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Posted at 12:15 PM EST.

9:05 PM EST. To say the Western Conference playoff standings are tight would be an understatement. Although just a couple of games remain for each team, the 5-9 spots out West are decided by just one game and one of those teams, which includes the Nuggets, is not going to make the dance. The Trail Blazers have already stamped their ticket, but the Nuggets are on the outside looking in. However, you would be hard-pressed to find a team in that group that is playing better than these Nuggets right now, which makes them very playable in this spot.

Despite being in already, Portland can also improve its playoff seeding and gain home court advantage in the first round, which seemed like a lock a few days ago but is no longer guaranteed. You see, The Blazers lost their third straight game Saturday night against San An, a game that would’ve clinched home-court. Portland’s losing streak was kicked off by a very questionable loss against the Mavs, one the Blazers sure wish they’d have back now. Home-court advantage and the No. 3 seed are still theirs to lose, but now the pressure has intensified and as we have seen with so many teams in every sport over the decades, there are no off/on switches.

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