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1. Oklahoma City (1-0; +16)
2. Los Angeles Lakers (1-0; +5)
The Oklahoma City Thunder keep on winning without Chet Holmgren.
OKC took down the Kevin Durant-less Phoenix Suns on Friday to open up an edge on point differential over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. held the Suns to 83 points and won by 16, while LeBron James led the Lakers to a five-point triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Thunder and Lakers meet in Los Angeles on November 29. Phoenix plays the Lakers on November 26 and it has to treat that like an elimination game.
A Lakers win over the Suns would set up a battle for first place with the Thunder. Each team could also be in the mix for the top second-place spot in the West because they still have an opportunity to pad their point differential against the Utah Jazz.
The difference in the head-to-head meeting should be Anthony Davis’ size, but if OKC keeps it close with the Lakers, it still has a chance to finish second and advance.
Prediction: 1. LA Lakers, 2. Oklahoma City, 3. Phoenix, 4. San Antonio, 5. Utah
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