January NBA Schedule Outlook – West Contenders

Oklahoma City Thunder: There is little reason to expect that the Thunder will slip from the top spot in the Western Conference standings in January with a healthy lead as 2024 winds down. January will provide a few significant tests however as the Thunder face Cleveland, New York, and Dallas twice each, while also playing Boston in early January. Only seven of 15 January games are on the road, but the Thunder will face three back-to-back set-ups in the month. 

 

Memphis Grizzlies: It has been a great comeback season for the Grizzlies, currently the NBA’s top scoring team. Memphis has delivered a fantastic December, but January’s path will be challenging. Six of the first eight games in January for Memphis are on the road including trips to Golden State, Minnesota, and Houston for a collection of tricky games. Memphis will play Houston three times in January in a key Southwest division series. Memphis plays the Wolves twice and the Spurs twice plus a trip to New York as well the January path doesn’t include the very top elite teams, it will be a grueling run for the Grizzlies. 

 

Houston Rockets: After a strong start last season the Rockets faded late in the season. January will test Houston’s staying power again as the Rockets draw several difficult games in the next month. Houston plays Boston and Cleveland twice each in January while also playing the Grizzlies three times. January also includes games with the Mavericks, Lakers, Hawks, and Nuggets, as Houston will have one of the most difficult January schedules in the league.  

Dallas Mavericks: Following a slow start to the season in defense of its Western Conference title, Dallas has been playing well in recent weeks even with injuries impacting the lineup. Dallas will play only seven road games in January as most of the toughest games will be at home. There are elite teams visiting Dallas in January however with home dates vs. Cleveland, Oklahoma City, and Boston, plus two home games with Denver. Dallas will work in games vs. some of the lesser teams in the league in January as well but Dallas will get a significant boost to its strength of schedule in January with the recent rise built on a favorable path. 

 

Los Angeles Lakers: Los Angeles is currently #5 in the West standings, but it is a crowded picture with positions #5 to #11 separated by only three games. The Lakers have played more road games than home games at this point in the season for a relatively difficult schedule at this point in the season compared to many of the top teams in the standings. January should offer a great opportunity for the Lakers to move up from the pack in the Western Conference standings. The Lakers have nine of the team’s first 12 January games at home. The Lakers do play Boston at home in late January but that is the only elite team on the path plus back-to-back games with Houston and Dallas. Overall, the Lakers have one of the most friendly schedules in the NBA in January and will need to take advantage of it given how close the final positioning in the West could be.

 

Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers are a top six team in the West at this point, with expected contenders Denver, Minnesota, and Golden State lurking close behind. Los Angeles has enjoyed a schedule with more home games than road games so far and the Clippers are 11-6 in the new arena as 2024 winds down. 2025 will start with a challenge as the first four games are all against quality teams including road games at Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and Denver. The middle of the month offers a stretch of games with seven of eight at home, but the Lakers, Celtics, and Bucks will be visiting before a road trip to close the month. Los Angeles should stay relevant this month but there are enough challenging games to consider the possibility that the Clippers could fall out of the top six by the end of the month.