There were four seconds left in the 2017-18 season, and the Nuggets still didn’t know whether they were going to the playoffs.



In their win-or-go-home Game 82 matchup with the Timberwolves in Minnesota, an entire season of work boiled down to one final regulation possession. You know what happened after that. Taj Gibson stripped Nikola Jokic, forcing overtime, and the Timberwolves held on from there, sending the Nuggets home miserable.



The ultimately unsuccessful quest for a postseason berth could not have contained more drama for the Nuggets one year ago. But this time around couldn’t be any different.



The Nuggets will clinch a playoff spot with a victory over Boston on Monday night. Or by virtue of a Kings loss on Tuesday. Or by way of a Denver victory in Washington on Thursday. Or a win over the Knicks one night later. You get the point. The inevitable is almost here for the Nuggets. Their first playoff appearance in six years will be locked up...