The West 3-4-5 Race Goes to the Final Day — One Game Separates Three Teams

The Western Conference 3-4-5 seed race is going down to the final day of the regular season — and it matters a lot more than just draft position.

Denver leads at 52-28. The Lakers and Rockets are both 51-29. One game separates three teams, and the difference between 3 and 5 is massive: home court in the first round and potentially avoiding OKC until the conference finals.

The Nuggets hold the tiebreaker advantage, but they need to take care of business Sunday. Luka Doncic is dealing with a hamstring strain and Austin Reaves has an oblique injury, which complicates the Lakers' final push. If LA drops to the 5-seed, they'd face the Rockets instead of the Timberwolves — a much tougher first-round matchup. Every game Sunday matters. The regular season ends, and then it's the play-in starting April 14 and playoffs on April 18.