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Jazz clinch playoff berth for 1st time in 5 years

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

The Utah Jazz have secured their spot in this year's NBA playoffs by virtue of the Denver Nuggets losing to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday night.

It's been a long time coming for the Jazz, who last competed in the postseason back in 2011-12, losing in a clean sweep to the San Antonio Spurs in the opening round.

It came down to the final game of the 2015-16 campaign for the Jazz to learn of their fate. Unfortunately, the Houston Rockets prevented them from ending their playoff drought by beating the Sacramento Kings on April 14, making Utah's matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers - where Kobe Bryant dropped 60 points in his retirement game - essentially meaningless.

The Jazz currently sit fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 44-29, although just one game separates them and the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers, who they fell to on Saturday in a 108-95 loss at Staples Center.

Utah hosts the visiting Pelicans on Monday before hitting the road to take on Sacramento on Wednesday.

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