The Nuggets are less than two years removed from winning an NBA title, but they're facing difficulties on the road to the NBA Playoffs.
While Nikola Jokic continues to display his all-time greatness on a nightly basis, Denver has been dealing with several injuries to key players and is struggling to find ways to win. As such, the Nuggets no longer control their destiny when it comes to most playoff seeding scenarios. Complicating matters is the late-season firing of head coach Michael Malone, which is tied for the latest head coach firing in NBA history.
Denver will be a postseason team, but it is currently in danger of falling into the Play-In Tournament range. With that comes the added pressure of potential elimination in the event of one or two off performances.
Things aren't all bleak for the Nuggets, as Jokic's presence is often enough to get the team over the hump. Couple that with Jamal Murray potentially returning to the lineup, and you have a team that will be scary if things click at the right time. With multiple factors at play, here's the situation that faces Denver.
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Nuggets playoff scenarios 2025
The Nuggets have clinched the fourth seed in the playoffs with their win Sunday.
Denver will face the fifth-seeded Clippers in the first round, successfully avoiding the play-in tournament after a logjam in the standings.
MORE: Why did Nuggets fire head coach Michael Malone
Nuggets standings 2025
Here's a look at the final Western Conference standings:
| Seed | Team | Record | Games Back |
| 1 | Thunder*** | 68-14 | -- |
| 2 | Rockets** | 52-30 | 16 |
| 3 | Lakers** | 50-32 | 18 |
| 4 | Nuggets | 50-32 | 18 |
| 5 | Clippers | 50-32 | 18 |
| 6 | Timberwolves | 49-33 | 19 |
| 7 | Warriors | 48-34 | 20 |
| 8 | Grizzlies | 48-34 | 20 |
| 9 | Kings | 40-42 | 28 |
| 10 | Mavericks | 39-42 | 29 |
***clinched conference
**clinched division
Nuggets remaining schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| April 13 | at Rockets | 3:30 p.m. | — |
Nuggets potential playoff opponents
The Nuggets will have home-court advantage in a first-round series against the Clippers.