Top NBA Western Conference Matchups This Week

Before the NBA All-Star weekend dazzles the world, there are a bundle of Western Conference games to enjoy this week.

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers have several key showdowns, while the San Antonio Spurs will forge ahead without Manu Ginobli.

Will the dog days of February start to separate the young, athletic teams from the aging veterans?

Here are the top games to watch in the wild west this week.

Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers, Monday 10:30 (TNT)

On a modest three-game winning streak, the Los Angeles Lakers host a Portland squad that has been wildly inconsistent this season.

There are a couple of interesting matchups to keep an eye on throughout this game. How will the Trail Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge fare against Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum? Will Derek Fisher be able to handle Raymond Felton?

Most importantly, will Kobe avenge the Lakers' loss to Portland earlier this season?

San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz, Monday 9:00 (ROOT)

A New Year's Eve meeting between these two clubs ended with a decisive San Antonio Spurs win.

This time around, the Spurs probably won't have both Manu Ginobli and Tiago Splitter, respectively sidelined with oblique and calf injuries. The Jazz might have an easier time slowing down the Spurs attack, but if Tony Parker's on his game, San Antonio will keep its winning streak alive.

We'll see if Al Jefferson can keep up the production after a 34-point outing against Washington.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors, Monday 10:30

After getting pounded by L.A. on Christmas Day, Golden State gets another crack at Vinny Del Negro's elite squad.

Both teams are loaded with talent and love to get out and run, but the Clippers have a distinct advantage athletically at the forward position.

Now that they have Kenyon Martin added to the mix, Blake Griffin and company are going to be even more difficult for the Warriors to handle.

Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets, Monday 9:00

The Ricky Rubio-Kevin Love show goes on the road to Denver, where the Nuggets boast a high-powered, balanced offensive attack.

Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari lead a group that has eight players who score more than nine points per game. Both Lawson and Andre Miller average six assists per game.

Can Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves keep pace?

San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers, Tuesday 10:00 (NBATV)

San Antonio's meeting with Portland will be the eighth out of nine straight road games. It will take a focused, efficient effort to overcome injuries and fatigue.

The Tim Duncan vs. LaMarcus Aldridge matchup is a battle between the best power forward of the 2000's and one of the best power forwards of the future.

The biggest question in this game is whether Richard Jefferson and Gary Neal can step up in the absence of Manu Ginobli.

Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks, Wednesday 9:30 (ESPN)

Aside from the Lamar Odom drama, the Lakers-Mavericks game pits two second-place franchises jockeying for playoff seeding.

Last time L.A. played Dallas, Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum fended off the Mavericks in a low-scoring tilt.

Both of these clubs have aging stars but high expectations. Can the defending champs prove that they're the better veteran team?

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday 10:30

Does Denver have enough muscle in the frontcourt to deal with a group of forwards that now includes ex-Nugget Kenyon Martin?

I think the Nuggets' front line will do a pretty good job and keep themselves in the game, as long as they don't let Blake Griffin loose in the open floor.

As far as guard play goes, the guard unit that's able to dictate the tempo of the game is the one that will lead its team to victory. Can Chris Paul of the Clippers and Ty Lawson of the Nuggets control when and where to push the pace?

Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday (TNT)

The last game before the All-Star break features Kobe against the best team in the Western Conference.

Does Oklahoma City have what it takes to hang with Los Angeles in the paint?

Do the Lakers have the legs to run with the athletic Thunder?

This game might end up being a shootout between Kobe and Kevin Durant. Let's just hope the game is close enough toward the end for it to be worth it.