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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.
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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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