WESTERN CONFERENCE

THE Western Conference standouts for yet another week have been the San Antonio Spurs and this season’s surprise package, the Portland Trailblazers. Both teams are 10-0 in their last ten games, with the Trailblazers 0.5 games behind with a record of 12-2 compared to Spurs’ 12-1 record.

Portland is just a well-balanced team right now, as they showed with a fighting 91-82 win over the woeful Milwaukee Bucks. They also overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls, 98-95 as Derrick Rose went down injured indefinitely yet again, before closing the week with a 113-101 victory over 7th ranked Golden State.

The Spurs continue to lead the conference after capping the news-week with a 126-96 blowout of the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach their best start in franchise history. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder came up with an impressive performance to dismiss the LA Clippers, who are on place below the Thunder, 105-91.

Kevin Durant had 28 points and eight assists, while Serge Ibaka contributed with 17 points to help OKC to the win despite double-doubles from Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Speaking of Paul, his NBA-record streak of points and assists double-doubles came to an end at 13 in a 103-102 nail-biting win against Sacramento Kings.

Dallas and Memphis managed to push themselves up with 6-4 splits over the last 10 games as .500 percentages go all the way down to Denver Nuggets in 12th. Only the Lakers, Kings and Jazz have below .500.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Lance Stephenson show

LANCE Stephenson has shown signs of stepping up to the occasion, albeit in a hot-streaking Pacers team. In one of many stellar performances helping the Pacers to a 12-1 record, Stephenson notched 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and four steals, a comeback 97-82 victory against the Boston Celtics.

Much like the Lakers in the West, the Celtics are struggling to keep up with the young performing teams as they continue to lag with 5-10 record. Contrarily to the West, an 0.385 percentage was good enough to hold a play-off spot for John Wall and the Washington Wizards who had a 5-8 record.

The Miami Heat are closest to the Pacers, holding a 10-3 result after a 104-88 win over the Atlanta Hawks who are just behind them. The Heat went on to record a 120-92 triumph and then a closer 101-99 win over the Orlando Magic as Lebron James hit the game-winning jumper with 15 seconds left in the second match-up.

The Philadelphia 76ers maintain their place in the play-off mix despite losing 106-98 to Indiana on Saturday. They hold a 6-9 record.