Western Conference standings update, 2/28
A look at the standings after a busy week.
It’s been a good week for the Golden State Warriors. They kicked it off with a scheduled demolition of the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, and then added a dramatic win over the Orlando Magic on Thursday, fueled by a 56-point game from Steph Curry. And thanks to those performances, they are once again on the move in the Western Conference standings.
Post All-Star break, I’ve decided to do updates of the standings every Monday and Friday, with a look at what transpired over the last few days ... and what is set to occur in the coming days. The Warriors have jumped two spots since Monday’s article, up to the seventh seed, and they firmly have their sights set on the sixth seed ... it could be theirs this weekend! Catching the Houston Rockets or Los Angeles Lakers for the fifth seed will be a taller task though, so for now, we’re firmly focused on the Dubs getting into the set playoff field, and avoiding the play-in tournament.
Here’s where things sit with the teams around the Warriors:
No. 11 — Phoenix Suns (27-32)
It’s bad in the desert. Very, very bad. Since the trade deadline rumors started swirling, the Suns have been in an absolute free fall.
Since the news broke that the Warriors wanted to trade for Kevin Durant but Durant didn't want a reunion, the Warriors are 7-1 with a +128 differential, and the Suns are 1-7 with a -68 differential.
— Brady Klopfer (@bradyklopfer.bsky.social) 2025-02-28T04:13:46.467Z
Nothing changed this week for the Suns, who just sunk deeper. They lost an overtime thriller on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, and while there’s no shame in that, there’s a lot of shame in what happened on Thursday, when they lost a home game against the lowly New Orleans Pelicans. Since blowing out the Warriors on January 31, the Suns have gone just 2-10 ... with their lone wins coming against the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz, with the latter requiring overtime. They’re a full five games behind the Warriors now, and while I can never discount a team led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, it feels like we’re just about at the point where we can stop thinking about them when considering the Warriors’ place in the standings.
Next games up: Friday vs. the Pelicans, Sunday vs. the Timberwolves
No. 10 — Sacramento Kings (30-28)
The Kings took advantage of a weak schedule this week, with blowout wins over the Hornets and Jazz. That’s kept them comfortably in the play-in standings, where they’re a full three-and-a-half games ahead of the Suns. They staying within reaching distance of the Warriors as well — they’re one-and-a-half games back — but they certainly don’t look as good after trading De’Aaron Fox, and the No. 9 or No. 10 spot seems like the place for them.
Next game up: Saturday at the Rockets
No. 9 — Dallas Mavericks (32-28)
Not surprisingly, the Mavericks don’t look the same after trading Luka Dončić, though Anthony Davis not being healthy certainly doesn’t help. They split their games this week, losing an emotional contest against their old teammate and the Los Angeles Lakers, and then beating the Hornets (though certainly not in the blowout fashion that everyone else has been doing). They’re only a half-game behind the Warriors, so this battle could go down to the wire.
Next game up: Saturday vs. the Bucks
No. 8 — Minnesota Timberwolves (32-28)
The Timberwolves only had one game this week, and it was a rough one. They lost to the Lakers and Anthony Edwards picked up his 16th technical foul of the season, which earns him a one-game suspension. The Warriors surpassed the Wolves this week, but Minnesota is only a half-game behind.
Next games up: Friday at the Jazz, Sunday at the Suns
No. 6 — LA Clippers (32-26)
The Clippers are hanging on to the sixth seed in the West, but only barely. They started the week with a loss against the Detroit Pistons, then narrowly beat the Bulls. They don’t seem to have a chance of rising up to the fifth spot, and they’re only a half-game ahead of the Warriors. It feels like a matter of time before LA drops into the play-in tournament seeding.
Next games up: Friday at the Lakers, Sunday at the Lakers
It should be a thrilling weekend, and it could be another fruitful one for the Dubs. The teams they’re fighting against have some difficult games ahead, and the Warriors lone game this weekend is a Saturday contest against a depleted Philadelphia 76ers squad. Maybe by the time Monday rolls around, the Warriors will be in the sixth seed ... who knows, maybe we’ll get to start talking about the fifth seed!
Here’s a look at the complete standings: