The Portland Trail Blazers (34-39), Memphis Grizzlies (33-39), Phoenix Suns (33-39) and San Antonio Spurs (32-38) all still have a chance to compete in the play-in series to determine the eighth spot in the West entering Thursday's pivotal slate of games.
The Nuggets (46-26) will face the sixth-seeded Utah Jazz (43-28) in the first round, pitting the best passing big man in Nikola Jokic against one of the best defensive centers in the league in Rudy Gobert.
The series in the West with the most potential for drama and plot twists is between the Oklahoma City Thunder (44-27) and Houston Rockets (44-27). Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, whose status for the start of the playoffs is uncertain because of a strained muscle in his right quadriceps, will face the Thunder, his former team, if he can play, and OKC guard Chris Paul will be reunited with his ex-Rockets teammates. The Thunder lead the season series 2-1.