Denver secured the Western Conference's third seed after a 128-118 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Texas. Three‑time MVP Nikola Jokic poured 23 points in the first half and added eight rebounds, while Julian Strawther scored 25 and Jonas Valanciunas finished with a double‑double. The victory locks Denver's playoff spot. This marks their first top‑four finish since 2018 and boosts their playoff confidence.

Jokic's performance also nudged him to 65 games, making him eligible for the league's season‑ending awards. San Antonio, already the second seed, will host the winner of the in‑play tournament between the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns in the first round. The tournament, a round‑robin format, will determine the seventh and eighth seeds. Teams will lock in their match‑ups once the tournament concludes Friday.

De’Aaron Fox led the Spurs with 24 points, while Victor Wembanyama sat out after a 40‑point outing against Dallas. Denver’s victory also means the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder and Eastern Conference powerhouses Detroit and Boston will find their first‑round opponents only after the tournament wraps up. The Nuggets now head into the playoffs with momentum. They aim to improve on last season’s exit.