Clippers stay on top; Rockets crack top 10

The NBA has transformed Christmas Day into a showcase of its best players and teams. Naughty or nice, David Stern once again gift-wrapped us an embarrassment of marquee matchups to rip through in one 13-hour period. So what did we learn about the NBA's power hierarchy after watching the biggest day of the regular season?

For one, we were reminded that the Heat are still the team to beat after their eerily familiar-looking win against the Thunder in a rematch of last season's Finals. We also learned that Kobe Bryant and the new-look Lakers -- when at full strength -- are capable of beating an elite team such as the Knicks, who have cooled off a bit and seen the injuries continue to pile up. We found out that the Rockets really are earning their status as the NBA's highest-scoring team, hanging 120 on the typically stingy Bulls in Chicago. And we ended the night by witnessing yet another victory by the Clippers, who have proved they are the best team so far this season and worthy of being No. 1 in our Power Rankings for the second straight week.

The rest of the top five, however, looks different after an eventful seven days. Houston, winners of five straight, moved up seven spots to No. 9, overshadowing the Lakers' six-spot rise to No. 12. Here's where all 30 teams stands as we close out 2012.

(Note: All statistics and records through Dec. 27.)

NBA Power Rankings