The Denver Nuggets, on a 15-game winning streak, just keep winning. And they might have to keep up that unlikely pace, because playoff positioning in the Western Conference is as competitive as ever.
NBA playoff picture: Nuggets stay ahead of Clippers, Grizzlies
Denver keeps winning, and that’s a good thing for the Nuggets’ playoff positioning.
USA TODAY Sports
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The Nuggets (49-22) maintained a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers (48-22) and a one-game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies (47-22) as all three teams picked up wins Saturday. Denver is currently third in the Western Conference and trails the Oklahoma City Thunder by 2½ games in the standings. Staying in third would mean a first-round playoff matchup with the Golden State Warriors. Falling to fourth would put Denver in a first round matchup with the much more playoff tested Grizzlies. Here are the complete Western Conference standings:
| WESTERN CONFERENCE | W | L | PCT | GB | HOME | ROAD | CONF | DIV | STREAK | L10 |
| 1 x-San Antonio | 53 | 16 | 0.768 | - | 30-4 | 23-12 | 30-12 | 12-2 | W4 | 8-2 |
| 2 x-Oklahoma City | 51 | 19 | 0.729 | 2½ | 30-5 | 21-14 | 33-12 | 7-5 | W1 | 7-3 |
| 3 x-Denver | 49 | 22 | 0.690 | 5 | 32-3 | 17-19 | 32-11 | 9-5 | W15 | 10-0 |
| 4 x-L.A. Clippers | 48 | 22 | 0.686 | 5½ | 28-8 | 20-14 | 27-14 | 8-5 | W2 | 6-4 |
| 5 Memphis | 47 | 22 | 0.681 | 6 | 28-8 | 19-14 | 26-16 | 6-6 | W1 | 7-3 |
| 6 Golden St. | 40 | 31 | 0.563 | 14 | 23-10 | 17-21 | 21-20 | 7-5 | W1 | 6-4 |
| 7 Houston | 38 | 31 | 0.551 | 15 | 24-10 | 14-21 | 18-23 | 5-8 | W2 | 7-3 |
| 8 L.A. Lakers | 36 | 34 | 0.514 | 17½ | 23-12 | 13-22 | 19-22 | 6-6 | L2 | 6-4 |
| Utah | 34 | 35 | 0.493 | 19 | 24-9 | 10-26 | 19-22 | 5-5 | L3 | 2-8 |
| Portland | 33 | 36 | 0.478 | 20 | 22-11 | 11-25 | 18-22 | 6-5 | W2 | 5-5 |
| Dallas | 33 | 36 | 0.478 | 20 | 19-14 | 14-22 | 17-24 | 5-8 | W1 | 7-3 |
| Minnesota | 24 | 43 | 0.358 | 28 | 16-16 | 8-27 | 14-29 | 3-10 | W1 | 4-6 |
| Sacramento | 25 | 45 | 0.357 | 28½ | 19-15 | 6-30 | 11-30 | 5-7 | L1 | 5-5 |
| New Orleans | 24 | 46 | 0.343 | 29½ | 14-21 | 10-25 | 13-29 | 5-9 | W2 | 3-7 |
| Phoenix | 23 | 47 | 0.329 | 30½ | 16-19 | 7-28 | 15-27 | 5-8 | L2 | 2-8 |
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