The 2022-2023 NBA regular season is in full swing, and after the game on April 2, take a look at today's game and the latest ranking in the West:
The Lone Rangers lost to the Heat 122-129 and the Clippers lost to the Pelicans 114-122.
1. Direct access to the playoffs: 1st-6th
The Nuggets have a 51-26 record and are No. 1.
The Grizzlies are 49-28 and No. 2.
With a 47-30 record, the Kings are ranked 3rd.
With a 42-35 record, the Suns are 4th.
The Warriors have a 41-37 record and are ranked 5th. The Clippers lost, and after the Warriors came to No. 5, they will face the Warriors in the first round, and whoever wins has a high probability of rushing out of the West.
The Clippers lost 114-122 to the Pelicans, and Leonard fought hard to win, his first back-to-back game since April 2021 (Clippers vs Rockets). However, he didn't play in the second half of his last Grizzlies game and can only be counted as half back-to-back.
Leonard had 40 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists on 15-of-28 shooting. Westbrook had 24 points, 3 rebounds and 9 assists on 9-of-18 shooting. Zubac had 15 points, 6 rebounds and 0 assists, shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Powell had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 4-of-9 shooting. Batum had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists on 1-of-2 shooting. The Clippers have a 41-38 record and are ranked 6th.
2. Play-off zone: 7th-10th place
The Pelicans defeated the Clippers 122-114, and after the Pelicans won the game, the record surpassed the Lakers to 7th, and the Lakers fell to 8th!
Ingram had 36 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists on 13-of-23 shooting. Valanciunas had 23 points, 12 rebounds and 0 assists, shooting 10-of-18 from the field. Murphy III had 19 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist, shooting 4-of-8 from the field. McCollum had 19 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists on 8-of-18 shooting. Jones had 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists, shooting 2-of-3 from the field. After this game, the Pelicans had a 40-38 record, ranking 7th.
The Lakers have a 39-38 record and are ranked 8th.
The Timberwolves are 9th best with a 39-39 record.
The Thunder have a 38-40 record and are ranked 10th.
3. Lotto Zone: 11th-15th place
The Mavericks lost 122-129 to the Heat, and two months ago were 6th in the West with a 28-26 record, and when the team traded for Irving, the team skated all the way out of the play-offs and is now 11th in the West with a 37-41 record, 6-1 in the last 7 games, and only a victory over the Pacers.
Doncic had 42 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists on 17-of-25 shooting. Hardaway had 31 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, shooting 11-of-15 from the field. Irving had 23 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists on 10-of-17 shooting. Bullock had 2 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting 1-of-5 from the field. Powell had 2 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist, shooting 1-of-1 from the field.
The Jazz have a 36-41 record and are 12th.
The Blazers have a 32-45 record and are ranked 13th.
With a 19-58 record, the Spurs are 14th.
The Rockets have a 19-59 record and are 15th.
Today's war, the situation in the west has become more confusing, the fifth position is a hot potato, no one wants to touch the sun in the first round. However, once the strategic loss is out of control, you may have to play the play-offs, and if you are not careful, you may be eliminated.