Nuggets playoff seeding locked after Jokic leads win
The Denver Nuggets secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference on the final day of the regular season, with Nikola Jokic delivering an efficient first-half performance in a 128-118 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The result settled the biggest piece of NBA Nuggets playoff seeding drama in the West and set Denver up for a first-round matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jokic scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds in just over 18 minutes before sitting out the rest of the game in Texas. The three-time MVP reached 65 games played, which made him eligible for the league’s season-ending awards. Denver also got a strong scoring night from Julian Strawther, who finished with 25 points, while Jonas Valanciunas added 16 points and 11 rebounds.
How the Western Conference bracket settled
Denver’s victory had a direct ripple effect on the playoff picture. By finishing third, the Nuggets now host the sixth-seeded Timberwolves in the opening round. The Los Angeles Lakers, who were missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves because of injury, slipped to fourth in the West after their 131-107 win over Utah. That pushed them into a first-round series against the fifth-seeded Houston Rockets.
For fans tracking Nuggets playoff seeding, the final standings matter because they shape both the matchup and home-court advantage. Denver avoided the fourth seed and the Lakers, while the Lakers were forced into a tougher path after their stars were unavailable. The Nuggets’ win also closed the door on any late movement in the top half of the West bracket.
Jokic’s short night still made a statement
Jokic’s first-half line was enough to underline why Denver remains one of the most dangerous teams heading into the postseason. He controlled the game early, produced 23 points with eight boards, and then exited after a little more than 18 minutes once the Nuggets had done what they needed to do. The performance was also important from an awards standpoint, since the 65-game threshold keeps him in the mix for end-of-season honors.
Denver’s supporting cast also gave the team a boost. Strawther’s 25 points provided extra scoring punch, and Valanciunas’ double-double added physicality inside. That balance is a good sign as the Nuggets prepare for a Minnesota team that finished sixth and now has to deal with Denver’s size, experience, and home-court edge.
Spurs rest Wembanyama after big outing
The Spurs, who had already secured their playoff place by beating Dallas earlier in the week, rested Victor Wembanyama after his 40-point explosion in a 139-120 win over the Mavericks on Saturday. De’Aaron Fox led San Antonio with 24 points in the loss.
San Antonio finished as the second seed in its own bracket and will host the winner of the play-in game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns. That play-in tournament is the round-robin stage that follows the regular season and determines the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference.
What comes next in the West
The top of the Western Conference is now set, with the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder holding the No. 1 seed. The Nuggets’ win ensured they stay on the opposite side of the bracket from the Lakers and gave them a cleaner path into the postseason. The final play-in results, due by Friday, will determine the rest of the first-round pairings.
One note for readers following the broader postseason picture: the article source referenced Dallas in the context of San Antonio’s recent win over the Mavericks, and the West’s final seeding now leaves the bracket fully shaped around the Nuggets, Lakers, Rockets, Timberwolves, and the remaining play-in teams. For Denver, the key takeaway is simple — the Nuggets playoff seeding is locked, and the Timberwolves are next.
What This Means for Bettors
The final Nuggets playoff seeding shift matters because it changes the first-round market from a potential Lakers matchup to a Timberwolves series. That can affect series prices, game spreads, and totals, especially with Denver securing home-court advantage in the opener. Jokic’s efficient close to the regular season also reinforces how the market may view Denver’s title and series outlook heading into the playoffs.
