3) Lakers
4) Nuggets
5) Clippers
6) Warriors
7) Timberwolves
8) Grizzlies
One week left of the season ⚔️
With just one week left in the regular season, the Western Conference is a total battlefield—and the standings from 3 through 8 are absolute chaos. Every game matters. Every possession feels like the playoffs. Teams are clawing for home-court advantage, dodging the Play-In Tournament, and trying to avoid matchups against certain juggernauts. Here’s how things stand—and what’s at stake as we approach the final sprint.
3) Los Angeles Lakers
Record: 50-30
Trending: 🔥
The Lakers are on a mission. After a mid-season stretch that had people questioning their chemistry, they’ve bounced back in a big way. LeBron James and Anthony Davis are healthy, locked in, and playing their best basketball of the year. The supporting cast is finally clicking—D’Angelo Russell is shooting lights out, Austin Reaves is doing the dirty work, and Rui Hachimura has been a silent killer. If they hold on to the 3-seed, they’ll not only have home-court advantage in the first round, but potentially avoid both the Nuggets and Suns until the conference finals. That’s massive.
4) Denver Nuggets
Record: 49-31
Trending: ⚖️
Last year’s champs are coasting a bit, and it’s raising some eyebrows. Nikola Jokić is still putting up MVP-level numbers, but the urgency just hasn’t been there lately. Maybe it’s a strategy to save legs for the postseason. Or maybe the West has just caught up. Either way, they’ve got a tough final stretch, and dropping to the 5-seed would mean giving up home-court in the first round. That could be the difference between another title run and a second-round exit.
5) Los Angeles Clippers
Record: 48-32
Trending: 🤷♂️
The Clippers are the wild card—as always. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have looked great at times, but health continues to be a question mark. James Harden has quietly fit in well, but the inconsistency is still there. One night they look like a Finals contender. The next, they drop a game to a lottery team. If they move up, they could make noise. But if they stay at 5 and have to go through Denver? That’s a gauntlet.
6) Golden State Warriors
Record: 47-33
Trending: 🔺
Don’t look now, but the Warriors are heating up. Steph is doing Steph things, Klay is finding rhythm, and Draymond is anchoring the defense like it’s 2016. But what’s really changed is the bench—rookies and role players are finally stepping up. Golden State might be the most dangerous team in this entire 3–8 group just because of their experience. Nobody wants to see Steph Curry in a playoff series. Nobody.
7) Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 46-34
Trending: ⬇️
What happened? After sitting in the top 3 for most of the season, the Timberwolves have stumbled badly. Karl-Anthony Towns went down with an injury, and Anthony Edwards has had to carry the load. While he’s been brilliant, teams are loading up on him and daring someone else to beat them. If they don’t find a spark soon, they’re headed for a Play-In game they definitely didn’t expect to be in.
8) Memphis Grizzlies
Record: 45-35
Trending: 💀 (but still fighting)
It’s honestly impressive the Grizzlies are even in the 8 spot after all the injuries they’ve endured—Ja Morant’s suspension and season-ending injury, Steven Adams out, key role players banged up. Yet somehow, they’re hanging on. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane have stepped up, and they’re scrapping for every win. They’ll likely be in the Play-In, but don’t count them out. They’ve got that dog in them.
Final Thoughts
This final week is going to be WILD. Every seed is still up for grabs. One loss could send you to the Play-In. One win could get you home-court. With matchups like Lakers vs. Warriors and Clippers vs. Nuggets still on the schedule, expect drama, buzzer-beaters, and maybe even a few fights.
One week left. West is war.⚔️ Let the chaos begin.
