Nuggets Face High Stakes in Regular Season Finale

Seeding implications go beyond MVP eligibility for Nikola Jokic

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:25pm

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An abstract, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of vibrant blue, gold, black, and silver colors.The high-stakes regular season finale between the Nuggets and Spurs will determine crucial playoff positioning in the Western Conference.Denver Today

The Denver Nuggets face a crucial regular season finale against the San Antonio Spurs, with major playoff seeding implications that go beyond Nikola Jokic's MVP eligibility. A win would secure the 3-seed for the Nuggets, setting up a favorable path to the Western Conference Finals, while a loss could drop them to the 4-seed and significantly reduce their title chances.

Why it matters

The Nuggets' seeding in the playoffs is critical for their championship aspirations. Finishing as the 3-seed would mean facing the Spurs in the second round, a team they've had success against, rather than the heavily-favored Thunder. History shows that teams seeded lower than 3rd rarely win the title, making the 3-seed a pivotal goal for Denver.

The details

The Nuggets need to win on Sunday to clinch the 3-seed in the West. If they lose and the Lakers win, Denver would fall to the 4-seed. This would create a much more difficult path to the Finals, as only two teams seeded lower than 3rd have ever won the championship.

  • The Nuggets play the Spurs on Sunday, April 13, 2026 to wrap up the regular season.

The players

Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets' star center who is in contention for the MVP award, but needs to play in the final game to be eligible.

San Antonio Spurs

The Nuggets' opponent on Sunday, who have already locked up the 2-seed in the West.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Nuggets' rival who could overtake them for the 3-seed with a win on Sunday.

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What’s next

The Nuggets will play the Spurs on Sunday, April 13, 2026 to determine their playoff seeding. A win would secure the 3-seed, while a loss could drop them to 4th.

The takeaway

The Nuggets face a pivotal regular season finale that goes far beyond Nikola Jokic's MVP eligibility. Securing the 3-seed would give them the best path to the Western Conference Finals and a legitimate shot at winning the championship, while a loss could severely hamper their title chances.