Utah Jazz a win against Phoenix Suns away from clinching playoff spot

The Utah Jazz are in sole possession of the eighth and final playoff spot in the NBA’s Western Conference, and can clinch a spot in the postseason with a win at home Tuesday night against the Phoenix Suns.

The Jazz improved to 34-30 with a win Saturday night at home against the Orlando Magic. The Suns were blasted at home by the Denver Nuggets, 118-107, and Denver clinched a playoff spot with the win. The Suns and Rockets are both 33-31, tied for ninth-place in the West.

A Jazz win Wednesday would eliminate both with Suns and the Rockets, even if Houston is able to win in Miami on Sunday night. Phoenix, however, has won both games against the Jazz this season, and a win in Utah would put the Suns in the driver’s seat for the West’s final playoff burst. The Suns close their season at home against the the Spurs on Wednesday, and Phoenix may benefit if San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich decides to rest some of his Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

“We got to go into Utah — tough environment, tough atmosphere, tough team — and we got to win," Suns guard Shannon Brown told reporters after Phoenix’s loss to Denver on Saturday. "That's basically what it comes down to."

Said Jazz center Al Jefferson, per the Deseret News, "We close, we close. So you know we got to go and take it."