The Denver Nuggets are among six Western Conference Teams fighting for playoff positioning.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (54-12) have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference. Who comes after the Thunder as the second seed in the West is anyone’s guess.
As of Saturday morning, there are four teams within a game of each other for the No. 2 spot in the standings: The Denver Nuggets (43-24), Memphis Grizzlies (42-25), Houston Rockets (42-25), Los Angeles Lakers (40-24) with the the Golden State Warriors (38-28) and Minnesota Timberwolves (39-29) fighting for the No. 6 seed.
With about a month to go in the regular season, how will these teams separate themselves from the pack?
1. Denver Nuggets
Aaron Gordon has been limited to 39 games (including 30 starts) but the Nuggets have gotten increased production from Christian Braun, Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson. Gordon’s ability to stay on the floor will make the difference between home-court advantage in the playoffs.
2. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies saw their four-game winning streak snapped Friday at the hands of the Cavaliers. Ja Morant led the way with a game-high 44 points, but he didn’t get much help elsewhere, particularly from the bench.
Santi Aldama has been out for six of the Grizzlies’ last seven games due to a right calf strain, and the Memphis reserves haven’t been able to fill in for that production. Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke and the other Grizzlies’ bench players will need to step up in a big way as Memphis plays nine of their final 15 regular-season games on the road.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers were riding high on an eight-game winning streak until last Saturday’s loss to the rival Celtics, during which LeBron James suffered a groin strain. The Lakers saw their losing streak extend to four games following a tough loss to the Nuggets on Friday without James or Luka Dončić. The Lakers will need to turn to Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht to steady the ship.
4. Houston Rockets
Houston won its fifth straight game Friday with a dominant victory over the Dallas Mavericks (33-35). Tari Eason’s strong play has earned him a permanent spot in the starting five and Fred VanVleet’s return should help with running the offense.
Defense has always been the calling card under coach Ime Udoka, and that will help Houston down the stretch. The Rockets have a 109.2 defensive rating since the All-Star break, which is second-best behind the Thunder (106.2).
5. Golden State Warriors
Golden State is 13-2 since Jimmy Butler III made his team debut Feb. 8, and the Warriors are 10 games over .500 for the first time this season. Acquiring Butler has revitalized Stephen Curry and the Warriors, but incorporating Jonathan Kuminga back into the rotation is crucial to climbing up the standings.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota has won seven straight, which has coincided with Julius Randle’s return from a 13-game absence due to a groin injury. He has averaged 19.3 points on 51.7% shooting, 7.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists over 31.3 minutes per game with a plus-40 point-differential over that span. The Timberwolves have the easiest remaining schedule out of the teams listed and are at home for six of their next seven games.
