In-Season Tournament 2023 | West Group B Preview [Rosters/Schdule]

The NBA In Season Tournament West Group B promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with some of the Western Conference’s top teams battling it out for supremacy. This group is headlined by the defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, who posted an impressive 53-29 record in the previous season and swept the four-game series against the LA Clippers.

However, they face stiff competition from the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, and the Clippers themselves. On the other end of the spectrum, the Houston Rockets, with the worst record in the West, look to prove their mettle in this exciting tournament.

West Group B Overview

Let’s take a closer look at each team in West Group B:

Denver Nuggets

The defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, are the team to beat in this group. They boasted the best record in the Western Conference last season, and their dominance extended to head-to-head matchups within the group. They posted a remarkable 11-5 record, including a perfect 4-0 against the LA Clippers. The Nuggets have shown their ability to conquer formidable opponents, making them a formidable force in this tournament.

Denver Nuggets Rosters

Name	POS	Height	Weight
Christian Braun	G	6′ 6″	220 lbs
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	SG	6′ 5″	204 lbs
Vlatko Cancar	SF	6′ 8″	236 lbs
Collin Gillespie	G	6′ 3″	190 lbs
Aaron Gordon	PF	6′ 8″	235 lbs
Justin Holiday	SF	6′ 6″	180 lbs
Jay Huff	C	7′ 1″	240 lbs
Reggie Jackson	PG	6′ 2″	208 lbs
Nikola Jokic	C	6′ 11″	284 lbs
DeAndre Jordan	C	6′ 11″	265 lbs
Braxton Key	F	6′ 8″	225 lbs
Jamal Murray	PG	6′ 4″	215 lbs
Zeke Nnaji	PF	6′ 9″	240 lbs
Jalen Pickett	G	6′ 4″	202 lbs
Michael Porter Jr.	SF	6′ 10″	218 lbs
Ish Smith	PG	6′ 0″	175 lbs
Julian Strawther	G	6′ 7″	205 lbs
Hunter Tyson	F	6′ 8″	215 lbs
Peyton Watson	F	6′ 8″	200 lbs

Denver Nuggets Schedule

Date	Opponent	Conference	Time
Friday, Nov. 3	Dallas	West B	10 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14	LA Clippers	West B .	10 p.m
Friday, Nov. 17	New Orleans	West B	8:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 24	Houston	West B	8 p.m.

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are another strong contender in this group. With a 10-5 record against group opponents, they demonstrated consistency in the previous season. They particularly excelled against the LA Clippers, winning all three encounters. The Pelicans will be eager to make their mark in the tournament and challenge the Nuggets for the top spot in West Group B.

New Orleans Pelicans Rosters

NAME	POS	HEIGHT	WEIGHT
Jose Alvarado	PG	6′ 0″	179 lbs
Dyson Daniels	G	6′ 8″	200 lbs
Jordan Hawkins	G	6′ 5″	195 lbs
Willy Hernangomez	C	6′ 11″	250 lbs
Brandon Ingram	SF	6′ 8″	190 lbs
Herbert Jones	SF	6′ 7″	206 lbs
Kira Lewis Jr.	PG	6′ 1″	170 lbs
E.J. Liddell	F	6′ 6″	240 lbs
Naji Marshall	SF	6′ 7″	220 lbs
CJ McCollum	SG	6′ 3″	190 lbs
Trey Murphy III	SG	6′ 8″	206 lbs
Larry Nance Jr.	PF	6′ 8″	245 lbs
Dereon Seabron	G	6′ 5″	183 lbs
Jonas Valanciunas	C	6′ 11″	265 lbs
Zion Williamson	PF	6′ 6″	284 lbs
Cody Zeller	C	6′ 11″	240 lbs

New Orleans Pelicans Schedule

Date	Opponent	Conference	Time
Friday, Nov. 10	Houston	West B	8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14	Dallas	West B	8 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17	Denver	West B	8:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 24	LA Clippers	West A	10:30 p.m.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks, with a 9-7 record against group teams, are poised to be a competitive force in this tournament. They displayed their versatility by winning three out of four games against the Houston Rockets. With star player Luka Dončić leading the way, the Mavericks have the potential to create some surprises in this group.

Dallas Mavericks Rosters

Name	Pos	Height	Weight
Greg Brown III	PF	6′ 8″	217 lbs
Seth Curry	SG	6′ 1″	190 lbs
Dexter Dennis	G	6′ 5″	210 lbs
Luka Doncic	PG	6′ 7″	230 lbs
Dante Exum	G	6′ 5″	214 lbs
Josh Green	SG	6′ 6″	210 lbs
Tim Hardaway Jr.	SF	6′ 5″	205 lbs
Jaden Hardy	G	6′ 4″	198 lbs
Richaun Holmes	F	6′ 10″	240 lbs
Kyrie Irving	PG	6′ 2″	191 lbs
Derrick Jones Jr.	SF	6′ 6″	210 lbs
Maxi Kleber	PF	6′ 10″	240 lbs
A.J. Lawson	G	6′ 6″	185 lbs
Dereck Lively II	C	7′ 1″	234 lbs
Mike Miles Jr.	G	6′ 2″	205 lbs
Markieff Morris	PF	6′ 9″	245 lbs
Dwight Powell	C	6′ 10″	240 lbs
Olivier-Maxence Prosper	F	6′ 8″	215 lbs
Jordan Walker	SG	5′ 11″	170 lbs
Joe Wieskamp	SF	6′ 6″	205 lbs
Grant Williams	PF	6′ 6″	236 lbs

Dallas Mavericks Schedule

Date	Opponent	Conference	Time
Friday, Nov. 3	Denver	West B	10 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 10	LA Clippers	West B	8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14	New Orleans	West B	8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 28	Houston	West B	8:30 p.m.

LA Clippers

The LA Clippers may have finished fifth in the West last season, but they faced challenges in head-to-head matchups within the group, finishing with a 6-9 record. Despite their struggles, they can’t be underestimated, especially with the talent of players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Clippers will be looking to turn the tide and secure a strong position in West Group B.

LA Clippers Rosters

Name	Position	Height	Weight
Nicolas Batum	PF	6′ 8″	230 lbs
Brandon Boston Jr.	SG	6′ 6″	188 lbs
Kobe Brown	G	6′ 8″	250 lbs
Amir Coffey	SG	6′ 7″	210 lbs
Robert Covington	PF	6′ 7″	209 lbs
Moussa Diabate	F	6′ 11″	210 lbs
Paul George	F	6′ 8″	220 lbs
Bones Hyland	PG	6′ 2″	169 lbs
Kawhi Leonard	SF	6′ 7″	225 lbs
Terance Mann	SG	6′ 5″	215 lbs
KJ Martin	F	6′ 7″	215 lbs
Kenyon Martin Jr.	F	6′ 7″	215 lbs
Jordan Miller	G	6′ 7″	195 lbs
Xavier Moon	PG	6′ 0″	165 lbs
Marcus Morris Sr.	SF	6′ 8″	218 lbs
Mason Plumlee	C	7′ 0″	254 lbs
Norman Powell	G	6′ 3″	215 lbs
Jason Preston	PG	6′ 3″	181 lbs
Russell Westbrook	PG	6′ 3″	200 lbs
Ivica Zubac	C	7′ 0″	240 lbs

LA Clippers Schedule

Date	Opponent	Conference	Time
Friday, Nov. 10	Dallas	West B	8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14	Denver	West B	10 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 17	Houston	West A	10:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 24	New Orleans	West A	10:30 p.m.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets had a tough season, finishing with the worst record in the Western Conference at 22-60. Unsurprisingly, their struggles extended to the group stage, where they managed just three wins out of 16 games. However, every tournament presents an opportunity for redemption, and the Rockets will be eager to prove their resilience.

Houston Rockets Rosters

Name	Pos	Height	Weight
D.J. Augustin4	G	5′ 11″	183 lbs
Dillon Brooks	SF	6′ 7″	225 lbs
Willie Cauley-Stein2	C	7′ 0″	240 lbs
Darius Days5	F	6′ 7″	245 lbs
Tari Eason17	F	6′ 8″	215 lbs
Jalen Green4	SG	6′ 4″	186 lbs
Jeff Green32	PF	6′ 8″	235 lbs
Aaron Holiday	G	6′ 0″	185 lbs
Trevor Hudgins12	G	6′ 0″	180 lbs
Frank Kaminsky33	PF	7′ 0″	240 lbs
Jock Landale	C	6′ 11″	255 lbs
Boban Marjanovic51	C	7′ 4″	290 lbs
Kevin Porter Jr.3	SG	6′ 4″	203 lbs
Alperen Sengun28	C	6′ 11″	243 lbs
Jabari Smith Jr.1	PF	6′ 11″	220 lbs
Jae’Sean Tate8	SF	6′ 5″	230 lbs
Amen Thompson	F	6′ 7″	214 lbs
Fred VanVleet	SG	6′ 0″	197 lbs
Cam Whitmore	F	6′ 7″	232 lbs

Houston Rockets Schedule

• New Orleans vs. Houston | West B | 8 p.m.
• Houston vs. LA Clippers | West A | 10:30 p.m.
• Denver vs. Houston | West B | 8 p.m.
• Houston vs. Dallas | West B | 8:30 p.m.

Head-to-Head Records

Now, let’s delve deeper into the head-to-head records of each team within West Group B:

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets displayed their dominance by going 4-0 against the LA Clippers, sweeping their season series. They also had a 3-1 advantage over the Houston Rockets and split the series 2-2 with both the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans. With an overall record of 11-5, the Nuggets enter this tournament as one of the favorites to claim the top spot.

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans had a balanced performance against group opponents. They split the series 2-2 with both the Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks. However, they shone against the LA Clippers, winning all three encounters. With a 10-5 record, the Pelicans are certainly contenders for the top position in West Group B.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks had a competitive season against group rivals, finishing with a 9-7 record. They managed to split the series 2-2 with both the Denver Nuggets and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Mavericks will rely on their star player Luka Dončić to lead them to victory in this tournament.

LA Clippers

The LA Clippers faced challenges within the group, finishing with a 6-9 record. Their struggles were evident against the Denver Nuggets, as they were swept in their four-game series. Additionally, they lost all three matchups against the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite these setbacks, the Clippers possess the talent to stage a comeback in West Group B.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets had a challenging season, reflected in their 3-13 record within the group. They struggled against all their group rivals, managing just one win against the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans. The Rockets face an uphill battle in this tournament but will look to surprise their opponents.

Tournament Predictions

As we look ahead to the NBA In Season Tournament in West Group B, the defending champion Denver Nuggets appear to be the team to beat. Their strong record and head-to-head dominance make them the frontrunners. However, the New Orleans Pelicans, with their consistent performance, could pose a serious challenge.

The Dallas Mavericks, despite their balanced record, cannot be counted out, especially with Luka Dončić’s brilliance. The LA Clippers, while struggling in head-to-head matchups, have the talent to stage a comeback. As for the Houston Rockets, they have an opportunity to prove themselves and upset the odds.

Conclusion

The NBA In Season Tournament West Group B promises exciting basketball action. With the defending champion Denver Nuggets leading the way, teams like the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, LA Clippers, and the Houston Rockets will battle fiercely for supremacy. This tournament provides a platform for redemption, surprises, and thrilling basketball moments. As the teams take the court, fans can expect intense competition, surprising upsets, and unforgettable highlights in the quest for West Group B supremacy.