After a tense exchange in Game 4, owner Mat Ishbia were much more cordial before Tuesday's pivotal Game 5 in the NBA's Western Conference Semifinals.

Source: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/suns-owner-mat-ishbia-suspending-or-fining-nikola-jokic-would-not-be-right

A Lakers fan holds their head during the 4th quarter of the 1st game of the Western Conference Finals at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2023/05/16/denver-nuggets-los-angeles-lakers-game-1-nba-playoffs/

Albert Rusnak was in the right place at the right time to score the deciding goal in the 90th minute as the visiting Seattle Sounders defeated Austin FC 2-1 on Wednesday in a key late-season Western Conference match.

Source: https://deadspin.com/albert-rusnaks-late-tally-lifts-sounders-over-austin-fc-1850790654?utm_source=regular

Aldama appeared in 77 games (including 20 starts) last season for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.

Source: https://fansided.com/2023/06/06/nba-draft-2021-re-grading-every-trade/

All the while the Clippers kept mulling their own options for how to optimize their tandem of to keep pace in a Western Conference that is getting stronger after the Phoenix Suns reportedly struck a deal for Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant late Wednesday.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2023-02-08/clippers-mavericks-kyrie-irving-nba-recap

And, yes, they wound up in the Western Conference finals, a promising start for a unit that mostly remained intact this season for another run at the Denver Nuggets.

Source: https://www.dailynews.com/2023/11/16/swanson-time-to-panic-no-but-lakers-lackluster-play-is-cause-for-concern/

April 17 (UPI) -- Kawhi Leonard scored a game-high 38 points, including 25 in the second half, to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a tight victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of a Western Conference playoff series.

Source: https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/NBA/2023/04/22/Jimmy-Butler-Miami-Heat-beat-Milwaukee-Bucks-lead/3791682205717/

As the top seed in the Western Conference facing off with the in the Eastern Conference, Denver obviously has home-court advantage throughout the Finals.

Source: https://fansided.com/2023/05/30/nba-finals-dates-times-schedule-heat-nuggets/

Bettors who claim this offer will get a $1,000 no-sweat bet to use on any game this week, including the Western Conference Finals.

Source: https://milehighsports.com/fanduel-nba-promo-code-claim-1k-no-sweat-nuggets-lakers-bet/

But the Nuggets advanced to uncharted territory in the NBA Finals because of Jokic, who was named the Magic Johnson Western Conference finals MVP.

Source: https://www.denver7.com/sports/nuggets/legion-of-broom-nuggets-advance-to-finals-defined-by-their-chemistry-unselfishness

Cherundolo disregarded both 2022 regular-season defeats to Austin FC, choosing instead to rewatch and learn lessons from his side’s Western Conference final demolition of the Texans that earned them a spot in the MLS Cup final.

Source: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2023/04/07/steve-cherundolo-keeps-lafc-rolling-as-austin-fc-comes-to-town/

Clarke is out indefinitely after he was injured Friday night late in the first quarter of the Grizzlies' 113-97 loss to the Nuggets, a showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/nba/article-11821555/Grizzlies-forward-Brandon-Clarke-miss-rest-season-tearing-left-Achilles-tendon.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Dallas and Las Vegas will meet in the Western Conference Final for the second time in four seasons.

Source: https://gorgenewscenter.com/2023/05/15/stars-beat-kraken-2-1-in-g7-to-advance-to-west-final-johnston-scores-day-after-20th-birthday/

Dallas Stars center Joe Pavelski, center, takes a stick to the face from Vegas Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb during Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Thursday in Dallas.

Source: https://rapidcityjournal.com/sports/hockey/joe-pavelski-scores-in-ot-stars-beat-knights-to-avoid-west-sweep/article_c6580ee4-c51d-52ee-8d06-c340f6c8b44d.html

DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers the last time these teams met in the Western Conference finals in the 2020 NBA bubble.

Source: https://krdo.com/news/ap-national-news/2023/05/16/nikola-jokic-leads-nuggets-past-lakers-132-126-in-west-opener-2/

DENVER (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers are taking solace in their big second-half comeback that fell just short in the Western Conference finals opener at Denver.

Source: https://krdo.com/news/ap-colorado/2023/05/17/lakers-and-nuggets-both-take-lessons-from-las-comeback-that-fell-short-in-west-opener/

Denver Nuggets center and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic has been assessed a technical foul for making contact with Phoenix Suns owner Matt Ichpia during the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday.

Source: https://www.mutiny.in/will-nikola-jokic-be-suspended-after-his-confrontation-with-suns-owner-matt-ishbala-what-we-expect-the-nba-to-do/

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) celebrates under the basket in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Western Conference Final series against the Los Angeles Lakers Monday, May 22, 2023, in Los Angeles.

Source: https://gazette.com/sports/denver-nuggets/paul-klee-until-nikola-jokic-never-thought-id-see-the-denver-nuggets-in-the-nba/article_00481ee7-291a-5c8e-9f79-1b2c550c5840.html

Denver Nuggets fans are on their feet during third game of the Western Conference Finals at the Pepsi Center on May 23, 2009.

Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2023/06/01/denver-nuggets-photos-post-archives/

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray celebrates after making a 3-point shot during the first half of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against the Lakers on Thursday night in Denver.

Source: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2023/05/18/photos-lakers-vs-nuggets-western-conference-finals-game-2/