With the 2023-24 NBA season drawing to a close, the top seed in the Western Conference hangs in the balance. The Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and Oklahoma City Thunder are locked in a fierce battle for the coveted spot and the advantage of home-court throughout the playoffs. As the final week of the regular season unfolds, all three teams are deadlocked at the top.
Throughout the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have stood among the league’s elite teams. Spearheaded by Defensive Player of the Year contender Rudy Gobert, they boast the league’s best defense, while Anthony Edwards has emerged as a bonafide superstar.
Despite All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns being sidelined since early March, reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic suggest he is set to return before the postseason. While the absence of KAT may pose a challenge, the Timberwolves appear poised to bring their A-game as they gear up for playoff action.
Minnesota Timberwolves Is in the Race for the Top Spot
Following their hard-fought 109-106 victory over the Hawks on Friday, the Timberwolves find themselves in a three-way tie for first place in the Western Conference, with the Nuggets falling short against the Spurs.
However, Minnesota is not yet in the lead. In cases of a three-way tie, the total head-to-head records among the teams are used as tiebreakers. The Timberwolves have a 4-4 record, the Nuggets stand at 3-5, and the Thunder impress with a 5-3 record against Denver and Minnesota.
Looking ahead to the upcoming schedule, if the three teams remain tied after Sunday’s games, the Thunder would secure the top seed, with the Timberwolves in second and the Nuggets in third. For the Timberwolves to clinch the first seed, they would need victories from both themselves and the Thunder, while the Thunder must face defeat.
In the case of a split season series between the Timberwolves and Nuggets, the divisional win-loss record becomes the decisive tiebreaker. With an impressive 12-4 record in their division compared to the Nuggets’ 10-6, the Timberwolves hold a superior position in this scenario.
Furthermore, Minnesota also holds the tiebreaker over Oklahoma City in a two-way tie situation. This would occur if the Nuggets were to fall and both the Timberwolves and Thunder emerged victorious, further intensifying the thrilling conclusion to the regular season.
