SAN ANTONIO — The West received a little bit wilder on Friday night time.
With the Denver Nuggets’ 121-120 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, coupled with wins by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, there’s now a three-way tie atop the Western Convention heading into the ultimate day of the NBA common season.
On Wednesday, the Nuggets defeated the Timberwolves and took a one-game lead on Minnesota and Oklahoma Metropolis. It made the reigning NBA champions the favorites to land the No. 1 seed within the West playoffs.
However after Spurs guard Devonte’ Graham’s 5-foot runner within the lane went in over Nuggets guard Jamal Murray with 0.9 remaining, every little thing modified. The Spurs compelled a 5-second rely on the following inbounds play to seal the victory.
“It is disappointing. I imply, actually disappointing,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned. “We managed our personal future, and what we achieved on Wednesday night time, we simply gave it proper again, you already know what I imply?”
On Sunday, the Nuggets play the Grizzlies in Memphis, whereas the Thunder host the Dallas Mavericks and the Timberwolves host the Phoenix Suns.
For Denver, the one option to regain the highest seed is that if each Oklahoma Metropolis and Minnesota lose Sunday.
“It is simple to rise up from Minnesota,” Malone mentioned. “I imply, our guys have been locked in, they have been targeted, they have been severe. And I do not suppose we had the identical method for tonight’s sport. You had an opportunity to get the 1-seed and now clearly we’ll possible be the 3-seed. Finish of the day, it doesn’t matter what seed we’re, we all know what we’re able to. And we received yet one more sport. Let’s attempt to end it up proper in Memphis and put together for the primary spherical.”
This marks the primary time in NBA historical past that three groups via 81 video games have the identical file and an opportunity to seize the No. 1 seed of their respective convention.
Denver led San Antonio by as many as 23 factors earlier than the Spurs stormed again. Not solely was it San Antonio’s largest comeback of the season, but it surely additionally was the Nuggets’ largest collapse of 2023-24. It additionally tied the second-largest blown lead for Denver prior to now 25 seasons.
In Oklahoma Metropolis, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault discovered of the Nuggets’ loss as he was strolling off the Paycom Middle courtroom following his crew’s 125-107 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Matt Tumbleson, the Thunder’s vp of basketball communications, knowledgeable Daigneault of the upset and delivered a warning.
“He mentioned, ‘That is all [the media] goes to wish to speak about,’ and also you guys are actually delivering on that,'” Daigneault mentioned in deadpan trend. “I do not actually have a lot of a response. We have got to run via the end line.”
Thunder rookie heart Chet Holmgren insisted with a straight face that he was making ready mentally for Saturday’s follow, not serious about playoff seeding.
“The whole lot else that occurs, that is out of our management,” Holmgren mentioned. “We’ll give attention to what we are able to management.”
Elsewhere within the West, little or no was settled after Friday’s video games. The one matchup set in stone is the LA Clippers internet hosting the Mavericks within the 4-5 matchup — a sequence that turns into extra intriguing as a result of the winner may keep away from the defending champions within the second spherical.
With New Orleans’ 114-109 win over the Golden State Warriors on the street, the Pelicans put themselves within the driver’s seat to earn the No. 6 seed and keep away from the play-in match. Zion Williamson had 26 factors and a career-high six steals to assist New Orleans choose up its fourth consecutive victory.
“Zion has been unbelievable,” Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced mentioned. “It has been unbelievable to observe. It by no means will get outdated.”
CJ McCollum continued his sizzling stretch with a team-high 28 factors whereas going 8-of-13 from 3-point vary. McCollum is 29-of-47 from distance in his previous 4 video games, changing into simply the fifth participant in NBA historical past to make that many 3s over a four-game span.
The Pelicans host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday with an opportunity to succeed in 50 wins for less than the second time in franchise historical past. A win offers the Pelicans the 6-seed.
New Orleans had an opportunity to lock up the 6-seed Friday night time, however the Suns got here from behind to defeat the Sacramento Kings 108-107 to maintain their hopes of avoiding the play-in alive.
Phoenix is one sport behind New Orleans within the standings however owns the tiebreaker. The Suns will both end No. 6 — in the event that they win and the Pelicans lose — or No. 7, if the Pelicans win or if each groups lose Sunday.
The Lakers discovered themselves in a troublesome take a look at Friday towards the injury-depleted Grizzlies, not securing the 123-120 victory till the ultimate minute. LeBron James and Anthony Davis each performed 40-plus minutes.
The Lakers can change their positioning within the Western Convention play-in race with a win towards the Pelicans. James, when requested in regards to the workload, merely mentioned, “I will be prepared for Sunday.”
Lakers coach Darvin Ham mentioned the crew has to deal with the tip of the common season like there is no tomorrow.
“All of us perceive what’s at stake,” Ham mentioned. “We have now to push it, and we won’t fear about what is going on to occur [next]. … Everybody is aware of what time it’s. It is that point of the 12 months, man. No matter we want and nevertheless lengthy we have to push guys, it is simply received to occur. They usually all perceive that.”
At 46-35, the Lakers are at the moment the No. 8 seed within the West, whereas the Kings and Warriors are 45-36. The Kings maintain the tiebreaker over the Warriors.
If the Lakers defeat the Pelicans on Sunday, they are going to keep at No. 8 and have two possibilities to make the playoffs via the play-in match.
Sacramento finishes the season internet hosting the Portland Path Blazers, whereas Golden State hosts the Utah Jazz. The Kings and Warriors cut up the season sequence, however as a result of they’re in the identical division, the subsequent tiebreaker goes to division file, the place the Kings have the sting (10-7 to 7-9).
The Kings shedding Friday offers the Warriors an out of doors likelihood at reaching No. 8, however Golden State should undergo the play-in it doesn’t matter what.
“I may care much less about that. It is extra about ourselves and letting a sport like tonight slip,” Stephen Curry mentioned after the loss to the Pelicans. “On the finish of the day, it will be good to get [to the 8]. You need two cracks at it. That will have been the purpose. However on the finish of the day, you simply wish to have the very best vibes going right into a playoff, or play-in state of affairs. So we’ve got to bounce again.”
All the Western Convention video games on Sunday will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET.
ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, Tim MacMahon and Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
