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The Western Conference is both exciting and surprising this season. The top team of the Western Conference is exceeding their expectations. They also have a lead over teams such as former champions.
Each year, the Western Conference is competitive. The Western Conference race is always close and competitive. In the West, a single loss can shift a team's position from the fourth spot to the seventh. A win could lead to the eighth seed jumping to the sixth seed or higher. A losing streak is costly in the West.
The West looks different this year, but the competitiveness remains. There are teams such as the Lakers who are playoff bound. Another team to consider is the Sacramento Kings. The Kings are 19-16. Their record makes them eighth in the West. There are teams in the West with records over .500 but they are not playoff bound.
The Memphis Grizzlies are currently 10th in the West. They have a record of 18-17. The Grizzlies are out of the top-eight teams but that could change. If the Grizzlies were in the East, they would be sixth. The West in a tough conference and the top-five teams can change at any moment. Here are the current top-five teams of the Western Conference.
#5 Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are 5th in the Western Conference. They climbed up the standings after they were 12th in the West. In less than two weeks, they rose to the fifth spot. The Rockets are on a four-game winning streak and have won nine of their last 10 games. They currently have a record of 20-15.
James Harden is putting up MVP caliber stats. If he continues, he could be on the verge of another MVP award later in the season. On Saturday, Harden had his third consecutive 40-point game. He had 41 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Rockets beat the Pelicans 108-104.
Harden scored 45 points against the Boston Celtics on Thursday. This was also his 6th straight game with 35 points or more. His game against the Pelicans marks his 7th. Harden also had a good showing against the OKC Thunder on Christmas Day. He finished the game with 41 points and seven assists in the 113-109.
The Rockets don't have Chris Paul, who is currently out with a hamstring injury. His last game was against the Miami Heat earlier this month. Now, James Harden is the starting point guard. Harden has played well in the role.
James Harden and the Rockets are making their way towards the top of the West. If Harden plays at this level, he can help the Rockets climb higher.
#4 Los Angeles Clippers
The L.A Clippers are fourth in the Western Conference. They have a record of 21-15. They are 4-6 in their last 10 games. On Saturday, they lost to the San Antonio Spurs 122-111. Danilo Gallinari and Montrezl Harrell scored 21 points each. Tobias Harris and their sixth man Lou Williams had 16 points each.
On Friday, the beat their Los Angeles rivals the Lakers. Lou Williams exploded for 36 points off the bench. He helped the Clippers get a win over the Lakers, who are playing without LeBron James. James suffered a groin injury on the Lakers' Christmas Day game.
He left the game in the third quarter. Since then, James is listed as day-to-day. The Clippers took advantage of James' absence and won the game. This makes the Clippers 6-1 against teams of their division, which is the Pacific Division.
The Clippers' next game is against the Philadelphia 76ers. This takes place of New Year's Day. The Clippers are playing well this season and a win over the Sixers would chip away at the three-game lead of the best team of the conference.
#3 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are third in the Western Conference. They have a record of 22-12. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. They won their last game, which was against the Phoenix Suns.
The Thunder beat the Suns 118-102. Russell Westbrook had a near triple-double with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. In other words, he was two assists away from another triple-double.
In their previous game, the Thunder lost to the Houston Rockets. Paul George had a double-double with 28 points and 14 rebounds. But, the Rockets beat the Thunder in a close game. The Rockets won 113-109. This was one of two close games on Christmas Day.
The duo of Paul George and Russell Westbrook is a big part of the Thunder's success. Paul George averages 26.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. Russell Westbrook averages another triple-double with 21.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. Both George and Westbrook are playing great this season.
Their next two games are against the Dallas Mavericks. Their (road) game against the Mavericks is today. Their (home) game against the Mavericks is tomorrow. If the Thunder beat the Mavericks in both games, this helps improve their Western Conference standings.
#2 Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are second in the Western Conference. The defending champions find themselves behind a surprising team. In fact, they are a 0.5 game lead behind the leader of the West. The Warriors have a record 24-13. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games.
The Warriors won their last game against the Portland Trailblazers. They beat the Blazers 115-105. This Blazers and Warriors went into overtime. However, the Warriors managed to beat the Blazers. The Warriors redeemed themselves after their Christmas Day loss against the L.A Lakers. The Warriors lost by 26 points. The Lakers finished this game without LeBron James. Regardless, the Lakers held onto their large lead.
Klay Thompson was crucial in the Warriors' win over the Blazers. He had 32 points and shot 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant had 25 points each.
The Warriors' next game takes place on Monday. They face the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are 9-28 this season. The Warriors should easily beat the Suns and inch closer towards the top spot of the West.
#1 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are first in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are a bit of a surprise. They are a skilled team who barely missed the playoffs last season. They finished ninth in the West with a record of 46-36.
This is an impressive record but the Minnesota Timberwolves ended up with the eighth seed of the Western Conference. However, this year is different. The Nuggets are 23-11. They find themselves at the top of the Western Conference.
The Nuggets are on a two-game winning streak. Their two wins are over the Spurs and the Suns. On Saturday, the Nuggets beat the Suns 122-118. Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with a 46-point explosion. He also had 8 assists. Nikola Jokic had 23 points.
Jamal Murray and the Nuggets are a pleasant surprise. I expected them to play well but I did not expect this. The Nuggets are playing hard and they've managed to become the top team in the Western Conference (at least for now). The West is a tough, competitive conference. Each win is important and a loss can be costly. But, if the Nuggets continue to play well, they can stay on top of the West.
