Nuggets Clinch West's No. 3 Seed in Overtime Thriller

Denver edges out Portland in a high-stakes battle for playoff positioning

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:13am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an NBA basketball game in motion, with sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in the teams' official colors, conveying the intensity and drama of the high-stakes matchup.The Nuggets' thrilling overtime victory against the Blazers solidifies their hold on the West's third playoff seed.Denver Today

The Denver Nuggets secured the Western Conference's third seed with a thrilling overtime victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena. The win moves the Nuggets past the Los Angeles Lakers in the standings just a week before the playoffs begin.

Why it matters

This late-season matchup had major implications for the NBA playoff race, with the Nuggets and Blazers jockeying for position in the crowded Western Conference. The outcome could impact first-round matchups and home-court advantage as the postseason gets underway.

The details

In a back-and-forth contest that went to overtime, the Nuggets ultimately prevailed over the Blazers thanks to timely scoring and defensive stops down the stretch. The win solidifies Denver's hold on the West's third seed, leapfrogging the Lakers in the standings.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 7, 2026.
  • The Nuggets and Blazers were battling for playoff positioning just one week before the start of the NBA playoffs.

The players

Denver Nuggets

An NBA team based in Denver, Colorado that competes in the Western Conference.

Portland Trail Blazers

An NBA team based in Portland, Oregon that competes in the Western Conference.

Los Angeles Lakers

An NBA team based in Los Angeles, California that competes in the Western Conference.

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What’s next

The Nuggets and Blazers will await their first-round playoff matchups, which will be determined in the final week of the regular season.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory keeps the Nuggets in the driver's seat for home-court advantage in the first round, while the Blazers will need to regroup and try to improve their seeding in the final games before the playoffs begin.