LOS ANGELES -- The tightly compacted NBA Western Conference playoff chase gets a head-to-head duel for seeding Tuesday when the New Orleans Pelicans stare down the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors have distanced themselves from the field out West, but with five weeks remaining in the regular season, just 2 1/2 games separate the next seven teams. That includes the ninth-place Clippers, who are currently on the outside looking in at the playoffs.
Just how bunched up is the field in the Western Conference? At the start of play Monday night, the Pelicans were in fourth place.