How the Denver Nuggets reach the NBA playoffs is simple. Win at Minnesota in Wednesday’s regular-season finale, and they’ll clinch their first postseason berth since 2013. Lose and they’re out.
But if Denver gets in, who would it face in the first round? The picture became clearer after Utah thumped Golden State Tuesday, but three possibilities still remain. Oddly enough, the Nuggets cannot finish with the eighth seed, which allows Denver to avoid top-seeded Houston. But the Nuggets could finish either sixth or seventh. Here are the scenarios entering Wednesday’s games:
Seventh seed vs. Golden State
* Denver beats Minnesota, Oklahoma City beats Memphis
Sixth seed vs. Portland
* Denver beats Minnesota, Memphis beats Oklahoma City, Portland beats Utah
Sixth seed vs. Utah
* Denver beats Minnesota, Memphis beats Oklahoma City, Utah beats Portland
