Denver is eliminated from first place. To show that Denver is eliminated from first place, we start with the current conference standings: Team W L GL PCT GB Oklahoma City 57 25 0 0.695 0.0 Denver 57 25 0 0.695 0.0 Minnesota 56 26 0 0.683 1.0 LA Clippers 51 31 0 0.622 6.0 Dallas 50 32 0 0.610 7.0 New Orleans 49 33 0 0.598 8.0 Phoenix 49 33 0 0.598 8.0 LA Lakers 47 35 0 0.573 10.0 Golden State 46 36 0 0.561 11.0 Sacramento 46 36 0 0.561 11.0 Houston 41 41 0 0.500 16.0 Utah 31 51 0 0.378 26.0 Memphis 27 55 0 0.329 30.0 San Antonio 22 60 0 0.268 35.0 Portland 21 61 0 0.256 36.0 Total 650 580 0 The table below shows the maximum number of additional games that each of the listed teams can win in any scenario in which Denver finishes in first place with 57 wins. Contending Team Maximum Additional Wins Oklahoma City 57 - 57 - 1 = -1 (Oklahoma City has clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker with Denver) Total -1 Next, we calculate the minimum number of games that the other contending teams will win this season. Total 0 The 1 teams listed above will collectively win at least 0 more games this season; since this is larger then the -1-win limit, Denver is eliminated from first place.