Can Minnesota Timberwolves Secure 1st Seed in Western Conference? Everything Explained

As the 2023–24 NBA season approaches its end, the race for the top seed in the Western Conference intensifies, with the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Thunder competing for home-court advantage in the playoffs. As the regular season’s final week unfolds, all three teams are tied for first place.

Throughout the entire NBA season, the Minnesota Timberwolves have consistently ranked among the league’s top teams. Spearheaded by Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert, they boast the league’s best defense, while Anthony Edwards has emerged as a recognized superstar.

Despite All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns’ absence since March, reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic suggest he will return before the playoffs. Although his absence may pose challenges, Minnesota appears poised to perform at its peak when the postseason commences.

Following their 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.

Minnesota Timberwolves Is in the Race for the Top Spot After Their Win

While Minnesota is part of this tie, they do not currently hold the lead. In the event of a tie among three division opponents, total head-to-head records serve as the tiebreaker. The Timberwolves finished with a 4-4 record, the Nuggets with 3-5, while the Thunder secured a 5-3 record against Denver and Minnesota.

If all three teams remain tied after Sunday’s games, the Thunder would claim the top seed, the Timberwolves would rank second, and the Nuggets would take third. However, the Timberwolves can secure the first seed if the Thunder are defeated and both the Timberwolves and Nuggets emerge victorious.

Given that the season series between the Timberwolves and Nuggets ended in a tie, the divisional win-loss record will determine the tiebreaker. In this scenario, the Timberwolves hold a superior position, boasting a 12-4 record compared to the Nuggets’ 10-6 within their division.

Furthermore, Minnesota holds the two-way tiebreaker over Oklahoma City. This outcome would occur if the Nuggets suffer defeat while both the Timberwolves and Thunder secure victories.