The set-up: The battle for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, as expected, will go down to the final games of the regular season. This Thursday game between the the 44-34 Minnesota Timberwolves (tied with the Pelicans for the final two spots) and the 43-35 Denver Nuggets (the West's No. 9 team), is a prime example of just how slim the margin will be between seeds 4-8 and the two teams left out of the playoff mix. The Timberwolves come in 2-3 over their last five games, beating only the sad-sack Suns and Mavs. They have been struggling against winning teams and just got rocked at home by the Utah Jazz in a 121-97 loss on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have won three in a row by a grand total of just seven points to pull within a single of the eighth-place New Orleans Pelicans (T-wolves are also just one game up on Denver). The Nuggets will play their final four games against playoff contenders from the West, including a pair against the Timberwolves, beginning with tonight's contest.

Minnesota: The T-wolves are expecting to get a boost down the stretch from All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler, who went through his first full-contact practice on Tuesday since undergoing surgery on his on his right knee five weeks ago. Butler is Minnesota's leader and without him a playoff spot that seemed almost assured, has become uncertain. Minnesota is just 8-8 since Butler (22.2-5.4-5.0) went down and he is looking to bring some much-needed toughness to the team. With Butler back, Minnesota would have a formidable starting-five, including mainstays Towns (21.1 & 12.3) and Wiggins (18.0 & 4.3) plus new additions like PG Teague (13.8 & 7.0 APG) and PF Gibson (12.2 & 7.1).

Denver: The Nuggets' playoff push is being led by center Nikola Jokic, who is averaging 24.5 points on 56.1 percent shooting, 10.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists over the last 14 games. Jokic delivered 30 points in Tuesday's 107-104 win over the Indiana Pacers. The Nuggets were 3-4 on their recent seven-game road trip but.rallied in Oklahoma City on Friday night and back at home against Milwaukee on Sunday, wiping out late deficits in both games and winning in overtime. They didn't need an extra period to beat a hot Indiana team on Tuesday, so there are indications they have found the right sense of urgency. Denver has gone 5-4 since guard Gary Harris (17.7) went down with a right knee sprain by getting heavy production from Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Paul Millsap. Jokic leads the team in scoring (18.3) and rebounding (10.5), while guard Murray (16.6), swingman Barton (15.3-5.0-4.1) and PF Millsap (15.1 & 6.5) all make valuable contributions on a nightly basis.

The pick: Minnesota has taken the first two meetings this season between the teams but that was with Butler averaging 32 points on 51.4 percent shooting. It's also well worth mentioning that Minny's current ATS slide (5-16-1 ATS), began before Butler's injury. This game (and the re-match on the season's finla day in Minnesota on Apr. 11), has the look of a "playoff eliminator." Make the Under a 10* play.