SALT LAKE CITY — Sacramento's loss is Utah's gain.
The Jazz clinched a playoff spot for the third straight spring thanks to the Kings' 121-118 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Sacramento, currently in ninth place in the Western Conference, dropped to 37-38 and cannot tie or leap over 45-30 Utah.
Utah, winner of three consecutive games, is currently in the fifth spot of the West playoff standings. But with seven games remaining, the Jazz could end up anywhere from third (2.5 games behind Portland and Houston) to eighth (two games ahead of San Antonio).
This will be the 28th playoff appearance in Jazz history.