The tightest division race in the NBA takes place in the Northwest division as three teams are all within five games of each as we head into the All-Star Break. The Denver Nuggets (38-17) lead the Utah Jazz (36-18) by 1.5 games and lead the Oklahoma City Thunder (33-22) by 5 games. All three of these teams are in the top seven of the Western Conference playoffs.
Odds to win Northwest Division – odds via Draftkings Sportsbook
- Denver Nuggets -155
- Utah Jazz +120
- Oklahoma City Thunder +900
- Portland Trail Blazers +15000
- Minnesota Timberwolves +25000
The Nuggets are by far the most balanced team in this division, as Denver is 21-7 at home and 17-10 on the road, but the Utah Jazz are not far behind them. Utah is 20-5 in Salt Lake City and 16-13 on the road. The Oklahoma City Thunder are 17-12 at home and 16-10 on the road heading into the All-Star Break. These three teams are also close to each other in point differential as Utah is +4.1, Denver is +3.7 and Oklahoma City is +2.6.
All three of these teams have fairly hard strength of schedules to end the season as all three teams are ranked 10-15 in the league the rest of the way. Denver has the toughest remaining schedule of the three teams as their final 27 games has a combined winning percentage of .517. The Nuggets still have to face Toronto and the Clippers two times each and also face the Bucks and the Lakers over the final 27. Denver’s easiest games remaining are two against Golden State and one game against Cleveland, Minnesota, Charlotte and Detroit.
Oklahoma City have the 13th toughest remaining schedule as the combined winning percentage of their remaining 27 games in .512. The Thunder still have to face the Nuggets three times and the Lakers, Celtics and Bucks once. Some easier games on their schedule is Golden State, Atlanta, Minnesota, Charlotte and the Knicks twice.
Utah has the easiest schedule of their competition as the Jazz have the 15th hardest remaining schedule with a combined .502 winning percentage in their last 28 games. The Jazz still have to face the Lakers and Celtics twice, and the Raptors and Celtics once. Utah has easier games than the rest of the teams in the division race as the Jazz still get to face Cleveland twice and the Hawks, Timberwolves, Knicks and Pistons once.
This is going to come down to the wire, but I like the Utah Jazz at +120 to win the Northwest Division.