Entering last night’s game against the Golden State Warriors, the Denver Nuggets were one of the hottest teams in the NBA, winning eight of their last nine games and looking like one of the most dominant teams in the league with the new addition of Aaron Gordon. 

With about a minute left to go in the game, the Nuggets were trailing the Warriors by seven points and Jamal Murray drove the the basket in transition, but his left knee buckled underneath him as he went up for a layup and he fell to the grow in agonizing pain.

The initial reaction from Murray and from the entire Nuggets team did not look good and this morning, news broke that Jamal Murray suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season. 

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This is such a heartbreaking blow to the Nuggets and Murray because not only was the young point guard playing some of the best basketball of his career this season, but Denver was starting to elevate themselves into being true title contenders in the Western Conference. 

Now, with Jamal Murray out, the Denver Nuggets may not have what it takes to win the Western Conference anymore, opening up the door for some other championship contenders in the West. But who are some of these teams that will be competing for a championship in the Western Conference? 

Some of these teams may sound familiar, but let’s take a look at the top four contenders in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets likely out of the picture.