The Miami Heat still hold a lead in the Southeast Division, albeit a half game over the hard-charging Atlanta Hawks.

Miami has endured a tough stretch lately, losing two straight to the lowly Washington Wizards and high-flying New York Knicks, to fall to 12-5.

Meanwhile, Atlanta is 11-5 after beating those same Wizards, who sit in the division (and league) basement at 2-14.

The Atlantic Division has been the strongest one in the East, with the aforementioned Knicks leading the way with a conference-best 14-4 record. Everyone sans the Toronto Raptors (4-16) are competitive, including the resurgent Brooklyn Nets (11-7) who are in second place and three games behind New York.

In the Central division, the Chicago Bulls have risen to the top of a very mediocre group. No team appears ready to run away with anything, but the Bulls have given themselves a one-game lead over the Indiana Pacers (10-10) and Milwaukee Bucks (9-9) with a 10-8 mark.