For the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, 81 games weren’t enough to figure out if they’d make the playoffs, so they’re going to play one more for all the marbles.
Tonight in Minnesota, the teams will face off in a winner-take-all game for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Neither team has made the playoffs in recent memory, with the Nuggets last appearing in the postseason in 2013 and the T-Wolves last making it in 2004.
While it might be the most important, that’s far from the only game with playoff implications on the last day of the NBA regular season as a number of teams still have a lot to play for.
In Portland, the Utah Jazz and the Trail Blazers are playing for the No. 3 seed in the West. The loser will grab the No. 4 spot and face either the Thunder, Spurs or Pelicans in the first round.
To get themselves in this position, the surprising Jazz have won six straight games, including a dominant 119-79 victory over the Golden State Warriors last night.
In Cleveland, the Cavs can lock up the No. 3 spot in the East if they win against the Knicks and Philadelphia loses at home against the Bucks. However, if the 76ers win, they lock up the No. 3 seed and send the Bucks from the No. 6 seed down to the No. 7 spot.
The race is tight enough that all eight of the 16-team tournament’s first-round matchups will be decided by play tonight, as will the final spot of 11 of the 16 seeds.
Get your popcorn ready.
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