The NBA has hit the midway point of the 2019-2020 season, and the No.1 seed in each conference is starting to create some significant separation from the rest of the field. The Milwaukee Bucks (36-6) are running away with the best record in the East, while the Los Angeles Lakers (33-8) have a comfortable lead in the West.

Milwaukee finished last season atop the NBA standings as Giannis Antetokounmpo won the MVP award. History appears likely to repeat itself with the Bucks on pace for 70 wins. Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.0 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists in just 30.6 minutes per game.

The Miami Heat (28-12) trail the Bucks by seven games as the East’s No.2 seed. The Boston Celtics (27-12), Toronto Raptors (26-14), Indiana Pacers (26-15) and Philadelphia 76ers (26-16) are all fighting for second place in the conference.

The Lakers only trail the Bucks by two games in the loss column in their quest to earn home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. Los Angeles is 28-5 (69.5-win pace) when both Anthony Davis and LeBron James play.

Davis is sixth in the NBA in scoring and second in blocks. James leads the league with 10.9 assists per game to go along with averages of 25.4 points and 7.7 rebounds.

The Denver Nuggets (28-12) are the No.2 seed. The Utah Jazz (28-12) are also 4.5 games behind the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Clippers (28-13) and Houston Rockets (26-14) could be headed for a very interesting first-round playoff matchup as the No.4 and No.5 seed in the West.

The Lakers, Clippers and Bucks are all co-favorites to win the NBA Finals with +320 championship odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. The Rockets are a distant fourth with +950 odds.

Giannis Antetokounmpo LeBron James Bucks Lakers
Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers hug following a game at Fiserv Forum on December 19, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stacy Revere/Getty Images
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