Enormous Consequences: Rockets, Nuggets Look To Maximize Separation

The West has the best action on Sunday. In addition to the Oklahoma City Thunder trying to hunt down the Chicago Bulls for the league's top overall record -- see our full coverage of that match -- a couple of teams behind look to gain some separation from those who chase them.

The L.A. Lakers host the Golden State Warriors in a late game. Kobe Bryant may have to shoot better than 3-18 this time. We'll see. The Lakers now have a one-game lead on the smokin' Clippers for No. 3 in the West. A loss would tighten up that race to an uncomfortable level.

The Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets have opportunities to continue to separate themselves from the slipping Utah Jazz, as well. Both Denver and Houston (Nos. 7 and 8 in the conference) are 28-24, 1.5 games ahead of 27-26 Utah, who is riding a three-game losing streak. Denver visits the Orlando Magic while Houston hosts the Indiana Pacers. The Jazz are off.

The Phoenix Suns sit one game behind the Jazz in 10th place; they host the Hornets in an attempt to get back to .500. The Minnesota Timberwolves, still a further game back, visit the Portland Trail Blazers.

The biggest game in the East is Heat vs. Celtics, as Boston is locked in a heated Atlantic Division race with the Philadelphia 76ers, who won Saturday and are idle on Sunday. A Boston loss to Miami would send the C's and Sixers back into a tie. As mentioned, Orlando and Indiana have tough games against West opponents. The Hawks, Knicks and Bucks are all idle on Sunday.