NBA Western Conference playoff preview

In a season that featured a continued trend of Western Conference dominance, the No. 1 seed belongs to Shai Gilgeous Alexander and the young Oklahoma City Thunder. With the same record, the defending champion Denver Nuggets reside at No. 2, led by two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

The conference is as open as it’s ever been in years, with other superstars like Luka Doncic, Lebron James, Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant ready to battle it out for a championship ring.

No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Dallas Mavericks

These teams appeared to be on the verge of being perennial playoff rivals years ago. In 2020 and 2021, the Clippers and the Mavericks met with the Clippers emerging victorious both times.

In 2023, the Mavericks missed the playoffs completely and wouldn’t be able to uphold their end of the rivalry.

The Clippers and Mavericks meet again in 2024, now with completely revamped lineups. The Clippers will enter with the additions of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, while the Mavericks added Kyrie Irving to a lineup already consisting of Luka Doncic.

In the two playoff series between Luka Doncic and the Clippers, Doncic averages 33.5 points per game and has willed the Mavericks to victories single-handedly. Now, Doncic has a much-improved roster around him, including several trade deadline acquisitions and NBA champion Kyrie Irving.

The Clippers sport a roster that would have gone 82-0 in 2017. However, in 2024, this lineup is old and tired. James Harden and Russell Westbrook are shells of their old selves while Kawhi Leonard and Paul Geroge have not proved themselves as effective playoff performers.

This roster does run deep though, with sixth-man-of-the-year candidate Norman Powell, it could be up to the bench unit to find wins.

No. 3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs. No. 6 Phoenix Suns

Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards has willed Minnesota to the No. 3 seed this season; his reward: a date with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the first round. For the Timberwolves, it’s not as bad as it sounds.

The Suns feature one of the weakest bench units in the NBA, but matchups may cause headaches for Minnesota.

Booker and Beal combined for 45.3 points per game this season, creating a nightmare defensively for the Minnesota backcourt of Mike Conley and Anthony Edwards. However, Suns center Jusuf Nurkic will have his hands full against 21.8 points-per-game scorer Karl Anthony Towns.

The Suns are still looking for the first Western Conference Finals appearance with Kevin Durant, while the Timberwolves look to advance to the second round for the first time since 2004.

No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Last season, these teams met in the Western Conference Finals with the Nuggets dominating in a sweep of the Lakers. This season, both teams come back with little changes made to either roster, the Lakers making a few minor substitutions.

Nikola Jokic averaged 27.8 points and 14.5 rebounds per game in the four games that these teams played in the postseason in 2023. The Lakers are only getting older while the Nuggets are still continuing to reach their peak.

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans/Sacramento Kings

The No. 1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous Alexander and rookie Chet Holmgren. Not your conventional No. 1 seed in the West, but they represented the same record as the defending champion Denver Nuggets and best player in the world, Nikola Jokic.

For OKC, it’s not just a fluke season, this team is one of the youngest in the NBA and will be ready to compete for years to come.

They will be tested immediately in these playoffs as they await either the Kings or Pelicans, both could pose a legitimate threat to the young and inexperienced Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sketch Morton is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email sam7539@psu.edu.