LOS ANGELES – Anthony Davis was watching Monday’s Orlando-Utah game on NBA League Pass when the broadcasters began discussing how, despite Utah going 14-2 in its last 16 games (now 15-2 in the last 17), the Jazz are only in 10th place. The Jazz’s predicament is symbolic of a Western Conference playoff skirmish that features numerous red-hot teams, including New Orleans (eight-game winning streak) and Portland (seven-game win streak). Among the top 10 teams in the conference, seven have gone at least 7-3 over the last 10 games, tightening the gap between third and 10th place considerably.
Only four games separate third-place Portland (38-26) from Utah (34-30) in 10th, while No.