The Los Angeles Lakers have ridden a five-game winning streak to the top of the Western Conference with a 9-2 record. Luka Dončić is playing like the MVP, Austin Reaves looks like a legitimate All-NBA guard and a host of role players, headlined by Walker Kessler, are flourishing.
While a favorable schedule has benefitted them to some degree, wins count all the same and the Lakers are largely taking care of business, dismantling lesser teams in comfortable fashion.
But Los Angeles is not the lone team
out West piling up victories. The four clubs directly behind them have won a combined 23 games in a row, led by the San Antonio Spurs’ eight-game winning streak and the Golden State Warriors’ seven-game winning streak. Early season standings are almost always jumbled, but the West is particularly unforgiving thus far. The Portland Trail Blazers began the weekend atop the conference at 6-1, then dropped a back-to-back set to the now No. 1 and 2 seeds and tumbled to eighth.
Moving forward, I’ll regularly provide a snapshot of the Western Conference standings with a brief section on every team to offer a glimpse at the Lakers’ fiercest foes.
Net ratings are courtesy of Cleaning the Glass and exclude garbage time.
Playoff teams
1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 8-2, plus-8.4 net rating (6th in the NBA)
Lakers’ record vs. Thunder: 0-0
Before November even arrived, the Thunder were dealt a trio of serious blows as three starters — Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace — all suffered serious injuries and are out for the foreseeable future. After a couple hiccups following a 4-0 start, they’ve rebounded to rattle off four straight wins.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is carrying the mantle as their engine while Ajay Mitchell instills crucial secondary creation. Rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz have also stepped up amid all the injuries to assimilate themselves and help keep OKC afloat.
2. San Antonio Spurs: 8-2, plus-12.2 net rating (1st)
Lakers’ record vs. Spurs: 0-0
The Spurs opened the year with a pair of losses and have since rampaged through the league. During their eight-game winning streak, six of their victories have been by double-digits, including five by 16 or more. They’re the only team currently sitting top five in both offensive (third) and defensive rating (fourth). Victor Wembanyama is a two-way wrecking ball. Dylan Harper, now a starter, and De’Aaron Fox have flourished in complementary roles.
Their most pressing worry is Stephon Castle’s slow start. He’s struggled adapting to a greater off-ball role offensively, unable to burn teams from deep or attack the rim as often to draw fouls or finish inside. If he rediscovers his form of last year, they’ll be even more potent.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves: 8-3, plus-12.0 (2nd)
Lakers’ record vs. Wolves: 0-0
Despite losing Anthony Edwards two weeks ago, the Timberwolves have won five of seven games — including four straight — in his absence. LaMelo Ball’s wondrous shooting and playmaking have eased everyone else’s burden offensively. Rudy Gobert continues to dominate defensively as a nearly unmatched interior defender. Ayo Dosunmu (18.1 points per game) and Jaden McDaniels (17.0) are stepping up to fill the void left behind by Edwards. The Wolves are rolling.
4. Golden State Warriors: 7-3, plus-3.8 (12th)
Lakers’ record vs. Warriors: 1-1
An 0-3 start to the year is already forgotten as Golden State’s gone two weeks without losing. Over that span, they’ve scored impressive wins over the Timberwolves, Lakers, Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets. Stephen Curry is a supernova, averaging 31.3 points on 70.8% true shooting.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has proven himself a versatile front-court scorer — capable of posting up, spacing, rolling and handling — and paired aptly alongside Curry. Role players like Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton and Georges Niang are prospering. This team looks rejuvenated.
5. Houston Rockets: 7-3, plus-11.2 (4th)
Lakers’ record vs. Rockets: 0-0
Having lost two straight, the Rockets are in a minor lull after a 5-0 start. They’ve benefited from Fred VanVleet’s return and the arrival of Marcus Smart while Alperen Şengün (21-9-8-1-1, 59% true shooting) is loudly stamping his mark across games. Still a metronome of efficiency, Kevin Durant is averaging his fewest points per game (20.8) since his rookie year on a career-low 23.7% usage rate.
Subdued burst and ball-handling have limited his creation in recent years, so he’s mostly a high-level play-finisher these days. It’ll be interesting to see how Houston’s offensive hierarchy and performance shakes out by season’s end.
Play-In teams
6. Memphis Grizzlies, 6-3, plus-5.2 (9th)
Lakers’ record vs. Grizzlies: 0-0
The Grizzlies are a well-rounded group led by Ty Jerome’s full-fledged breakout. The veteran is averaging 26.6 points, 5.3 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game to power Memphis’ surprising start. Rookie Cameron Boozer’s passing and decision-making have popped but he’s labored mightily to score the ball, shooting 33.9% overall and 35.8% inside the arc.
Remedying that means figuring out how to get to his spots without touting an overwhelming strength advantage. If he can become an effective scorer, he’ll instill another valuable dynamic for Memphis.
7. Portland Trail Blazers: 6-3, plus-4.2 (10th)
Lakers’ record vs. Blazers: 1-1
Behind an array of complementary ball-handlers, some athletic and physical wing defenders and two imposing rim protectors, the Blazers have built a pretty nifty team. Fouls, turnovers and white-hot midrange shooting are sinking their defense (23rd overall) but they’re second in offensive rating with a multifaceted attack.
They’ll hope Ja Morant, who’s currently out with a hamstring strain, can return as quickly as possible to further enhance their dynamic offense.
8. Denver Nuggets: 5-3, plus-2.5 (16th)
Lakers’ record vs. Nuggets: 0-0
The Nuggets are still searching to find themselves early in the year, though they have won four of five. Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon have hardly looked like the terrifying forces of the past few years while the bench rotation hasn’t established much rhythm.
Spencer Jones made his season debut this weekend. He’ll help reinforce the wings. Christian Braun’s off-ball scoring resembles that of 2024-25 rather than 2025-26, which is an encouraging development for Denver. Trevon Brazile and Bryce Hopkins might be nice finds as rotation players. Jamal Murray is humming as a scorer and passer. Matchups with Houston and Memphis this week will help illuminate the Nuggets’ current quality.
9. Dallas Mavericks: 6-4, plus-2.8 (14th)
Lakers’ record vs. Mavericks: 0-0
Thus far, the Mavericks’ big swing in hiring Dusty May from the collegiate ranks has paid off. He’s established a movement-heavy offense that punishes gap help with cutting, relocating and snappy passing while utilizing all of the talent in the rotation.
Cooper Flagg is averaging 24-7-7-2 and playing like an early All-NBA candidate. Kyrie Irving’s shooting and off-ball instincts have paired snugly next to the Mavs’ budding superstar. Dallas should factor into the postseason conversation all year.
Lottery teams
10. New Orleans Pelicans: 4-6, minus-0.5 (18th)
Lakers’ record vs. Pelicans: 0-0
Peaks and valleys are the themes of the Pelicans’ first few weeks. They opened 0-4, then ripped off four consecutive wins and followed those up with a two-game losing streak. Jeremiah Fears has improved as a driver and finisher. Saddiq Bey and Trey Murphy III chip in with versatile scoring from the wing spots.
New Orleans seems too talented to bottom out but too clunky and incongruent to truly compete for a playoff berth. We’ll likely have a much better read on this team by December with another month of games under its belt.
11. Phoenix Suns: 3-5, minus-7.0 (23rd)
Lakers’ record vs. Suns: 0-0
Phoenix’s busy offseason in which it revamped its starting five to land Miles Bridges has not panned out through three weeks. That starting group is disjointed and incompatible, lacking the passing, driving and defense to thrive. Second-year center Khaman Maluach has struggled, though shown some flashes on the offensive glass, as a finisher and defending the rim. Devin Booker is lighting up the nets, averaging 25.3 points on 59.9% true shooting.
Two wins in a row, most recently over the Rockets, has helped right the ship a tad. We’ll see if they can keep the good vibes going on Tuesday against the Spurs.
12. Los Angeles Clippers: 2-7, minus-4.0 (19th)
Lakers’ record vs. Clippers: 2-0
The Clippers opened the year with a win over the Sacramento Kings before suffering seven straight losses, all of which came against postseason hopefuls or title contenders. Then, they knocked off the Pelicans Sunday night.
Darius Garland is scoring and shooting well (55.1% on 2s, 37.1% from deep) but is printing giveaways with 5.1 turnovers per game. Keaton Wagler is knocking down 39% of his triples and showcasing off-kilter craft to take 5.8 free throws each night (.712 free-throw rate) but cannot score inside the arc to save his life (28.1% on 2s). His development is the main priority this season.
13. Sacramento Kings: 1-9, minus-12.4 (27th)
Lakers’ record vs. Kings: 1-0
One of four one-win teams this season, the Kings are mostly a mess. Darius Acuff Jr.’s passing and off-the-dribble scoring are among the rare glimmers of positivity. The rookie is averaging 25.9 points and 7.4 assists while showing a real knack operating in ball-screens. Following a tough first four games, he’s also been pretty efficient, tallying 28.8 points and 9.2 assists per game while shooting 51.9% on 2s and 38.3% from deep (58.1% true shooting) over his last six outings.
14. Utah Jazz: 1-9, minus-11.9 (26th)
Lakers’ record vs. Lakers: 1-0
It is fitting the West’s most disappointing team will punctuate this week’s debrief. The Jazz entered 2026-27 with genuine aspirations and have catastrophically flopped. They’re on pace for their fewest wins and worst net rating since they began rebuilding in 2022-23.
Injuries are a factor. They dearly miss Jusuf Nurkic’s screening and passing — a reliance on him is a blaring alarm bell on its own — and Jaren Jackson Jr. has only played four games. But Utah is too often scattered and stagnant offensively, cannot protect the rim and does not generate turnovers. There’s lots of season left but the Jazz have hardly shown signs they’re nearing a turnaround.
You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.
