Starting 5 February 5: The West wild Bradley Beal's return

Tight West race with four teams on top. Bradley Beal drops most points in a return game this year. Standings gymnastics.

The Western Conference is experiencing a tight race, with the top four teams separated by just one game. The Thunder and Timberwolves are tied for first place, with the Clippers and Nuggets close behind. This is the closest the West race has been in 16 years, with the last time being in 2008.

The Oklahoma City Thunder pulled off an impressive double-overtime win against the Toronto Raptors after being down by 23 points. This win was a testament to their resilience and determination.

The Minnesota Timberwolves coach, Chris Finch, has been named the coach for the Western Conference All-Stars, marking the first time a Timberwolves coach has led the All-Star team since 2004.

The Los Angeles Clippers secured their 11th win in 13 games with a victory over the Miami Heat, thanks to strong performances from James Harden and Kawhi Leonard.

The Denver Nuggets rallied to a victory against the Portland Trail Blazers, with Nikola Jokic leading the way with 29 points.

Meanwhile, Bradley Beal made an impressive return to Washington, scoring 43 points in his first game back since being traded to the Phoenix Suns.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a hot streak, setting a new franchise record for the best start to a calendar year. They currently hold the third spot in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of the New York Knicks.

The Eastern Conference is also experiencing a tight race, with just two games separating the second-place Bucks and fifth-place Sixers. The Cavs have the weakest strength of schedule for the month of February, giving them an opportunity to continue their winning streak.

Donovan Mitchell has been a key player in the Cavs' success, averaging 32.2 points per game and 8 assists per game over his last five games.

Overall, the NBA is seeing some exciting and competitive games, with teams vying for playoff positions and making their mark in the league.