Victor Wembanyama scored 34 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets to open the race for first place in the Western Conference.
Denver knew that two wins in their final two games would guarantee first place and home advantage in the play-offs.
But the defeat and victories of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder leave the trio tied.
It is the first time in NBA history that there is a three-way tie for first place with one game remaining.
The 20-year-old Wembanyama had 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks, while Devonte’ Graham hit the game-winning jumper with 0.9 seconds left on the clock to seal the victory.
Despite the victory, San Antonio remains tied with the Portland Trail Blazers at the bottom of the Western Conference.
At the top, Oklahoma City beat the Milwaukee Bucks 125-107, while Minnesota beat Atlanta 109-106.
Oklahoma City leads the Conference because of its superior head-to-head record over the other two teams, with Minnesota second and Denver third.
The only way Denver can regain first place is if Oklahoma City and Minnesota lose in their final games on Sunday.
“It’s disappointing. I mean, really disappointing,” Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “We control our own destiny and we simply give it back.”
Elsewhere on Friday, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured their place in the Eastern Conference play-offs with a 129-120 victory over Indiana Pacers.
Donovan Mitchell top-scored with 33 points and Jarrett Allen added 24 as Cleveland secured a top-six finish.
Indiana is now tied with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic 46-35 in the race for the final two automatic play-off spots.
Orlando would have secured his place with a victory over Philadelphia on Friday, but 32 points from Joel Embiid helped the Sixers win 125-113 for their seventh straight win.
The Miami Heat are one game behind and still have a chance to finish in the top six after beating the Toronto Raptors 125-103.
LeBron James scored 37 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 123-120 to move up to eighth in the Western Conference.
The Lakers started the day tied with the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings at 45-34, but Golden State lost 114-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans It is sacrament lost 108-107 to the Phoenix Suns.
The top six teams from each conference qualify for the play-offs, while teams seventh through ten face play-in games for the final two spots.
