2029-30 NBA Playoffs - Western Conference
OKC Running the Western Conference
Oklahoma City (53-29) hasn’t been to the playoffs since Kevin Durant retired in 2026. That year, they came in as an eighth seed and loss to the Dallas Mavericks 4-1. They clawed their way to the top of the Western Conference this season led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19.9ppg), who they lost at the end of the season with an ankle injury in a loss to Milwaukee. It was a game he didn’t need to play in, and was only expected to play few minutes, but these things happen.
Despite having the best record in the Western Conference, OKC is not the highest scoring team in the Western Conference, averaging 93.7 points per game. The team will look to the duo of Matt Easton (19ppg) and DJ Rodman (16ppg) to help push them through to the Western Conference Finals.
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Second Gen Anthony and Martin, Jr. Look to Push Nuggets to First Finals
The last time the Denver Nuggets (51-31) were in the playoffs, they upset the number one seed Golden State Warriors in a seven game series in 2027. They were taken to 7 games again by the Spurs, but they were on the losing end of the Western Conference Semifinals. Now Denver is second in the West and are looking to take a shot at the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. The last time they played in the Western Conference Finals was in 2025, where they fell in 6 games to D’Angelo Russell and the Los Angeles Lakers. And before that, it was a Carmelo Anthony led Nuggets team in 2009 that also fell to the Lakers, that time led by Kobe Bryant, on their way to their 15th championship in franchise history. Now his son, Kiyan Anthony (18ppg), is looking to take the franchise a bit further than dear old dad.
In addition to Anthony, Denver also has Kenyon Martin, Jr. (15ppg), whose dad played alongside Carmelo in that 2009 run to the Western Conference Finals. Rookie Derrick Norman, who was the second overall pick in the NBA Draft, has also played a key part in reviving these Denver Nuggets. Norman has averaged 16.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Nuggets and has steadily improved throughout the course of the season. The combo guard has also dished out 3.7 assists per game. Norman finished second in voting for Rookie of the Year.
The Nuggets made a key move at the trade deadline, bringing on veteran De’Aaron Fox (13.9ppg). Denver went 20-14 since acquiring Fox. The team seems to be playing well as a unit, defeating the number one seed Oklahoma City Thunder in all three of their matchups this season by an average of 13 points, making the Nuggets a favorite to make it past the Western Conference Finals this year.
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Zion Keeping Blazers in the Hunt
After posting a 50+ win season last year but losing in the first round to the eighth seed Phoenix Suns, Portland (47-35) seems to be stuck. This year’s Rookie of the Year Keegan Beverly (16ppg, 7apg) has done his part in keeping this Trail Blazers team in the mix near the top of the Western Conference. Forward Zion Williamson (22.3ppg, 6.3rpg) has continued his strong play this season. With Portland choosing to rest some of their starters near the end of the season, the team went on a 6-game losing streak to close out the season, but remain optimistic that this season won’t have a repeat of last season and they'll remain in the playoffs past the first round.
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Spoelstra and the Sonics Fight into Playoffs Again
Head Coach Erik Spoelstra is still on the road to proving he can win. After returning to the league in 2027, Seattle (47-35) only took two seasons to find themselves in playoff form. They crashed the Western Conference party, finishing with the fifth seed and eliminating the Sacramento Kings to make it to the Western Conference Semifinals. This year, they’ve improved to the fourth seed and are looking to make a run again.
Despite losing Diamond Stone to a broken foot, that will keep him out throughout the entirety of the playoffs, Zach Randolph, Jr. has stepped up as the anchor for this team. Randolph has averaged 20.2 points per game to lead the squad back to the playoffs.
In-season acquisitions, Damian Lillard and Dennis Smith, Jr. has also brought a veteran presence to this squad that Spoelstra has been grateful for.
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New Comers Las Vegas Venom Set to Make First Playoff Appearance
Three seasons into the franchise’s history and the Las Vegas Venom (46-36) have made their way to the playoffs. They are a new team with veteran talent, led by Kemba Walker and Gordon Hayward, and they’ve been working to find their identity in the dessert. The NBA Draft has been kind to the Venom, drafting guard Wendell Gray out of Georgetown in 2028, followed by forward Jaxson Bass in the 2029 NBA Draft, both players have averaged 14.9 points per game this season.
The Venom looked to add more depth at point guard, trading away shooter Michael Mitchell to the Knicks in exchange for Wen Jackson, who has served as a formidable backup to Walker. The last 30 days have been amazing for the Venom, going 11-2 to snag the fifth seed in a crowded Western Conference. Hopefully, that momentum can carry through the first round of the playoffs.
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Despite lackluster season from Mikey Williams, Mavericks Hoping to Make Some Noise in the Post Season
After a rough start to the season, the Mavericks (46-36) seem to be putting things together as of late as they managed to sneak into the playoffs this season. After losing Blake Griffin to retirement, the Mavericks sought the services of veteran Anthony Davis. He managed to average a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Mavericks in his first season. Davis is no stranger to the NBA Finals, having won a championship with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2020. Dallas is hoping to that some of his championship pedigree can rub off on some of their players as they look to grab the franchise’s second championship.
The Mavs will be without Randolph Roy (16.8ppg) for the first round as he is out with a hyperextended shoulder. The Mavericks are starting to look like the team that made it to the NBA Finals in 2026 and 2029. Spencer Meyers has been performing as well as could be expected, averaging 21 points per game. Mikey Williams, while having some brilliant games. He’s run hot and cold this season averaging 11.1 points per game. Steph Curry’s impact is still being felt as the Mavs have been one of the better three-point shooting times this season, hitting nearly 40% of their 29 attempts per game this season.
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Golden State Fight There Way to a Playoff Spot
Injuries are still plaguing the Golden State Warriors (44-38), who have fought to find a spot in the playoffs again this season. Just like last season, they will be without starting point guard Darren Williams (18ppg, 4.4rpg, 4.7apg) who will be out for two more weeks rehabbing a calf injury. 2025 Rookie of the Year Lamar Hardin (16ppg) is still the team’s leader and the Warriors will lean on him heavily if they want to have a chance of getting past Denver.
Second year player, Jeremy Yates, has stepped up, starting in 21 games for the Warriors, averaging 10.9 points per game. So the future looks promising in Golden State and they have a solid foundation to build off of even if this postseason ends in a first round exit.
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Houston Makes Late Playoff Push
The Portland Trail Blazers aren’t the only team that slipped a few spots in this year’s playoffs. Houston (44-38) came in as a third seed, only to lose the Clippers in the first round. As the eighth seed in this year’s playoffs, they are hoping to cause the same type of upset to OKC, who is without their star player. Maybe they can make it all the way to the Western Conference Finals like the eighth seed Phoenix Suns did last year?
The Rockets served the Thunder one of their biggest blowouts of the year a 40 point victory in October. They managed to split the season series at 2 games each.
Khris Moore and Devin Booker are leading the postseason charge, each averaging 19 points per game.
