1. Indiana Pacers (18-3)Think home court doesn’t matter? The Pacers’ last two losses have come on the road against the two best teams in the Western Conference – Portland and Oklahoma City. Of course, the loss to the Thunder came one night after Indy beat the Spurs in San Antonio – by 11, no less. This is still the best team in basketball. (Photo by Richard Rowe/NBAE via Getty Images)
2. Miami Heat (16-5)Wednesday’s game against the Pacers could have playoff implications (yes, I realize it’s December). (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (15-4)Kevin Durant (36 points, 10 rebounds) led the way in the win over Indiana. The Thunder have won 10 of 11 and are one of just two teams (the other being the Pacers) who are unbeaten at home. (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
4. Portland Trail Blazers (17-4)With wins over the Pacers and Thunder this week, Portland, which has won 15 of 17, is officially legit. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
5. San Antonio Spurs (14-4)San Antonio’s four losses have come to the Pacers, Thunder, Rockets and Pacers (i.e. young, athletic teams they’ll have to beat come playoff time). (Photos by D. Clarke Evans/NBAE via Getty Images)
6. Houston Rockets (14-7)Omer Asik wants out and will likely get what he wants. My advice? Get over yourself. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
7. Los Angeles Clippers (13-8)Doc Rivers says his team lacks maturity. He’s right. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
8. Golden State Warriors (12-9)Rallying from 27 down to beat Toronto was pretty cool. Yes, it’s Toronto, but in the West, every game is going to count. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
9. Dallas Mavericks (13-8)Dallas has struggled on the road this season (4-6) but took down the Trail Blazers in Portland on Saturday, this after Monta Ellis hit the game-winner from 21 feet as time expired. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
10. Denver Nuggets (12-8)The Nuggets played five games last week – all on the road, all against losing teams – and went 3-2; 4-1 would have been better. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
11. Atlanta Hawks (11-10)Congratulations are in order for Kyle Korver, who has now made at least one three-pointer in 90 straight games – an NBA record. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
12. Los Angeles Lakers (10-10)He’s back. He had eight turnovers, but he’s back. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
13. Phoenix Suns (11-9)You have to give props to the Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff. Neither has started a game this season, yet both are averaging double figures. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
14. Memphis Grizzlies (9-10)Memphis has lost five of seven and isn’t getting the production it needs from Zach Randolph. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
15. Boston Celtics (10-12)Boston’s 41-point rout of New York gave the Celtics their sixth win in their last eight games. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
16. New Orleans Pelicans (9-10)New Orleans won three straight road games against losing teams and then lost two straight home games against winning teams. Good times. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
17. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-11)Minnesota has dropped seven of 11 and is suddenly the third-worst team in the West. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
18. Washington Wizards (9-10) (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
19. Chicago Bulls (8-10)How bad is the East? The Bulls have lost seven of nine and are still the 8-seed. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
20. Detroit Pistons (10-11)Detroit played Miami twice this week and won once. Most teams will take that. (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
21. Charlotte Bobcats (9-11)Second-best scoring defense, worst scoring offense. Meet in the middle, and you get a mediocre record, which Charlotte has. (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (7-13)The Cavs are 6-3 at home and 1-10 on the road. I don’t care who the opponents are. That makes no sense. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
23. Toronto Raptors (7-12)Bye-bye, Rudy Gay. The Raptors’ second-leading scorer is heading to Sacramento. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
24. Brooklyn Nets (6-14)Brooklyn hasn’t won a home game since Nov. 5 – and that came against the Jazz (also known as the worst team in the league). (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
25. Orlando Magic (6-13)Orlando is in the same boat as Cleveland: 5-5 at home, 1-9 on the road. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
26. Philadelphia 76ers (7-14)See Orlando; 6-6 at home, 1-8 on the road. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
27. Sacramento Kings (5-13)The move for Rudy Gay was a wise one. Now the Kings have two players to build around (this is assuming DeMarcus Cousins is actually someone you want to build around). (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
28. New York Knicks (5-14)A 41-point loss to the Celtics? At home? Really? Starters Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert and Andrea Bargnani combined for two points on 1-of-19 shooting. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
29. Milwaukee Bucks (4-16)Milwaukee is battling it out with Utah for worst-team-in-the-league honors. (Photo by D. Williams/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
30. Utah Jazz (4-18)Utah’s 1-10 road record is tied with Cleveland for the worst in basketball. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
U.S. Naval Academy Plebes Cap First Year With Herndon ClimbDozens of U.S. Naval Academy freshmen, known as plebes, gathered around a 21-foot tall obelisk covered in lard Monday in Annapolis. Their objective: climb the slippery monument and place a hat on top to mark the end of their first year at the institution.
Latest Photos
SLIDESHOW: Scenes From AFRAM Festival 2022 In BaltimoreDid you make it over to Druid Hill Park for AFRAM 2022? Here are a few scenes from the weekend's festivities.
U.S. Naval Academy Plebes Cap First Year With Herndon ClimbDozens of U.S. Naval Academy freshmen, known as plebes, gathered around a 21-foot tall obelisk covered in lard Monday in Annapolis. Their objective: climb the slippery monument and place a hat on top to mark the end of their first year at the institution.
OPENING DAY: Orioles Pride You Shared Using #BeOnWJZBaseball is finally back!
SLIDESHOW: Snow Photos You Shared Using #BeOnWJZShare your photos from the Nor'easter that covered the Eastern Shore and parts of central Maryland with snow.
3 Baltimore Firefighters Killed In Vacant Home BlazeThree Baltimore firefighters died and one is in critical condition after a vacant rowhouse that caught fire partially collapsed Monday morning, the mayor's office has confirmed.
FIRST LOOK: Transformation Of Left-Field Wall Underway At Oriole ParkDramatic changes are underway at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
SLIDESHOW: Snow Photos You Shared Using #BeOnWJZAll day, we asked you to share your best snow day photos with us via the #BeOnWJZ hashtag, and you didn't disappoint. Check out some of our favorite shots.
SLIDESHOW: Florida Flock Rolls Deep For Ravens-Dolphins GameIt might have been an away game, but Baltimore Ravens fans were out in force at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Florida Flock is a group of Baltimore fans living in South Florida. Rachel Rexroth shared these photos with WZ of fans tailgating before Thursday Night Football.
PHOTOS: Ravens Light Up M&T Bank Stadium For PracticeYou could say fans are excited to watch the Ravens light up the stadium again. When 37,00 free passes for the stadium practice were made available two weeks ago, every single pass was claimed within 24 hours.
PHOTOS: Maryland's Katie Ledecky At Tokyo OlympicsMaryland's Katie Ledecky is competing in the Tokyo Olympics.
PHOTOS: Mike Tyson's Former Maryland Home SoldThe former Maryland home of boxing legend Mike Tyson recently sold for $4.575 million.
PHOTOS: Ocean City Prepares For Tropical Storm ElsaOcean City prepares for Tropical Storm Elsa Thursday
PHOTOS: 2021 USNA CommencementVice President Kamala Harris addressed the graduates at the U.S. Naval Academy's commissioning ceremony Friday.
PHOTOS: Rombauer Upsets 146th Preakness StakesRombauer wins the 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
PHOTOS: Brood X Cicadas Spotted In MarylandCicada Brood X spotted in Maryland.
PHOTOS: Monkton Glass Home TourThis unique home in Monkton is on sale for $1.7 million.
PHOTOS: Orioles 2021 Home OpenerPHOTOS: Orioles 2021 Home Opener
PHOTOS: Maryland Vs. The Mount WBBMaryland raced to a 98-45 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Monday in the opening round of the women's NCAA Tournament.
PHOTOS: 63rd Annual Grammy AwardsA look at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards
PHOTOS: Baltimore Deco-Style Home For SaleAt 2105 Erdman Avenue, sits a sea green two bedroom, 1.5 bath home with a Miami flair.
PHOTOS: Rescued Sea Turtles ReleasedThe National Aquarium released a group of rescued sea turtles.
PHOTOS: Chesapeake Bay Photos By Bill PortlockFor the past five decades, photographer Bill Portlock has captured beautiful images of the Chesapeake all while educating those in the area about the importance of the Bay.
PHOTOS: Baltimore's Artful Salt BoxesAn artist has taken up decorating Baltimore's streetside salt boxes this winter.
PHOTOS: Looking Back On The Ravens' Win At Super Bowl 47The Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl 47 in a wild 34-31 victory that was held up by a power outage at the Mercedez-Benz Superdome.