Nuggets likely to be No. 3 seed in West

The Denver Nuggets are likely to finish as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference as the NBA regular season comes to an end. With less than a month left in the season, there is still uncertainty about who they will face in the first round of the playoffs. They have around a 15% chance of landing in four different playoff positions. Basketball experts have ranked potential first-round opponents for the Nuggets, starting with the best matchup. 1. **Los Angeles Clippers**: The Nuggets hold a 2-2 record against the Clippers this season. The Clippers struggle with turnovers and 3-point shooting, which might benefit the Nuggets defensively. Key players include Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac, but injuries to stars like Kawhi Leonard could be a concern. 2. **Houston Rockets**: The Nuggets have lost five of their last six games to the Rockets. Houston boasts strong defense and a young team, but lacks a star scorer. This could be a challenging matchup for Denver. 3. **Memphis Grizzlies**: Facing the Grizzlies could be tough, especially since they play at a fast pace. Denver has not seen some of Memphis' top players this season, adding some unpredictability to this potential matchup. 4. **Golden State Warriors**: The Nuggets are 2-0 against the Warriors this season. However, Golden State has improved dramatically since the trade deadline. Nikola Jokic typically performs well against them, which could be crucial in a playoff series. 5. **Los Angeles Lakers**: The Nuggets have an even record of 2-2 against the Lakers. The addition of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles roster makes this matchup tougher. The Nuggets will need their best defenders on the floor to handle stars like Doncic and LeBron James. 6. **Minnesota Timberwolves**: The Nuggets are 0-3 against the Timberwolves this season and have played them many times recently. Minnesota's offense and defense both rank in the top 10. The Timberwolves are improving and could pose a significant challenge to Denver. As the playoffs approach, the Nuggets aim to secure a favorable matchup to maximize their chances of success.