Nuggets Within Reach of Jumping Lakers in Playoff Seeding

The Denver Nuggets are slowly closing the gap between them and the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference standings, which now makes it wildly feasible for a third-seeded finish to be possible in the Mile High.

It'll take a few outcomes to fall their way in the days ahead, but the scenario certainly isn't impossible to see come to fruition; perhaps even more so depending on the extent of the latest injury to Lakers star Luka Doncic, who left their latest game vs. the OKC Thunder with a hamstring issue.

How the Nuggets Can Pass Lakers in Standings

As both the Lakers and Nuggets each have five games left on their season schedule, it's easy to map out exactly what needs to transpire for Denver to take that leap forward.

With the Nuggets sitting at 49 wins while the Lakers are one spot above at 50, it'll take Denver winning two more games than LA across their upcoming stretch to avoid a tiebreaker scenario (one in which the Lakers have the upper hand in) to climb up to third.

The Lakers' upcoming five games include another contest on tap against the Thunder, along with the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors with Steph Curry likely back in the lineup. However, they also have the Dallas Mavericks and Utah Jazz, both of which could be two easy wins to slot in, even if Doncic is to miss any time.

Apr 2, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) falls to the court during a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the third quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

For the Nuggets, they've got two meetings against the San Antonio Spurs and one against the Thunder themselves that'll be three tall tasks to overcome, but also have a couple of matchups against the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies that look easier on paper.

If Denver can go 5-0 or 4-1 through that stretch, while the Lakers begin to stumble to 3-2 or 2-3 respectively, that would then give the Nuggets a leg up for the third spot in the West, and a welcomed advantage for the first, and potentially second round of action in the postseason.

The Value of Landing the 3rd Seed

The overarching goal for the Nuggets across the final five games should be revolving around finishing strong and cementing home court advantage for their first-round matchup.. That should be possible so long as they don't unexpectedly collapse in their upcoming slate.

But jumping even higher from their current spot at four in the West to three could also be extremely valuable.

Doing so not only secures home court for the first round against whoever the sixth seed is, it also helps them avoid the Thunder in the second round, who look more and more likely to claim the top seed.

As to who Denver's first-round matchup could be as the third seed, the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves have been battling back and forth for the fifth and sixth spots in recent weeks, making it hard to judge how that might shake out until officially hitting the end of the season.

The real value comes with what might lie ahead in the second round of action, in the event Denver were to advance past that initial series to face San Antonio rather than OKC.

If matched up with the Spurs in round two, they've been a buzzsaw all season bound to be a challenge of a series for Denver. That's especially so if Victor Wembanyama is impossible for the Nuggets to defend, who haven't gotten a chance to face him in the regular season in two prior meetings due to injury.

Mar 17, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts on the bench during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

However, with the way that the Thunder have played the Nuggets this season and the consistent trouble they've given them, avoiding them as long as possible in the playoff picture might be beneficial for their long-term hopes–– even if it only delays a matchup until the conference finals.

Of course, to be the best, you have to beat the best. And frankly, it's more likely than not that the Nuggets will have to overcome the Thunder at some point in the postseason to make their NBA Finals hopes come to fruition.

But if climbing up to the third seed gives them any slight advantage in their title race to avoid the reigning champions for just a few more weeks, making that jump through these next five games would be very beneficial.

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