42.7%, averaging 16.3 turnovers a game. (1)

14. CHARLOTTE: The Hornets are strong on defense, giving up 92.4 points a game, fourth-best in NBA. (17)

15. PHOENIX: Lost last two games to a very good Memphis team and a surprisingly good Sacramento team. (5)

16. BROOKLYN: Deron Williams’ ankles must be fine. The veteran guard is averaging 19.8 points, 7.0 assists. (23)

17. NEW ORLEANS: Anthony Davis leads NBA in rebounding (13.3), is second in blocks (4.0), eighth in scoring (23.8). (18)

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18. DETROIT: Averaging 91.2 points per game, second-worst in NBA. Holding opponents to 95.6 points, seventh-best. (26)

19. BOSTON: Rajon Rondo out until Wednesday after having a screw removed from his surgically repaired left hand. (14)

20. NEW YORK: Carmelo Anthony joined NBA’s 20,000-point club after scoring 28 against Charlotte. (16)

21. ORLANDO: Back-to-back wins over Philadelphia and Minnesota, one bad team beating two bad teams. (27)

22. MINNESOTA: No timetable for the return of Ricky Rubio (10.8 points, 11 assists) after he sprained left ankle. (24)

23. UTAH: Signs of a young team: Big, last-second win over Cleveland; a 23-point loss to Dallas two nights later. (29)

24. MILWAUKEE: Bucks have lost two straight and scored more than 100 points only once in first six games. (25)

25. ATLANTA: Hawks lead league in assists per game (26.5), but that’s negated by giving up 104.3 points a game. (22)

26. OKLAHOMA CITY: The Thunder loses another player to an injury. Perry Jones sits out with a bruised right knee. (21)

27. INDIANA: The Pacers lost five in a row, then Roy Hibbert (knee) had to leave Saturday’s game. (19)

28. DENVER: The Nuggets have lost four consecutive games and Darrell Arthur has been suspended for one game. (10)

29. LAKERS: Things we never thought we’d see: The winless Lakers are underdogs at home against Charlotte. (28)

30. PHILADELPHIA: Mark your calendars: The winless 76ers don’t play the Lakers until March 22. (30)