The Northwest Division is turning into one of the more exciting divisions in the league as every team still has plenty at stake heading into the month of March.
As we enter the last full month of NBA action, the race for the playoffs, and for the Northwest Division title, is really heating up. Despite having their fair share of ups and downs the Utah Jazz still remain solidly atop the division. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder are looming not far behind and the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves are all engaged in a relentless battle for that eighth and final playoff seed.
Therefore, the month of March may very well determine the fate of several teams in the Northwest Division. The quest for the top spot has without a doubt become a two-man race between Utah and OKC, but it’s fun to have the entire division in the conversation for a playoff bid.
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Currently the Thunder trail the Jazz by three games, while the Nuggets, who are 6.5 games behind the Thunder, hold a 2.5-game lead over the Blazers and a three-game lead over the Timberwolves.
While I suppose it’s possible that a team like the Mavs or Pelicans could hypothetically surge and take over that eighth seed, it’s looking more than likely that the Northwest Division will indeed have three teams in the postseason, tying the Southwest Division for most in the conference.
With that being the case, here’s a look at the current status of each team in the Northwest Division in terms of how they got to where they are and what lies ahead for them in the month of March.