NBA Playoff Race: Jazz Playing Smooth as Season Comes to an End

With one day left to play, the fate of some teams is still in doubt.

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives against Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 10, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz drives against Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of a game at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 10, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
Getty Images

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.

Win the Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix Experience

Want the F1 experience of a lifetime? Here’s your chance to win tickets to see Turn 18 Grandstand, one of Ultimate Formula 1® Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix’s most premier grandstands!