San Antonio, Texas – The race for the top seed in the Western Conference heated up on Friday night as the Denver Nuggets suffered a heartbreaking 121-120 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. This loss, combined with wins by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, resulted in a three-way tie at the top heading into the final day of the NBA regular season.
Denver, coming off a recent victory that positioned them as favorites for the No. 1 seed, saw their hopes dashed by a last-second shot from Spurs guard Devonte’ Graham. Nuggets coach Michael Malone expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that the team had missed an opportunity to control their destiny.
As the regular season comes to a close, the Nuggets will face the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Thunder take on the Dallas Mavericks and the Timberwolves host the Phoenix Suns. Denver’s chance to reclaim the top seed rests on both Oklahoma City and Minnesota losing their respective games on Sunday.
This season marks a historic moment in the NBA with three teams tied for the top spot in their conference, setting the stage for an exciting finish to the regular season. The Nuggets’ collapse against the Spurs was not only the largest comeback for San Antonio but also a significant setback for Denver.
In other Western Conference matchups, the LA Clippers are set to host the Mavericks in the 4-5 matchup, with the winner potentially avoiding a showdown with the reigning champions in the second round. The New Orleans Pelicans secured a crucial win over the Golden State Warriors, positioning themselves to claim the No. 6 seed and avoid the play-in tournament.
As the playoff picture unfolds, teams across the Western Conference are jockeying for position in the final games of the regular season. The Lakers, currently the No. 8 seed, face a crucial matchup against the Pelicans, with a win potentially impacting their postseason trajectory. With the season coming down to the wire, teams are leaving it all on the court in the race for playoff seeding.