NBA playoff image: Nuggets’ gorgeous loss to Spurs opens up No. 1 seed to Timberwolves, Thunder TERMAN WEBSITE

The Denver Nuggets had the No. 1 seed within the West of their palms after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. Then Victor Wembanyama occurred.

The NBA Rookie of the 12 months favourite led the last-place Spurs to a surprising 121-120 win over the defending champions Friday, posting 34 factors on 12-of-27 capturing with 12 rebounds, 5 assists and two blocks. That included an otherworldly stretch of 17 factors in three minutes, plus a pivotal block of Nikola Jokić in crunch time.

The successful basket was provided by Devonte’ Graham, who muscled by way of Jamal Murray in transition to put the Spurs in the lead with 0.9 seconds left.

Had the Nuggets taken care of enterprise towards the 21-60 Spurs, they might have been sitting fairly for the primary seed within the West. After beating the Timberwolves, Denver was one sport up on each Minnesota and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder with two to play, each towards non-playoff groups. All they needed to do was win out.

Now, all three groups are tied at 56-25. As an alternative of solely needing to defeat the 27-54 Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, the Nuggets want each the Thunder and Timberwolves to lose Sunday as a result of they do not maintain any tiebreakers. The Thunder will play the Dallas Mavericks at residence, whereas the Timberwolves face the Phoenix Suns at residence.

Here is how the tiebreakers all work out, via ESPN’s Andrew Lopez:

The Nuggets get the simplest opponent of that trio, however arguably the worst place.

Each different NBA crew with playoff stakes on Sunday

The highest of the Western Convention is not the one spot up for grabs heading into Sunday. Here is each different crew that has one thing to play for. You’ll be able to see the complete NBA standings right here.

East No. 2 seed

The New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks are presently tied for second within the East at 49-32, with the Cleveland Cavaliers a sport behind them. The Bucks get the No. 2 seed with a win over the Orlando Magic, the Knicks get it in the event that they beat the Chicago Bulls and the Bucks lose, and the Cavaliers get it in the event that they win and the Knicks and Bucks lose.

East No. 5 and 6 seed

The Magic, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers are all tied for fifth at 46-35, with the Miami Warmth looming in eighth place at 45-36. That leaves 4 groups preventing for 2 spots within the playoffs, reasonably than having to play within the play-in match.

If each crew wins, it is the Magic and Pacers within the playoffs.

West No. 6 seed

The New Orleans Pelicans maintain the ultimate auto-playoff spot at 49-32, however the Phoenix Suns are proper behind them at 48-33 and maintain the tiebreaker. The Suns might want to defeat the Timberwolves and the Pelicans to lose to the Lakers to leap out of the play-in match.

West No. 8 seed

The Lakers maintain the second spot within the higher play-in sport at 46-35, with the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors tied for ninth at 45-36. A Lakers win over the Pelicans clinches the No. 8 seed, however the Kings and Warriors each have the head-to-head tiebreaker over them (the Kings have the tiebreaker over the Warriors). A 3-way tie would give it to the Kings.