NBA Western Conference No. 1 Seed Odds: Nuggets Expected to Pace the West

Every team in the NBA has played more than half their games this season, giving us a decent glimpse of which teams could be fighting for the No. 1 seed in each conference.

There are a handful of teams that are in contention for the top seed in the Western Conference.

Let's take a look at the Western Conference No. 1 seed odds from FanDuel Sportsbook right around the three-month mark in the regular season.

NBA Western Conference No. 1 Seed Odds

Here is a list of the teams with the top-eight odds, with a breakdown of the top three teams.

Denver Nuggets (+175)

The reigning NBA champions currently sit at the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with a 32-15 record through their first 47 contests. The Denver Nuggets have posted a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, so they are hitting their stride with a healthier roster around Nikola Jokic.

The All-Star center is currently a co-favorite at +200 odds -- alongside Joel Embiid -- in the NBA MVP odds on FanDuel Sportsbook. Jokic is averaging 26.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game on an efficient 59.1% shooting from the field.

As a team, the Nuggets have the seventh-best offensive rating (118.2) and the 12th-best defensive rating (113.8) in the league. Even though the defense has some room for improvement, Denver won the NBA title last season with the 15th-best defensive rating (113.5).

The Nuggets have the same number of wins as the top-two seeds in the Western Conference, and they have just one more loss than the No. 3 seed in the West. Assuming Jokic and Jamal Murray remain healthy, the Nuggets have a definitive shot to secure the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference.

Oklahoma City Thunder (+210)

A team that has surprised some people this season is the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are the current No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with a 32-14 record in large part due to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blossoming into a superstar in recent seasons.

Gilgeous-Alexander is registering career-best marks in assists (6.4) and steals (2.2) per game while also shooting a career-best 54.7% from the floor. Aside from Gilgeous-Alexander, the emergence of Chet Holmgren on both ends of the court has aided the Thunder into becoming one of the best teams in the conference.

According to numberFire's metrics, the Thunder have the fourth-best offensive efficiency (121.6) and the sixth-best defensive efficiency (113.4). Oklahoma City also boasts the highest nERD rating (75.0) in the NBA.

Before a surprise loss to the lowly Detroit Pistons on Sunday, the Thunder were on a five-game winning streak. While the Thunder don't have the star talent of some of the other top teams in the Western Conference, they have a well-rounded roster, one that can certainly make noise down the stretch.

Minnesota Timberwolves (+290)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are tied with the Thunder with a 32-14 record, but they are the current No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Minnesota has logged one of the best records in the league thus far primarily due to its stifling defense.

While the Timberwolves own the best defensive efficiency (110.3) in the NBA, they are 17th in offensive efficiency (115.9). On the offensive end, the Timberwolves are heavily reliant on Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, both of whom are tallying 22-plus points per game.

When it comes to defense, the Timberwolves have experienced a team effort to improve defensively around Rudy Gobert. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year is the current frontrunner (-240) to win his fourth DPOY award, per the NBA DPOY odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, while leading the league in defensive win shares (3.4) and defensive rating (104.8).

Even with their current record, the Timberwolves have to prove they can consistently hang with the premier teams. If Minnesota wants to climb to No. 1 in the Western Conference, it will need to improve on the offensive end and maintain its success on defense.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.