With the NBA All-Star break finally closing out, we now look forward to the final two months of the NBA regular season.
There are several different storylines to watch in the Western Conference as the league will shift gears heading into the season's final stretch.
Who is the Best in the West: Clippers, Thunder, and Timberwolves Battle for No.1
With a little over 20 games remaining for the rest of the NBA season, the Number One seed in Western Conference is still up for grabs.
So far, there has been a three-team battle between the Los Angeles Clippers, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Minnesota Timberwolves for the first seed.
The Wolves are currently the one seed with a 39-16 record. But that can quickly change with the Thunder and Clippers clawing at them as they are just a few games back.
Whoever finishes first will have court advantage throughout the Playoffs and likely throughout the Finals, if they were to make it that far.
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NBA War in the West: Can the Lakers Ride the Wave?
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are battling for a playoff spot, which makes the Lakers an interesting team to watch down the stretch.
The Lakers came into the 2023-24 season with high expectations after a deep playoff run to the Western Conference Finals last season, where they got bounced out by the Denver Nuggets.
Since then, the team has struggled for most of the season, failing to replicate the magic that led to last year's remarkable season.
With over 20 games left in the 2023-24, the Lakers still have a chance to shoot themselves out of the NBA Play-In and back into the Playoffs mix.
The Lakers are currently 30-26 and are the ninth seed in the West. They are only a few games back from the sixth seeded New Orleans Pelicans, who are 33-22, with the Kings and Mavericks standing in the way of the Lakers.
The Lakers have turned it on as of late, picking up some big wins before the All-Star break. However, they may need to continue their strong play if they have any hope of helping LeBron get that elusive fifth championship.
NBA War in the West: Will the Nuggets Run it Back?
After winning their first championship last season, Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are looking to repeat.
Along with Jokic's usual dominance, most of the roster remains intact. But their road to their second championship might be more challenging than last season.
An improved Clippers, Kevin Durant and the Suns peaking at the right time, and the New Orleans Pelicans getting healthy along with finding the right rhythm with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram; the Nuggets might have their hands full in the playoffs.
Both the Timberwolves and Thunder have proved to be capable of playing above what is expected of them this season.
The Nuggets are currently 36-19, which is good for fourth and the West. Jokic has continued to play at an MVP level, averaging 26.1 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game.
They may have to dig a little deeper if they want to run it back and win another championship.
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