With a win Saturday over the Memphis Grizzlies (44-21), the Utah Jazz (34-32) moved within a half game of the Los Angeles Lakers for eighth place in the Western Conference standings.
NBA playoff picture: Jazz make up ground on Lakers, Grizzlies fall back
The Jazz moved within a half game of the Lakers for eighth in the West while Memphis is now tied with Denver for fourth.
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The Jazz had been among the top eight in the West most of the season, but lost ground in the standings with improved play from the Lakers over the last month. Utah is idle on Sunday while the Lakers host the Sacramento Kings (23-43). It is unclear whether the Lakers will have star Kobe Bryant, who sprained his ankle Wednesday. Bryant attempted to play on the sprain in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers, but left the game after just one quarter and four missed shots.
With the loss to Utah Saturday, the Grizzlies fell into a tie for fourth in the West with the surging Denver Nuggets (45-22). Denver has won 12-straight games, the second-best streak in the league behind the 21-game winning streak the Miami Heat are currently on. Here are the full Western Conference standings:
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | CONF | DIV | STREAK | L10 |
| 1 San Antonio | 51 | 16 | 0.761 | - | 28-4 | 23-12 | 28-12 | 12-2 | W2 | 7-3 |
| 2 Oklahoma City | 49 | 17 | 0.742 | 1½ | 30-4 | 19-13 | 32-10 | 7-4 | W2 | 8-2 |
| 3 L.A. Clippers | 45 | 21 | 0.682 | 5½ | 25-8 | 20-13 | 27-13 | 8-4 | L1 | 6-4 |
| 4 Memphis | 44 | 21 | 0.677 | 6 | 25-8 | 19-13 | 24-15 | 6-5 | L2 | 7-3 |
| 5 Denver | 45 | 22 | 0.672 | 6 | 30-3 | 15-19 | 30-11 | 8-5 | W11 | 10-0 |
| 6 Golden St. | 37 | 30 | 0.552 | 14 | 22-10 | 15-20 | 19-19 | 7-5 | L1 | 4-6 |
| 7 Houston | 35 | 30 | 0.538 | 15 | 21-9 | 14-21 | 16-22 | 5-8 | W1 | 6-4 |
| 8 L.A. Lakers | 35 | 32 | 0.522 | 16 | 22-11 | 13-21 | 18-21 | 5-5 | W1 | 7-3 |
| Utah | 34 | 32 | 0.515 | 16½ | 24-8 | 10-24 | 19-20 | 5-5 | W1 | 3-7 |
| Portland | 31 | 34 | 0.477 | 19 | 22-11 | 9-23 | 18-22 | 6-5 | W2 | 6-4 |
| Dallas | 31 | 34 | 0.477 | 19 | 18-12 | 13-22 | 17-23 | 5-8 | W1 | 6-4 |
| Minnesota | 22 | 40 | 0.355 | 26½ | 15-16 | 7-24 | 12-26 | 3-10 | L1 | 2-8 |
| Sacramento | 23 | 43 | 0.348 | 27½ | 17-15 | 6-28 | 9-28 | 4-6 | W1 | 4-6 |
| New Orleans | 22 | 44 | 0.333 | 28½ | 12-20 | 10-24 | 12-27 | 4-9 | L2 | 3-7 |
| Phoenix | 22 | 45 | 0.328 | 29 | 15-17 | 7-28 | 14-26 | 4-8 | L4 | 4-6 |
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