The NBA Western Conference playoff race took a wild turn 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 for the top seed in the West. The Nuggets, who had previously been in control of their destiny, now find themselves fighting to regain the top seed on the final day of the regular season.
Despite holding a substantial lead over the Spurs, the Nuggets collapsed in the final moments, allowing San Antonio to secure the upset victory. The loss not only dashed Denver’s hopes of securing the top seed but also marked the first time in NBA history that three teams ended the season with the same record and a chance to claim the No. 1 seed in their respective conference. With one game remaining, the Nuggets are now on the outside looking in, hoping for losses from both Oklahoma City and Minnesota to climb back to the top spot.
As the regular season comes to a dramatic close, multiple teams in the West are still jockeying for playoff position. The New Orleans Pelicans, led by Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, are in a strong position to secure the sixth seed and avoid the play-in tournament. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers, Warriors, and Kings are all battling for playoff spots in what promises to be an exciting final day of the regular season. The Western Conference playoff scenarios will be decided on Sunday as all teams play their last games simultaneously.
