Wolves may need to win out to earn No. 1 seed in West

Six days left in the regular season and still no clarity for how the top-three seeds in the Western Conference will finish. Entering play Tuesday, the Timberwolves (54-24) and Nuggets (54-24) are tied for the best record in the West and the Thunder (53-25) are one game behind.

Wolves remaining games:  Tuesday vs. Wizards; Wednesday at Nuggets; Friday vs. Hawks; Sunday vs. Suns

Nuggets remaining games: Tuesday at Jazz; Wednesday vs. Timberwolves; Friday at Spurs; Sunday at Grizzlies

Thunder remaining games: Tuesday vs. Kings; Wednesday vs. Spurs; Friday vs. Bucks; Sunday vs. Mavericks

The Thunder play all four games at home but three of them are very tough. Minnesota should win home games against the Wizards and Hawks, but the Denver game is beastly and could determine the No. 1 seed in the conference. The regular season finale against the Suns is also tough as Minnesota has not played particularly well against Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Denver has three games against bottom feeders and of course the Wednesday showdown with the Wolves.

If the Nuggets take care of business like they should against the bottom feeders, the only way the Wolves would win the West is by winning out. That's why Wednesday's game in Denver is the biggest of the season.