The four-team battle for No. 1 out West. Plus, about the Wizards benching Jordan

This is the digital version of The Bounce.
If you want it earlier, start every day with The Bounce delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.

In the words of Lloyd Christmas, “We landed on the moon!” Again!

Wild, Wild West

How will it shake out?

There’s a pretty epic battle going on for the top four spots in the Western Conference standings. The Thunder are a game and a half ahead of the 36-18 Clippers (after thumping LA, 129-107, last night) and 37-19 Nuggets (who beat Washington 130-110). With these teams aiming for home-court advantage, let’s break down the race for No. 1:

1. Minnesota Timberwolves (39-16)

• Season series: OKC (2-2), LAC (2-0), DEN (1-0)
• Remaining strength of schedule: 20th
• Remaining top-eight opponents: Kings, Clippers (2x), Nuggets (3x), Suns (2x)
• Strengths: Top-ranked defense in the league; Anthony Edwards is a monster.

• Weakness: Rank 26th in turnovers per game.

Basketball-Reference gives the Wolves a 64.7 percent likelihood to grab the top seed. As long as they go at least 4-2 in their remaining Northwest Division games, they’ll win the tiebreaker over OKC.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (38-17)

• Season series: MIN (2-2), LAC (2-1), DEN (3-1)
• Remaining strength of schedule: 24th
• Remaining top-eight opponents: Suns (2x), Mavs (2x), Pelicans, Kings
• Strengths: Top four in both offensive and defensive rating.

• Weakness: Currently ranks 29th in rebounding percentage.

The Thunder holds the tiebreaker over the Clippers and Nuggets. They’ll need some help from Denver to get the tiebreaker over Minnesota. Basketball-Reference gives OKC a 24.7 percent chance at the No. 1 seed.

3. LA Clippers (36-18)

• Season series: MIN (0-2), OKC (1-2), DEN (1-2)
• Remaining strength of schedule: 11th
• Remaining top-eight opponents: Kings (2x), Wolves (2x), Pelicans, Nuggets, Suns (2x)
• Strengths: Their offense is out of this world (third), and this team has been rolling for months (33-11 record since Nov. 17 is NBA’s second-best).
• Weaknesses: They’re a bottom 10 defensive rebounding team, part of the reason their defense is outside the top 10.

Basketball-Reference gives the Clippers just a 7.3 percent finish atop the West, probably because they don’t have any tiebreakers over these other three teams.

4. Denver Nuggets (37-19)

• Season series: MIN (0-1), OKC (1-3), LAC (2-1)
• Remaining strength of schedule: 18th
• Remaining top-eight opponents: Kings, Suns (2x), Mavs, Wolves (3x), Clippers
• Strengths: The Nuggets are the reigning champions and are healthy.

• Weakness: They are a bad free-throw shooting team and lose the charity-stripe battle often.

Denver has just a 1.3 percent chance at the top seed, but I’m guessing the Nuggets are comfortable with where they are.

The Latest From Shams

Pistons’ Stewart to sit several games for fight

The NBA has suspended Pistons C/F Isaiah Stewart for three games after his altercation with the Suns’ Drew Eubanks. Stewart was arrested and issued a citation last week after striking Eubanks…