NBA playoff picture: Jazz make up ground on Lakers, Grizzlies fall back

By Patrick Hayes on Mar 17 2013, 8:02a @patrick_hayes +

USA TODAY Sports

The Jazz moved within a half game of the Lakers for eighth in the West while Memphis is now tied with Denver for fourth.

With a win Saturday over the Memphis Grizzlies (44-21), theUtah Jazz (34-32) moved within a half game of the Los Angeles Lakers for eighth place in the Western Conference standings.

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The Jazz had been among the top eight in the West most of the season, but lost ground in the standings with improved play from the Lakers over the last month. Utah is idle on Sunday while the Lakers host the Sacramento Kings(23-43). It is unclear whether the Lakers will have star Kobe Bryant, who sprained his ankle Wednesday. Bryant attempted to play on the sprain in Friday's win over the Indiana Pacers, but left the game after just one quarter and four missed shots.

With the loss to Utah Saturday, the Grizzlies fell into a tie for fourth in the West with the surging Denver Nuggets (45-22). Denver has won 12-straight games, the second-best streak in the league behind the 21-game winning streak the Miami Heat are currently on. Here are the full Western Conference standings:

WESTERN CONFERENCE	W	L	PCT	GB	HOME	ROAD	CONF	DIV	STREAK	L10
1 San Antonio	51	16	0.761	-	28-4	23-12	28-12	12-2	W2	7-3
2 Oklahoma City	49	17	0.742	1½	30-4	19-13	32-10	7-4	W2	8-2
3 L.A. Clippers	45	21	0.682	5½	25-8	20-13	27-13	8-4	L1	6-4
4 Memphis	44	21	0.677	6	25-8	19-13	24-15	6-5	L2	7-3
5 Denver	45	22	0.672	6	30-3	15-19	30-11	8-5	W11	10-0
6 Golden St.	37	30	0.552	14	22-10	15-20	19-19	7-5	L1	4-6
7 Houston	35	30	0.538	15	21-9	14-21	16-22	5-8	W1	6-4
8 L.A. Lakers	35	32	0.522	16	22-11	13-21	18-21	5-5	W1	7-3

Utah	34	32	0.515	16½	24-8	10-24	19-20	5-5	W1	3-7
Portland	31	34	0.477	19	22-11	9-23	18-22	6-5	W2	6-4
Dallas	31	34	0.477	19	18-12	13-22	17-23	5-8	W1	6-4
Minnesota	22	40	0.355	26½	15-16	7-24	12-26	3-10	L1	2-8
Sacramento	23	43	0.348	27½	17-15	6-28	9-28	4-6	W1	4-6
New Orleans	22	44	0.333	28½	12-20	10-24	12-27	4-9	L2	3-7
Phoenix	22	45	0.328	29	15-17	7-28	14-26	4-8	L4	4-6