In a dramatic turn of events, the Western Conference playoff race tightened with a three-way tie following the Denver Nuggets' heartbreaking loss to the San Antonio Spurs, while the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves secured wins.
The Nuggets, who previously held a one-game lead atop the conference, suffered a stunning defeat to the Spurs after Devonte' Graham's clutch shot sealed the game with 0.9 seconds remaining, leaving Denver's hopes of clinching the No. 1 seed in jeopardy.
With just one game remaining in the regular season, the Nuggets face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, needing a win while hoping for losses from both the Thunder and Timberwolves to reclaim the top seed. Despite the setback, Nuggets coach Michael Malone emphasized the team's focus on finishing the season strong and preparing for the challenges ahead in the playoffs.
The unprecedented three-way tie among division rivals has added an extra layer of intensity to the playoff race, with each team's head-to-head record determining their seeding.
Oklahoma City currently holds the edge as the No. 1 seed, followed by the Timberwolves at No. 2, and the Nuggets sliding down to No. 3. The outcome of Sunday's games will ultimately determine the final standings and playoff matchups in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the West, the playoff picture remains uncertain, with several teams vying for seeding positions and playoff berths. The New Orleans Pelicans secured a pivotal win over the Golden State Warriors, positioning themselves to potentially avoid the play-in tournament with a victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
As the regular season draws to a close, teams are gearing up for crucial matchups that will shape their postseason fate, with every game carrying immense significance in the quest for playoff success.
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