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Conference of the National Basketball Association From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the National Basketball Association (NBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. Both conferences consist of 15 teams organized into three divisions.
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Formerly | Western Division |
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League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Founded | 1970 |
No. of teams | 15 |
Most recent champion(s) | Dallas Mavericks (3rd title) |
Most titles | Los Angeles Lakers (19 titles) |
The current divisional alignment was adopted at the start of the 2004–05 season, when the now Charlotte Hornets began play as the NBA's 30th franchise. This necessitated the move of the New Orleans Pelicans (named New Orleans Hornets at the time) from the Eastern Conference's Central Division to the newly created Southwest Division of the Western Conference.
The NBA first started awarding a Western Conference championship trophy during the 2000–01 season, renaming it after Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in the 2021–22 season.[1] Also in 2021–22, the league began awarding the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy to the Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, named after Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.[2]
Western Conference | ||||||
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# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | c – Oklahoma City Thunder * | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 82 |
2 | x – Denver Nuggets | 57 | 25 | .695 | – | 82 |
3 | x – Minnesota Timberwolves | 56 | 26 | .683 | 1.0 | 82 |
4 | y – Los Angeles Clippers * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 6.0 | 82 |
5 | y – Dallas Mavericks * | 50 | 32 | .610 | 7.0 | 82 |
6 | x – Phoenix Suns | 49 | 33 | .598 | 8.0 | 82 |
7 | x – New Orleans Pelicans | 49 | 33 | .598 | 8.0 | 82 |
8 | x – Los Angeles Lakers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 10.0 | 82 |
9 | pi – Sacramento Kings | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11.0 | 82 |
10 | pi – Golden State Warriors | 46 | 36 | .561 | 11.0 | 82 |
11 | Houston Rockets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 16.0 | 82 |
12 | Utah Jazz | 31 | 51 | .378 | 26.0 | 82 |
13 | Memphis Grizzlies | 27 | 55 | .329 | 30.0 | 82 |
14 | San Antonio Spurs | 22 | 60 | .268 | 35.0 | 82 |
15 | Portland Trail Blazers | 21 | 61 | .256 | 36.0 | 82 |
Notes
Team | Location | Year | From | Year | To | Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joined | Left | |||||
Charlotte Hornets | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1989 | Eastern Conference | 1990 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | 1970 | Western Division | 1980 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Detroit Pistons | Detroit, Michigan | 1970 | Eastern Division | 1978 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1976 | ABA‡ | 1979 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Miami Heat | Miami, Florida | 1988 | —† | 1989 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1970 | Eastern Division | 1980 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Orlando Magic | Orlando, Florida | 1990 | Eastern Conference | 1991 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Seattle supersonics
Denotes team that is currently in the conference | |
Denotes team that has left the conference |
Bold | Winning team of the NBA Finals |
^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
^Note: Milwaukee joined the Eastern Conference during the 1980–81 season.
^ | Denotes team that won the NBA championships |
+ | Denotes team that won the Conference finals, but lost the NBA Finals |
* | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA playoffs |
× | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA play-in tournament |
Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||||
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1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |
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1970–71 | Milwaukee^ (66–16) | Los Angeles* (48–34) | Chicago* (51–31) | San Francisco* (41–41) | Phoenix (48–34) | Detroit (45–37) | San Diego (40–42) | Seattle (38–44) | Portland (29–53) | ||||||
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1971–72 | Los Angeles^ (69–13) | Milwaukee* (63–19) | Chicago* (57–25) | Golden State* (51–31) | Phoenix (49–33) | Seattle (47–35) | Houston (34–48) | Detroit (26–56) | Portland (18–64) | ||||||
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1972–73 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Los Angeles+ (60–22) | Chicago* (51–31) | Golden State* (47–35) | Detroit (40–42) | Phoenix (38–44) | Kansas City -Omaha (36–46) | Seattle (26–56) | Portland (21–61) | ||||||
1973–74 | Milwaukee+ (59–23) | Los Angeles* (47–35) | Chicago* (54–28) | Detroit* (52–30) | Golden State (44–38) | Seattle (36–46) | Kansas City -Omaha (33–49) | Phoenix (30–52) | Portland (27–55) | ||||||
1974–75 | Golden State^ (48–34) | Chicago* (47–35) | Kansas City -Omaha* (44–38) | Seattle* (43–39) | Detroit* (40–42) | Portland (38–44) | Milwaukee (38–44) | Phoenix (32–50) | Los Angeles (30–52) | ||||||
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1975–76 | Golden State* (59–23) | Milwaukee* (38–44) | Seattle* (43–39) | Phoenix+ (42–40) | Detroit* (36–46) | Los Angeles (40–42) | Portland (37–45) | Kansas City (31–51) | Chicago (24–58) | ||||||
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1976–77 | Los Angeles* (53–29) | Denver* (50–32) | Portland^ (49–33) | Golden State* (46–36) | Detroit* (44–38) | Chicago* (44–38) | Seattle (40–42) | Kansas City (40–42) | Indiana (36–46) | Phoenix (34–48) | Milwaukee (30–52) | ||||
1977–78 | Portland* (58–24) | Denver* (50–32) | Phoenix* (49–33) | Seattle+ (46–36) | Los Angeles* (44–38) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Golden State (40–42) | Chicago (40–42) | Detroit (36–46) | Kansas City (34–48) | Indiana (30–52) | ||||
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1978–79 | Seattle^ (52–30) | Kansas City* (48–34) | Phoenix* (50–32) | Denver* (47–35) | Los Angeles* (47–35) | Portland* (45–37) | San Diego (43–39) | Milwaukee (38–44) | Golden State (38–44) | Indiana (38–44) | Chicago (31–51) | ||||
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1979–80 | Los Angeles^ (60–22) | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Seattle* (56–26) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Kansas City* (47–35) | Portland* (38–44) | San Diego (35–47) | Denver (30–52) | Chicago (30–52) | Golden State (24–58) | Utah (24–58) | ||||
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1980–81 | Phoenix* (57–25) | San Antonio* (52–30) | Los Angeles* (54–28) | Portland* (45–37) | Kansas City* (40–42) | Houston+ (40–42) | Golden State (39–43) | Denver (37–45) | San Diego (36–46) | Seattle (34–48) | Utah (28–54) | Dallas (15–67) | |||
1981–82 | Los Angeles^ (57–25) | San Antonio* (48–34) | Seattle* (52–30) | Denver* (46–36) | Phoenix* (46–36) | Houston* (46–36) | Golden State (45–37) | Portland (42–40) | Kansas City (30–52) | Dallas (28–54) | Utah (25–57) | San Diego (17–65) | |||
1982–83 | Los Angeles+ (58–24) | San Antonio* (53–29) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Seattle* (48–34) | Portland* (46–36) | Denver* (46–37) | Kansas City (46–37) | Dallas (38–44) | Golden State (30–52) | Utah (30–52) | San Diego (25–57) | Houston (14–68) | |||
1983–84 | Los Angeles+ (54–28) | Utah* (45–37) | Portland* (48–34) | Dallas* (43–39) | Seattle* (42–40) | Phoenix* (41–41) | Denver* (38–44) | Kansas City* (38–44) | Golden State (37–45) | San Antonio (37–45) | San Diego (30–52) | Houston (29–53) | |||
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1984–85 | L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) | Denver* (52–30) | Houston* (48–34) | Dallas* (44–38) | Portland* (42–40) | Utah* (41–41) | San Antonio* (41–41) | Phoenix* (36–46) | Kansas City (31–51) | Seattle (31–51) | L.A. Clippers (31–51) | Golden State (22–60) | |||
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1985–86 | L.A. Lakers* (62–20) | Houston+ (51–31) | Denver* (47–35) | Dallas* (44–38) | Utah* (42–40) | Portland* (40–42) | Sacramento* (37–45) | San Antonio* (35–47) | Phoenix (32–50) | L.A. Clippers (32–50) | Seattle (31–51) | Golden State (30–52) | |||
1986–87 | L.A. Lakers^ (65–17) | Dallas* (55–27) | Portland* (49–33) | Utah* (44–38) | Golden State* (42–40) | Houston* (42–40) | Seattle* (39–43) | Denver* (37–45) | Phoenix (36–46) | Sacramento (29–53) | San Antonio (28–54) | L.A. Clippers (12–70) | |||
1987–88 | L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) | Denver* (54–28) | Dallas* (53–29) | Portland* (53–29) | Utah* (47–35) | Houston* (46–36) | Seattle* (44–38) | San Antonio* (31–51) | Phoenix (28–54) | Sacramento (24–58) | Golden State (20–62) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) | |||
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1988–89 | L.A. Lakers+ (57–25) | Utah* (51–31) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Seattle* (47–35) | Houston* (45–37) | Denver* (44–38) | Golden State* (43–39) | Portland* (39–43) | Dallas (38–44) | Sacramento (27–55) | L.A. Clippers (21–61) | San Antonio (21–61) | Miami (15–67) | ||
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1989–90 | L.A. Lakers* (63–19) | San Antonio* (56–26) | Portland+ (59–23) | Utah* (55–27) | Phoenix* (54–28) | Dallas* (47–35) | Denver* (43–39) | Houston* (41–41) | Seattle (41–41) | Golden State (37–45) | L.A. Clippers (30–52) | Sacramento (23–59) | Minnesota (22–60) | Charlotte (19–63) | |
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1990–91 | Portland* (63–19) | San Antonio* (55–27) | L.A. Lakers+ (58–24) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Utah* (54–28) | Houston* (52–30) | Golden State* (44–38) | Seattle* (41–41) | Orlando (31–51) | L.A. Clippers (32–51) | Minnesota (29–53) | Dallas (28–54) | Sacramento (25–57) | Denver (20–62) | |
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1991–92 | Portland+ (57–25) | Utah* (55–27) | Golden State* (55–27) | Phoenix* (53–29) | San Antonio* (47–35) | Seattle* (47–35) | L.A. Clippers* (45–37) | L.A. Lakers* (43–39) | Houston (42–40) | Sacramento (29–53) | Denver (24–58) | Dallas (22–60) | Minnesota (15–67) | ||
1992–93 | Phoenix+ (62–20) | Houston* (55–27) | Seattle* (55–27) | Portland* (51–31) | San Antonio* (49–33) | Utah* (47–35) | L.A. Clippers* (41–41) | L.A. Lakers* (39–43) | Denver (36–46) | Golden State (34–48) | Sacramento (25–57) | Minnesota (19–63) | Dallas (11–71) | ||
1993–94 | Seattle* (63–19) | Houston^ (58–24) | Phoenix* (56–26) | San Antonio* (55–27) | Utah* (53–39) | Golden State* (50–32) | Portland* (47–35) | Denver* (42–40) | L.A. Lakers (33–49) | Sacramento (28–54) | L.A. Clippers (27–55) | Minnesota (20–62) | Dallas (13–69) | ||
1994–95 | San Antonio* (62–20) | Phoenix* (59–23) | Utah* (60–22) | Seattle* (57–25) | L.A. Lakers* (48–34) | Houston^ (47–35) | Portland* (44–38) | Denver* (41–41) | Sacramento (39–43) | Dallas (36–46) | Golden State (26–56) | Minnesota (21–61) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) | ||
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1995–96 | Seattle+ (64–18) | San Antonio* (59–23) | Utah* (55–27) | L.A. Lakers* (53–29) | Houston* (48–34) | Portland* (44–38) | Phoenix* (41–41) | Sacramento* (39–43) | Golden State (36–46) | Denver (35–47) | L.A. Clippers (29–53) | Minnesota (26–56) | Dallas (26–56) | Vancouver (15–67) | |
1996–97 | Utah+ (64–18) | Seattle* (57–25) | Houston* (57–25) | L.A. Lakers* (56–26) | Portland* (49–33) | Minnesota* (40–42) | Phoenix* (40–42) | L.A. Clippers* (36–46) | Sacramento (34–48) | Golden State (30–52) | Dallas (24–58) | Denver (21–61) | San Antonio (20–62) | Vancouver (14–68) | |
1997–98 | Utah+ (62–20) | Seattle* (61–21) | L.A. Lakers* (61–21) | Phoenix* (56–26) | San Antonio* (56–26) | Portland* (46–36) | Minnesota* (45–37) | Houston* (41–41) | Sacramento (27–55) | Dallas (20–62) | Vancouver (19–63) | Golden State (19–63) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) | Denver (11–71) | |
1998–99 | San Antonio^ (37–13) | Utah* (37–13) | Portland* (35–15) | L.A. Lakers* (31–19) | Houston* (31–19) | Phoenix* (27–23) | Sacramento* (27–23) | Minnesota* (25–25) | Seattle (25–25) | Golden State (21–29) | Dallas (19–31) | Denver (14–36) | L.A. Clippers (9–41) | Vancouver (8–42) | |
1999–00 | L.A. Lakers^ (67–15) | Utah* (55–27) | Portland* (59–23) | San Antonio* (53–29) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Minnesota* (50–32) | Seattle* (45–37) | Sacramento* (44–38) | Dallas (40–42) | Denver (35–47) | Houston (34–48) | Vancouver (22–60) | Golden State (19–63) | L.A. Clippers (15–67) | |
2000–01 | San Antonio* (58–24) | L.A. Lakers^ (56–26) | Sacramento* (55–27) | Utah* (53–29) | Dallas* (53–29) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Portland* (50–32) | Minnesota* (47–35) | Houston (45–37) | Seattle (44–38) | Denver (40–42) | L.A. Clippers (31–51) | Vancouver (23–59) | Golden State (17–65) | |
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2001–02 | SAC* (61–21) | SAS* (58–24) | LAL^ (56–26) | DAL* (53–29) | MIN* (53–29) | POR* (53–29) | SEA* (50–32) | UTA* (47–35) | LAC (45–37) | PHX (44–38) | HOU (40–42) | DEN (31–51) | MEM (23–59) | GSW (17–65) | |
2002–03 | SAS^ (60–22) | SAC* (59–23) | DAL* (60–22) | MIN* (51–31) | LAL* (50–32) | POR* (50–32) | UTA* (47–35) | PHX* (44–38) | HOU (43–39) | SEA (40–42) | GSW (38–44) | MEM (28–54) | LAC (27–55) | DEN (17–65) | |
2003–04 | MIN* (58–24) | LAL+ (56–26) | SAS* (57–25) | SAC* (55–27) | DAL* (52–30) | MEM* (50–32) | HOU* (45–37) | DEN* (43–39) | UTA (42–40) | POR (41–41) | GSW (37–45) | SEA (37–45) | PHX (29–53) | LAC (28–54) | |
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2004–05 | PHX* (62–20) | SAS^ (59–23) | SEA* (52–30) | DAL* (58–24) | HOU* (51–31) | SAC* (50–32) | DEN* (49–33) | MEM* (45–37) | MIN (44–38) | LAC (37–45) | LAL (34–48) | GSW (34–48) | POR (27–55) | UTA (26–56) | NOR (18–64) |
2005–06 | SAS* (63–19) | PHX* (54–28) | DEN* (44–38) | DAL+ (60–22) | MEM* (49–33) | LAC* (47–35) | LAL* (45–37) | SAC* (44–38) | UTA (41–41) | NO/ OKC[a] (38–44) | SEA (35–47) | HOU (34–48) | GSW (34–48) | MIN (33–49) | POR (21–61) |
2006–07 | DAL* (67–15) | PHX* (61–21) | SAS^ (58–24) | UTA* (58–24) | HOU* (52–30) | DEN* (45–37) | LAL* (42–40) | GSW* (42–40) | LAC (40–42) | NO/ OKC[a] (39–43) | SAC (33–49) | POR (32–50) | MIN (32–50) | SEA (31–51) | MEM (22–60) |
2007–08 | LAL+ (57–25) | NOH* (56–26) | SAS* (56–26) | UTA* (54–28) | HOU* (55–27) | PHX* (55–27) | DAL* (51–31) | DEN* (50–32) | GSW (48–34) | POR (41–41) | SAC (38–44) | LAC (23–59) | MEM (22–60) | MIN (22–60) | SEA (20–62) |
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2008–09 | LAL^ (65–17) | DEN* (54–28) | SAS* (54–28) | POR* (54–28) | HOU* (53–29) | DAL* (50–32) | NOH* (49–33) | UTA* (48–34) | PHX (46–36) | GSW (29–53) | MIN (24–58) | MEM (24–58) | OKC (23–59) | LAC (19–63) | SAC (17–65) |
2009–10 | LAL^ (57–25) | DAL* (55–27) | PHX* (54–28) | DEN* (53–29) | UTA* (53–29) | POR* (50–32) | SAS* (50–32) | OKC* (50–32) | HOU (42–40) | MEM (40–42) | NOH (37–45) | LAC (29–53) | GSW (26–56) | SAC (25–57) | MIN (15–67) |
2010–11 | SAS* (61–21) | LAL* (57–25) | DAL^ (57–25) | OKC* (55–27) | DEN* (50–32) | POR* (48–34) | NOH* (46–36) | MEM* (46–36) | HOU (43–39) | PHX (40–42) | UTA (39–43) | GSW (36–46) | LAC (32–50) | SAC (24–58) | MIN (17–65) |
2011–12 | SAS* (50–16) | OKC+ (47–19) | LAL* (41–25) | MEM* (41–25) | LAC* (40–26) | DEN* (38–28) | DAL* (36–30) | UTA* (36–30) | HOU (34–32) | PHX (33–33) | POR (28–38) | MIN (26–40) | GSW (23–43) | SAC (22–44) | NOH (21–45) |
2012–13 | OKC* (60–22) | SAS+ (58–24) | DEN* (57–25) | LAC* (56–26) | MEM* (56–26) | GSW* (47–35) | LAL* (45–37) | HOU* (45–37) | UTA (43–39) | DAL (41–41) | POR (33–49) | MIN (31–51) | SAC (28–54) | NOH (27–55) | PHX (25–57) |
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2013–14 | SAS^ (62–20) | OKC* (59–23) | LAC* (57–25) | HOU* (54–28) | POR* (54–28) | GSW* (51–31) | MEM* (50–32) | DAL* (49–33) | PHX (48–34) | MIN (40–42) | DEN (36–46) | NOP (34–48) | SAC (28–54) | LAL (27–55) | UTA (25–57) |
2014–15 | GSW^ (67–15) | HOU* (56–26) | LAC* (56–26) | POR* (51–31) | MEM* (55–27) | SAS* (55–27) | DAL* (50–32) | NOP* (45–37) | OKC (45–37) | PHX (39–43) | UTA (38–44) | DEN (30–52) | SAC (29–53) | LAL (21–61) | MIN (16–66) |
2015–16 | GSW+ (73–9) | SAS* (67–15) | OKC* (55–27) | LAC* (53–29) | POR* (44–38) | DAL* (42–40) | MEM* (42–40) | HOU* (41–41) | UTA (40–42) | SAC (33–49) | DEN (33–49) | NOP (30–52) | MIN (29–53) | PHX (23–59) | LAL (17–65) |
2016–17 | GSW^ (67–15) | SAS* (61–21) | HOU* (55–27) | LAC* (51–31) | UTA* (51–31) | OKC* (47–35) | MEM* (43–39) | POR* (41–41) | DEN (40–42) | NOP (34–48) | DAL (33–49) | SAC (32–50) | MIN (31–51) | LAL (26–56) | PHX (24–58) |
2017–18 | HOU* (65–17) | GSW^ (58–24) | POR* (49–33) | OKC* (48–34) | UTA* (48–34) | NOP* (48–34) | SAS* (47–35) | MIN* (47–35) | DEN (46–36) | LAC (42–40) | LAL (35–47) | SAC (27–55) | DAL (24–58) | MEM (22–60) | PHX (21–61) |
2018–19 | GSW+ (57–25) | DEN* (54–28) | POR* (53–29) | HOU* (53–29) | UTA* (50–32) | OKC* (49–33) | SAS* (48–34) | LAC* (48–34) | SAC (39–43) | LAL (37–45) | MIN (36–46) | MEM (33–49) | NOP (33–49) | DAL (33–49) | PHX (19–63) |
2019–20 | LAL^ (52–19) | LAC* (49–23) | DEN* (46–27) | HOU* (44–28) | OKC* (44–28) | UTA* (44–28) | DAL* (43–32) | POR* (35–39) | MEM× (34–39) | PHX (34–39) | SAS (32–39) | SAC (31–41) | NOP (30–42) | MIN (19–45) | GSW (15–50) |
2020–21 | UTA* (52–20) | PHX+ (51–21) | DEN* (47–25) | LAC* (47–25) | DAL* (42–30) | POR* (42–30) | LAL* (42–30) | GSW× (39–33) | MEM* (38–34) | SAS× (33–39) | NOP (31–41) | SAC (31–41) | MIN (23–49) | OKC (22–50) | HOU (17–55) |
2021–22 | PHX* (64–18) | MEM* (56–26) | GSW^ (53–29) | DAL* (52–30) | UTA* (49–33) | DEN* (48–34) | MIN* (46–36) | LAC× (42–40) | NOP* (36–46) | SAS× (34–48) | LAL (33–49) | SAC (30–52) | POR (27–55) | OKC (24–58) | HOU (20–62) |
2022–23 | DEN^ (53–29) | MEM* (51–31) | SAC* (48–34) | PHX* (45–37) | LAC* (44–38) | GSW* (44–38) | LAL* (43–39) | MIN* (42–40) | NOP× (42–40) | OKC× (40–42) | DAL (38–44) | UTA (37–45) | POR (33–49) | HOU (22–60) | SAS (22–60) |
2023–24 | OKC* (57–25) | DEN* (57–25) | MIN* (56–26) | LAC* (51–31) | DAL+ (50–32) | PHX* (49–33) | NOP* (49–33) | LAL* (47–35) | SAC× (46–36) | GSW× (46–36) | HOU (41–41) | UTA (31–51) | MEM (27–55) | SAS (22–60) | POR (21–61) |