West Group B features a mix of teams in different phases of development.

It begins with Oklahoma City and Minnesota, the only two teams from this group to reach the playoffs last season, before both were eliminated by the Spurs — the Wolves in the West Semis and the Thunder in the West Finals.

Each of the past three Western Conference Finals has featured either the Wolves (2024), the Thunder (2026), or both (2025) — the latter of which saw the Thunder eliminate the Wolves 4-1 on their way to winning the NBA title.

OKC also boasts the most past success in the NBA Cup, finishing as runner-up in 2024 and reaching the Semifinals in 2025. No other team in this field made it out of Group Play last season.

On the other hand, the Grizzlies and Clippers each added a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft – Cameron Boozer at No. 3 to Memphis and Keaton Wagler at No. 5 to LA — as foundational pieces of their long-term futures. Meanwhile, the Pelicans did not have a first-round pick and are counting on the internal development of their young players as they look to climb the standings.

In head-to-head matchups among West Group B teams last season, the Thunder swept the season series against the Grizzlies, Clippers, and Pelicans, but split with the Wolves. Those results added up to an 11-2 group mark on OKC’s way to a second consecutive 64+ win season.

Can OKC find similar success against these teams in Group Play? Or will a team like Minnesota — with the addition of All-Star LaMelo Ball alongside franchise star Anthony Edwards — be able to challenge them over the next four weeks?

Teams breakdown

Oklahoma City Thunder: Oklahoma City had a Larry O’Brien Trophy peeking up from the back seat of its 2025 championship convertible. That was a year ago. Things look different now. The Thunder have company and find themselves vying with the San Antonio Spurs for present and future dominance in the Western Conference. Other teams such as Minnesota, Denver and Houston are eager to close the gap. – Steve Aschburner >>

Minnesota Timberwolves: After winning just two playoff series in the franchise’s first 34 years, they have won five in the past three. And in Tim Connelly, the Wolves have an executive willing to swing from the heels to serve his vision. After trying the twin-tower concept by acquiring Rudy Gobert in 2022 to team with Karl-Anthony Towns, he went big again this offseason, trading Naz Reid and Julius Randle in a 5-team deal for polarizing point guard LaMelo Ball. – Steve Aschburner >>

LA Clippers: A new season brings an entirely new-look Clippers team. After trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac in February, L.A. continued its roster overhaul this summer, parting with Kawhi Leonard, Bennedict Mathurin, John Collins and Bogdan Bogdanović. Headlining the new core are Darius Garland and Brandon Ingram (although his debut is delayed by an Achilles injury). This year’s No. 5 overall pick, Keaton Wagler, gives L.A. an exciting young piece in the backcourt. – Ian Dardani >>

New Orleans Pelicans: The Pelicans are virtually running it back with a 26-win team, hoping that growth from within will be significant or at least satisfactory. That’s not necessarily a bad decision; it just places a burden on the young returnees. They must level up. Otherwise, it’ll be up to Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson and his health, and proven players to take matters in their own hands when the game is on the line. – Shaun Powell >>

Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies, after an offseason overhaul led by the Ja Morant trade to Portland, embark on a new era and search for a new personality. The Morant-Jaren Jackson Jr. teams are history. It’s time to make new memories and see where this journey is headed, and it begins with the prized top-3 choice. Cameron Boozer brings all the ingredients for being a future franchise player. – Shaun Powell >>

Five games to watch

Thunder at Grizzlies (Friday, Nov. 6, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass): Through Week 1, the NBA’s leading scorer is Memphis guard Ty Jerome (34.7 ppg), who played two seasons in OKC early in his career. As he faces his former team early in Group Play, can he maintain his torrid scoring pace? This game also features a clash of lottery picks on the frontline with Memphis’ Cam Boozer (No. 3) and OKC’s Aday Mara (No. 12).

Timberwolves at Pelicans (Friday, Nov. 6, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass): Three highlight reels in human form — Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball, and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson — will share the court when the Timberwolves visit the Pelicans in the Big Easy.

Thunder at Clippers (Friday, Nov. 13, 10:30 p.m. ET, League Pass): Long before he was an NBA champion, a two-time league MVP, and a four-time All-Star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a rookie with the LA Clippers in 2018-19. Now, SGA returns to the city where his NBA career began.

Timberwolves at Thunder (Wednesday, Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): This rematch of the 2025 Western Conference Finals sees two teams that have split their season series in each of the past three years. The Thunder and Wolves both enter Group Play not only as NBA Cup contenders, but as Western Conference contenders, which means this could be an early playoff preview.

Clippers at Grizzlies (Wednesday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass): This game features a matchup between two top-five picks in the 2026 Draft, as Memphis’ Boozer hosts LA’s Wagler in the penultimate Group Play game for both squads. Through Week 1, they both rank in the top five among rookies in points and assists, with Boozer leading all rookies in rebounds and Wagler second in steals.

Prediction

The early returns for Minnesota’s new backcourt have been promising. Not only are the Wolves 3-0 through Week 1, they are just the third team in NBA history to open a season with three straight wins by 20 points or more.

Minnesota’s early-season momentum, combined with the unfortunate injury to OKC’s Jalen Williams, gives the Timberwolves a slight edge as Group Play tips off on Friday. But don’t count out Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, who overcame injuries to Williams and others last season and still finished with a league-best 64 wins.