Nuggets Jump Lakers for the 3 Seed After 18-Point Comeback

The Denver Nuggets are back in the 3 seed, and they took it in the most Denver way possible — an 18-point comeback against Portland that went to overtime.

At 51-28, the Nuggets now own the tiebreaker over the Rockets for the 3 seed, while the Lakers — reeling without Luka Dončić (hamstring, in Spain getting treatment) and Austin Reaves — have slipped to 4th. Nine teams have clinched playoff spots: Pistons, Celtics, Knicks, Cavaliers, Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets, Lakers, and Rockets.

The play-in race is chaos in the East, with the Heat barely hanging on at 41-38 after getting crushed by Toronto. Playoffs tip April 18. The final day of the regular season is April 12. Every game matters now.