Spurs and Nuggets Clash in Battle for Playoff Positioning

Two of the West's hottest teams meet as the regular season winds down

Apr. 4, 2026 at 3:35am

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A cubist-style painting depicting fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of bright, energetic colors representing the intense action of a basketball game between the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.Two of the NBA's hottest teams clash in a high-stakes battle for playoff positioning in the loaded Western Conference.San Antonio Today

The San Antonio Spurs, winners of 11 straight, head to Denver to take on the Nuggets, who have won 7 consecutive games. Both teams are jockeying for position in the loaded Western Conference playoff race, with the Spurs currently holding the 2nd seed and the Nuggets at 4th. This matchup between two of the NBA's hottest teams could have major implications for the postseason.

Why it matters

The Spurs and Nuggets are two of the top teams in the West, and this late-season showdown will help determine their final playoff seeding. With the West so competitive, every game matters as teams fight for positioning. A win here could give one team the edge in the standings and potentially set up a future playoff matchup.

The details

The Spurs are led by superstar Victor Wembanyama, who is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game. The Nuggets counter with their own MVP candidate in Nikola Jokic, who is putting up 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds and 10.8 assists per contest. The teams have split their two meetings so far this season, with each winning at home. This will be the first time Wembanyama and Jokic face off with both teams at full strength.

  • The Spurs and Nuggets play on Saturday, April 4th at 2pm CST.
  • The Spurs and Nuggets will meet again in the final game of the regular season on April 14th.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

The Spurs' 7'5" rookie sensation is having a historic season, averaging a double-double with elite shot-blocking.

Nikola Jokic

The Nuggets' superstar center is putting up MVP-caliber numbers, including a second straight season averaging a triple-double.

Jamal Murray

The Nuggets' first-time All-Star is enjoying a career year, averaging 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a great battle between two of the top teams in the West. Both teams are playing at a really high level right now.”

— Gregg Popovich, Spurs Head Coach

“We know the Spurs are going to bring their best, but so are we. It's going to come down to who executes better on both ends of the floor.”

— Michael Malone, Nuggets Head Coach

What’s next

The Spurs and Nuggets will meet again in the final game of the regular season on April 14th, which could have major playoff seeding implications depending on how the rest of the season plays out.

The takeaway

This late-season clash between the Spurs and Nuggets showcases the depth and competitiveness of the Western Conference playoff race. With both teams playing at an elite level, this matchup could be a potential preview of a future postseason series.