#western-conference
#western-conference

2024 NBA playoffs roundtable: What to watch heading into massive Game 6 matchups

Exciting start to the 2024 NBA Playoffs. [ more ]

Posting and Toasting

New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week

Jalen Brunson named Eastern Conference Player of the Week with impressive stats, leading the Knicks to a 4-0 record and a 50-win season.

Nikola Jokic named Western Conference Player of the Week, excelling with 26.5 PPG, 11.5 RPG, and 7.8 APG for the Nuggets. [ more ]

ESPN.com

NBA Power Rankings: Where all 30 teams stack up with 11 days left in the season

Western Conference playoff teams determined: Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves secure berths; Mavericks rise with Doncic's performance.

Eastern Conference playoff race tight: 3-8 seeds close in standings; 76ers' Embiid return brings uncertainty; Celtics sole clinched team. [ more ]

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denver-nuggets

www.aljazeera.com

3 days ago

NBA playoffs: LeBron's Lakers eliminated as Nuggets' Murray hits late hoop

Jamal Murray's game-winning shot sent the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference semis with a 108-106 victory over the LA Lakers. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Three key talking points entering the NBA Western Conference postseason

Nuggets led by Jokic are strong Western Conference contenders. [ more ]

sportslens.com

All 3 West-Leading Teams Win During Tuesday's NBA Action

The Western Conference's top teams, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder, all won their games on Tuesday night.

Anthony Edwards scored 51 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves, helping them maintain pace with the Denver Nuggets at the top of the standings. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Murray improving but remains out for Nuggets

Jamal Murray ruled out for game due to injuries

Denver Nuggets facing tough competition for top seed in Western Conference [ more ]

sportslens.com

Can the Nuggets earn the #1 seed before the NBA playoffs begin?

Denver Nuggets aim for back-to-back NBA titles

Playoff race in the Western Conference tight and crucial for seeding [ more ]

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Lakers vs. Nuggets Preview: Can Los Angeles finally beat Denver?

The Lakers aim to break Denver Nuggets' winning streak

LeBron James nearing 40,000 career points milestone [ more ]

moredenver-nuggets

Stanley Cup of Chowder

Boston Bruins

Morning Skate: Set

NHL regular season winding down, Western Conference teams in action, Bruins-Leafs Game 1 on Saturday at 8 PM [ more ]

The Hockey Writers

Where the Western Conference Playoff Matchups Stand Right Now - The Hockey Writers NHL News Latest News, Analysis & More

Western Conference playoffs matchups in flux. [ more ]

The Hockey Writers

4 weeks ago

3 Kings Unlikely to Return in 2024-25 - The Hockey Writers Los Angeles Kings Latest News, Analysis & More

The Los Angeles Kings are transitioning from a rebuild to playoff contenders in the competitive Western Conference.

Key players like Arthur Kaliyev and Cam Talbot/David Rittich may see changes in their status with the team. [ more ]

The Hockey Writers

Kings Should Avoid a Costly Trade at the 2024 Trade Deadline

The Edmonton Oilers had a poor start but recovered and are now in a playoff spot. The Los Angeles Kings started strong but have fallen and need to address goaltending issues. [ more ]

moreLA Kings

ESPN.com

National Hockey League

NHL playoff watch: The first-round matchups yet to be set

The Eastern Conference playoffs have all seeds determined, while the Western Conference still has the battle between Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings for playoff positioning. [ more ]

ESPN.com

National Hockey League

NHL playoff watch: Clash of the Western titans on tap as Avalanche visit Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche have impressive rosters with a chance to make a mark in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Stathletes' projections give the Canucks a higher chance of reaching the conference finals compared to the Avalanche. [ more ]

The Ringer

Austin

How We Define the League's Top Guards and Playoff Predictions

The podcast discusses play-in teams, playoff matchups, the potential success of OKC as the top seed in the Western Conference, and the Team USA squad for the Olympics. [ more ]

Yahoo Sports

Rookies help Wild to rout Sharks in San Jose

The Minnesota Wild have performed well against lower-ranked Western Conference teams but struggled against the rest of the conference. [ more ]

ABC7 San Francisco

San Jose and Minnesota square off in Western Conference play

The Minnesota Wild face the San Jose Sharks in a Western Conference matchup. [ more ]

Porterville Recorder

San Jose and Minnesota square off in Western Conference play

The Minnesota Wild are favored against the struggling San Jose Sharks in their Western Conference matchup. [ more ]

Reuters

Predators make it nine straight wins against Sharks

Kiefer Sherwood and Juuse Saros led Nashville Predators to a 4-2 win over San Jose Sharks.

Nashville is two points ahead of St. Louis and Minnesota for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. [ more ]

Reuters

Predators hope to stay hot on road vs. Sharks

Nashville Predators on a three-game winning streak poised for wild-card spot contention

Coach Andrew Brunette and GM Barry Trotz made impactful decisions after a major defeat, leading to Predators' successful turnaround. [ more ]

moreSan Jose Sharks

Los Angeles Times

Lakers played extra time against Grizzlies because of clock error

Clock error resulted in extended playing time during Lakers-Grizzlies game. Lakers' seeding in Western Conference dependent on other game outcomes. [ more ]

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Lakers vs. Pelicans Preview: The season finale

The Lakers' final game of the season will determine their fate in the upcoming play-in tournament. [ more ]

ESPN.com

NBA playoffs 2024: First-round news, scores and highlights

Key Takeaway: NBA playoffs start with top seeds Boston Celtics in the East and Oklahoma City Thunder in the West; exciting matchups ahead. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

Kurtenbach: The Warriors are surging towards a best-case scenario

The Warriors are currently playing their best basketball of the season in crunch time.

The Warriors have a chance to jump to the No. 8 seed and potentially make the play-in tournament double-elimination. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Lakers-Warriors play-in preview? What to make of this epic final matchup

The Lakers struggle defensively without Anthony Davis, impacting their play-off prospects.

Golden State remains a formidable team in playoff scenarios, with upcoming challenging matches ahead. [ more ]

Newsday

NBA Playoffs 2024: Playoff positioning battles continue, and see what games matter most

The last week of the NBA season has multiple important games with playoff implications.

Several teams in both the East and West are vying for specific playoff positions and seeding. [ more ]

The Mercury News

Play-in preview: Warriors' season on the line against the Kings

The Warriors are in the play-in tournament and face the risk of elimination with any loss, despite a better record than the previous year. [ more ]

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Every possible play-in seed scenario for Lakers on final day of the season, explained

Competitive race in Western Conference may lead to Lakers finishing between seeds 8-10. [ more ]

ESPN.com

AD says Lakers 'in a great place' ahead of play-in

Anthony Davis is optimistic about the Lakers' playoff chances despite recent setbacks. [ more ]

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Who should the Lakers be rooting agaist on Thursday?

The Lakers are closely monitoring their standings and need specific outcomes from other teams' games to secure their seed position.

The Western Conference is highly competitive, with teams still vying for playoff seedings, presenting various scenarios for the Lakers. [ more ]

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Austin Reaves says he'll be paying attention to standings in final days of regular season

The Lakers no longer control their destiny in the Western Conference standings after losing a key game.

Players like Austin Reaves are keeping an eye on other Western Conference games to understand their playoff situation. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

Advancing up the play-in? There's still a path for Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are in a position to climb up the Western Conference standings despite a loss to the Mavericks.

Being in the eighth seed presents a significant advantage with two chances to win a sudden-death game in the play-in tournament. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Thunder clinch No. 1 seed; Nuggets grab No. 2

Oklahoma City Thunder clinched No. 1 seed in Western Conference playoffs. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Spurs' win leaves 3 teams tied for West's top seed

The West conference has a three-way tie for the top spot, leading to a dramatic final day of the regular NBA season. [ more ]

sportslens.com

How far can Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving take the Mavericks?

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been instrumental in the Dallas Mavericks' success this season.

Dallas Mavericks are currently ranked fifth in the Western Conference and are close to avoiding the play-in tournament. [ more ]

ESPN.com

'Confident' Lakers finally see rise in standings

The Los Angeles Lakers are on a winning streak, moving up to the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings.

The competition in the Western Conference is tight, with just two games separating the No. 6 Phoenix Suns from the No. 9 Sacramento Kings. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Kings' Hueter to undergo season-ending surgery

Kevin Huerter to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery for torn labrum.

Huerter's absence is a setback for the Kings' playoff aspirations in the competitive Western Conference. [ more ]

sportslens.com

The Suns Have Toughest Remaining Schedule In The NBA, By Far

The Phoenix Suns have the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA with all remaining opponents being top-6 teams.

They are in a playoff battle in the Western Conference to secure a spot and avoid the Play-In Tournament. [ more ]

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Friday Standings Update

The Lakers secured a crucial win that puts them in control of their playoff destiny. [ more ]

ESPN.com

LeBron (illness) ruled out for Lakers vs. Wolves

The Los Angeles Lakers are without LeBron James due to flu-like symptoms for the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The game between the Lakers and the Timberwolves is crucial for playoff seeding in the Western Conference. [ more ]

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Taurean Prince is having a moment and Lakers are taking advantage

Lakers secured an essential victory against the Cavaliers, moving up the conference standings.

Taurean Prince made a significant impact during the game, showcasing his defensive prowess and shooting skills. [ more ]

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Breaking down the Lakers' playoff seeding scenarios, odds

Despite winning more games this season, the Lakers are further away from earning a first-round playoff spot compared to last season.

The Western Conference has become more competitive in 2023-24 due to the rise of some teams offsetting declines from others. [ more ]

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What lineups should Lakers use moving forward?

Starting lineup works well with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and other key players

Potential return of Jarred Vanderbilt could improve Lakers' defense and rebounding [ more ]

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Are the Lakers worse this season or is the Western Conference just better?

The Lakers failed to meet expectations due to internal struggles and a tougher Western Conference.

The Lakers faced challenges with unforced errors, injuries, and a stronger Western Conference. [ more ]

playoff-race

www.mercurynews.com

Warriors take over the No. 9 seed: Here's how the NBA's play-in picture looks

The Golden State Warriors are in contention for the No. 8 seed in the NBA's Western Conference. [ more ]

Yahoo Sports

National Hockey League

2024 NHL playoffs: Bracket, updated standings, who's in and more

Vegas Golden Knights can move closer to clinching a playoff berth by winning against Vancouver Canucks

Pittsburgh Penguins are vying for a playoff spot in a competitive Eastern Conference race. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers like the East

The Lakers are in a tight race in the Western Conference standings and are looking to move back into the playoffs.

Despite recent wins and improvements in health, the Lakers are still in ninth place in the standings, aiming to catch the Phoenix Suns. [ more ]

Reuters

Trying to stay alive in playoff race, Blues face struggling Sharks

The St. Louis Blues are fighting hard for playoff contention.

Despite challenges, the Blues are focused on controlling what they can to secure wins. [ more ]

Silver Screen and Roll

The Lakers are treating Saturday's game like a playoff matchup

The Lakers vs. Warriors game is crucial for Western Conference standings.

Lakers need to secure a win to avoid tiebreaker and lower seed. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers squander opportunity, still stay ninth

The Lakers faced a significant loss to the Kings, emphasizing the importance of upcoming games.

Games to watch include Suns versus Hornets and Suns versus Bucks as they could impact the Lakers' playoff positioning. [ more ]

moreplayoff-race

ESPN.com

Clippers' George, Leonard, Harden out vs. Suns

The LA Clippers will be missing key players due to injuries for a rematch against the Phoenix Suns.

Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and James Harden are ruled out; Russell Westbrook and Ivica Zubac are questionable for the game. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: The final week is here

The Lakers split games over the weekend, impacting their playoff standings.

Despite injuries, the Lakers still have a range of outcomes in the Western Conference standings. [ more ]

ESPN.com

NBA betting: Which teams should you bet on in the Western Conference playoff race?

The Western Conference playoffs race is tight with 8 teams vying for 5 spots.

The LA Clippers, once strong contenders, are now at risk of missing the playoffs. [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

Column: When LeBron James plays in 'sicko mode,' flawed Lakers always have a chance

LeBron James led the Lakers to a remarkable comeback against the Clippers with his scoring and passing abilities.

The Lakers, led by James, are a formidable threat in the Western Conference, instilling fear in their opponents. [ more ]

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Who should the Lakers be rooting for on Wednesday?

Tuesday's loss to the Warriors hinders Lakers' standings ascent and play-in hopes.

Importance of upcoming games affecting Lakers' playoff seed and potential matchups. [ more ]

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Players Grades: Lakers vs. Warriors

The Western Conference standings this season are extremely competitive and unpredictable compared to previous years.

The Lakers have shown impressive performance improvement over a 44-game span, despite facing challenges with important game losses. [ more ]

sportslens.com

Lakers 5 Game Winning Streak Snapped Against Pacers On Friday

Los Angeles Lakers had a 5-game winning streak that was snapped by a loss to the Pacers.

Lakers missed an opportunity to make up ground in the Western Conference standings. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: A perfect weekend

Lakers winning games boosts playoff position

Upcoming games can influence Lakers' standing [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers can move past Warriors

Western Conference standings are tight, Lakers face tough competition.

Injuries impacting key players impact teams' positions in the standings. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers continue to win but gain little ground

The Lakers won important games against the Clippers and Wizards.

Fans should keep an eye on key games involving other teams to benefit the Lakers. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Boston Celtics

The NBA season is wrapping up. Who'll win the West? Any surprise teams out East?

Several NBA teams are still fighting for playoff spots and home-court advantage in the final week of the regular season.

The Western Conference is particularly competitive with multiple teams vying for the top seed. [ more ]

www.silverscreenandroll.com

Reacts: What team do Lakers have the best chance against in the play-in game?

The majority of Lakers fans prefer to face the Houston Rockets or the Golden State Warriors in the play-in game.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently perceived as a formidable team that other fans would least like to face in the Western Conference playoffs. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

4 weeks ago

Kurtenbach: The Warriors are going to the postseason. They need the best version of Steph Curry to join them there

Warriors have clinched the No. 10 seed in Western Conference with a four-game lead and a tiebreaker over the Rockets.

Warriors should focus on extending their winning streak, prioritizing rest for Steph Curry, and aiming for postseason readiness. [ more ]

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4 weeks ago

Western Conference Standings Watch: The penultimate weekend

Lakers are striving to climb the Western Conference standings.

Competition needs to drop games for Lakers to advance in rankings. [ more ]

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Who would the Lakers have the best chance against in the play-in game?

The Lakers may face the Rockets, Warriors, Kings, or Suns in the play-in game.

Each potential opponent poses unique challenges.

Injuries may impact the performance of the Kings in the play-in game. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

Kurtenbach: The Warriors can't decide what they want to be, so the league is deciding for them

The Golden State Warriors are facing a challenging season in the NBA.

The Warriors are currently at risk of falling out of the play-in tournament in the Western Conference. [ more ]

sportslens.com

Warriors Lose Again, Now Just 1 Game Up On The Rockets

Golden State Warriors had a strong performance prior to a significant loss to the Boston Celtics.

Injuries and suspensions affected the Warriors, leading to a drop in performance and standings in the Western Conference. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Rockets' Smith, Jazz's Dunn tossed for fighting

Jabari Smith Jr. and Kris Dunn were ejected for throwing punches in a game between the Rockets and Jazz.

Both players received technical fouls for fighting, but none of the punches thrown connected. [ more ]

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Lakers vs. Sixers Preview: Is the Lakers' fate sealed at the ninth seed?

The Lakers are in a tough position in the standings, needing to win games to secure a better seed.

They have limited tiebreakers against Western Conference teams, making their path more challenging. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers making another push?

The Lakers are back in the ninth spot in the Western Conference standings.

Lakers need to keep winning to secure their spot in the playoffs and potentially move up in the standings. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers drop games, fall to tenth

The Lakers suffered a disappointing loss against the Warriors due to various factors.

The NBA faced embarrassing moments with shot clock malfunctions and controversial calls during the Lakers game. [ more ]

ESPN.com

NBA betting: Are the Warriors a good bet to make the playoffs?

The Golden State Warriors have been a consistent Western Conference playoff team with four NBA titles in the past 12 seasons.

Injuries and age might hinder the Warriors' chances of making the playoffs this year despite having a healthy Big 3. [ more ]

ESPN.com

LeBron, Curry, KD, Luka, or Sabonis: Who won't make the playoffs?

The NBA's Western Conference play-in tournament is intensifying with close battles for playoff seeding.

Sacramento Kings are on a strong streak with standout performances including a solid offense and defense. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

Warriors get sour taste in big-implication game, face daunting' standings fight

Warriors monitor standings closely for play-in round status.

Importance of upcoming games against play-in teams. [ more ]

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Lakers vs. Kings Preview: Can L.A. finally beat Sacramento?

The Lakers face the Kings in a rematch, aiming to secure a victory against the team that has been dominating them recently.

The key focus is on the Lakers' ability to stop Sacramento's dynamic backcourt, particularly De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers rise to ninth seed

Los Angeles Lakers are sitting at the ninth seed in the West and have an opportunity to close the gap with the eighth seed.

Key games to watch this week include Suns vs. Cavaliers, Mavericks vs. Bulls, and Warriors vs. Spurs, with seeding implications for the Western Conference. [ more ]

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Anthony Davis listed as questionable vs. Timberwolves with left shoulder soreness

Anthony Davis stepped up with LeBron James out, scored 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Davis and James are questionable for the next game due to injuries. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

NBA's deepest' Western Conference making Warriors playoff push a struggle

Warriors face tough competition in the crowded Western Conference play-in picture.

Steph Curry's injury adds further challenges for the Warriors' playoff push. [ more ]

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Lakers vs. Kings Preview: A really important game

The Lakers will face the Sacramento Kings in an important game for Western Conference standings.

The key matchups to watch in the game are between D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves against De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. [ more ]

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Anthony Davis says Lakers 'don't really care' what playoff seed they are

Lakers focus on playing well over seeding

Tough competition in Western Conference standings [ more ]

ESPN.com

Williams, Rose joins growing Grizzlies injury list

Memphis Grizzlies facing multiple injuries

Key players out for weeks [ more ]

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Lakers vs. Thunder Preview: Potential playoff series?

Lakers missed an opportunity to climb in the Western Conference standings with a recent loss.

OKC Thunder leads the West with a strong record, potentially setting up a playoff matchup with the struggling Lakers. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Suns rule Booker out vs. OKC with ankle sprain

Devin Booker out with a right ankle sprain

Suns ahead in Western Conference standings [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

Analysis: Lakers frustrated they can't beat Nuggets, and the problem is getting worse

The Lakers' offseason aimed to respond to the loss to the Nuggets, but players recognize the widening gap in performance.

Denver Nuggets have maintained dominance in the fourth quarter against the Lakers, outscoring with high efficiency. [ more ]

sportslens.com

Airplane Issues Could Affect Warriors Chances Against Raptors

The Golden State Warriors have won ten of their last twelve games, climbing back up in the Western Conference standings.

A flight delay due to a mechanical issue caused the Warriors to land in Toronto after 7 a.m., potentially impacting their performance in the upcoming game. [ more ]

sportslens.com

Warriors' Andrew Wiggins is dealing with a 'serious' family matter

The Warriors are currently 10th in the Western Conference and would be in the play-in tournament if the season ended today. Andrew Wiggins is dealing with a serious family matter affecting his performance. [ more ]

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Reacts: Can the Lakers win the Western Conference?

The Lakers have shown signs of greatness despite their current standing in the Western Conference.

Denver Nuggets are the favored team to come out of the West in fan surveys. [ more ]

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What seed will the Lakers finish in the Western Conference?

Lakers in play-in race

Challenges in replicating last season's success

Western Conference competition [ more ]

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Western Conference Standings Watch: Lakers need Eastern Conference teams to best the West

Lakers are in a play-in race for playoffs, facing tough competition

Warriors and Lakers are in close competition in Western Conference standings [ more ]

sportslens.com

NBA: The Phoenix Suns Have The Easiest Remaining Schedule

The Phoenix Suns have the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA.

They began the season slowly but have improved significantly in recent games. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

Kurtenbach: The Warriors were hit with a harsh reality check by the defending champions. They can't afford to ignore it

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Golden State Warriors, exposing the gap between respectability and serious contention in the Western Conference.

Nikola Jokic's dominant performance with a triple-double and Jamal Murray's efficient scoring led the Nuggets to victory over the Warriors. [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

Lakers can't match the Suns at the finish in loss on the road

The Lakers and the Suns are Pacific Division rivals fighting for a spot in the Western Conference.

Despite their struggles with injuries, the Lakers and the Suns played a high-stakes game that highlighted their best players. [ more ]

ESPN.com

Brooklyn Nets

Gobert sidelined vs. Nets with sprained left ankle

Rudy Gobert out with ankle sprain

Minnesota Timberwolves tied for first place in the Western Conference [ more ]

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Lakers vs. Suns Preview: Two teams that badly need wins

The Lakers and Phoenix Suns face off for the fifth time this season in a crucial match-up.

Both teams are currently in the play-in bracket in the competitive Western Conference. [ more ]

sportslens.com

NBA: Warriors Threatening Top-8 In West After Winning 10 Of 12

Warriors are on a winning streak, having won 10 of their last 12 games.

Despite a roller coaster season, injuries, and suspensions, Warriors are climbing up the standings in the Western Conference. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

Steph Curry leads Warriors past LeBron-less Lakers to jump-start playoff push

Steph Curry led Warriors to victory with 32 points before the fourth quarter.

Warriors are striving for a higher playoff seed by winning crucial games. [ more ]

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