After missing the playoffs the past five seasons, the Denver Nuggets have clinched a spot in this year’s postseason. Here’s everything to keep track of who they will be playing once they get there.
The past couple years have seen the Denver Nuggets fighting for a playoff spot in the season’s final days — falling just a game short both times.
This year, that won’t be a problem. The Nuggets clinched their playoff berth March 18 with a win over the Celtics.
It’s Denver’s first playoff appearance since 2013.
The Nuggets led the Western Conference for most of the first half of the season, eventually settling in comfortably in second.
There’s a lot of basketball still to be played, though. So here’s everything you could need to know about the Nuggets playoff chances.
Western Conference Standings
Team Record G.B. Last 10 Remaining S.O.S.*
Golden State Warriors 52-24 – – 7-3 20
Denver Nuggets 51-25 1 7-3 4
Houston Rockets 49-28 3.5 7-3 28
Portland Trail Blazers 48-28 4 8-2 10
Utah Jazz 46-30 6 9-1 17
Los Angeles Clippers 47-31 6 8-2 5
San Antonio Spurs 44-33 8.5 6-4 27
Oklahoma City Thunder 44-33 8.5 3-7 8
Rank among NBA teams. The lower the number, the tougher the schedule, provided by Tankathon.
Sitting a game behind the Warriors with just six games to go, the Nuggets have a legitimate chance to secure the No. 1 seed — especially with a game against the Warriors remaining.
Here’s what will have to happen for the Nuggets to grab the top spot
For the First Seed
If GSW Go Denver Must Go
6-0 Impossible
5-1 6-0
4-2 5-1
3-3 4-2
2-4 3-3
1-5 2-4
0-6 1-5
But if nothing else, the goal should be the second seed and home court advantage throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs. But, they will have Houston and Portland chasing them.
Here’s how they can clinch that No. 2 seed.
For The Second Seed
If Portland Goes Denver Must Go If Houston Goes Denver Must Go
6-0 4-2 5-0 4-2
5-1 3-3 4-1 3-3
4-2 2-4 3-2 2-4
3-3 1-5 2-3 1-5
2-4 0-6 1-4 0-6
Tiebreakers
The Nuggets hold the season advantage over the Trailblazers, winning both of the two matchups so far. But with two matchups remaining, Denver hasn’t clinched the tiebreaker yet.
The Rockets clinched the season series 3-1 with a win over Denver last week.
The Warriors claim the tiebreaker against the Nuggets, holding a 2-1 record against Denver this season. The Nuggets two have one remaining matchup, however, so neither has clinched the season series yet.
Remaining Schedules
Golden State Denver Oklahoma City
Vs. Denver* @ Golden State* Vs. L.A. Lakers
Vs. L.A. Lakers Vs. San Antonio* Vs. Detroit*
Vs. Cleveland Vs. Portland* @ Minnesota
Vs. L.A. Clippers* @ Portland* Vs. Houston*
@ New Orleans @ Utah* @ Milwaukee*
@ Memphis Vs. Minnesota
Houston Portland San Antonio
@ Sacramento @ Minnesota Vs. Atlanta
@ L.A. Clippers* Vs. Memphis @ Denver
Vs. New York @ Denver* @ Washington
Vs. Phoenix Vs. Denver* @ Cleveland
@ Oklahoma City* @ L.A. Lakers @ Dallas
Vs. Sacramento
Utah Los Angeles
Vs. Charlotte Vs. Houston*
@ Phoenix Vs. L.A. Lakers
Vs. Kings @ Golden State*
@ L.A. Lakers Vs. Utah*
Vs. Denver*
@ L.A. Clippers*
* Currently in the playoffs
Now, with the Nuggets in a battle with the Warriors, Nuggets fans will naturally start rooting against the Golden State.
I’m not going to pretend I have any idea how the bottom half of the Western Conference is going to play out.
Ideally, though, the Nuggets would get the Clippers in the first round, then either the Blazers or Spurs in round 2. But that likely won’t happen.
Denver will most likely want to avoid the Thunder in the first round — despite their recent success against OKC — and the Rockets in the second round.