The Denver Nuggets' playoff journey came to a halt as they were knocked out in the second round of the Western Conference by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The elimination, after a hard-fought Game 7, brought an end to a promising season filled with highs and challenging lows.
The Nuggets had confidently swept their season series against the Boston Celtics, highlighted by a remarkable victory on January 19 at TD Garden. This win tarnished Boston's then-impeccable home record of 20-1. March 7 witnessed yet another triumph for Denver over the Celtics, with Nikola Jokic delivering a stunning 32-point triple-double. Despite Jaylen Brown's valiant 41-point effort for Boston, the Nuggets proved too formidable.
First Round Obstacles
The Nuggets' postseason commenced with significant obstacles against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite being wracked with injuries, Jamal Murray showcased remarkable resilience, playing through calf and elbow injuries. His performance, though affected, saw him hitting only 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from deep.
However, the Nuggets displayed tremendous character and skill, overcoming double-digit deficits in three of the five games to secure a 4-1 series victory against the Lakers. This gritty perseverance set the stage for what many hoped would be a deep playoff run.
Semifinal Heartbreak
The semifinal series against Minnesota was a roller-coaster of emotions for Denver fans. It culminated in a dramatic Game 7 where the Nuggets, despite holding a 20-point lead in the second half, saw it slip away. Jamal Murray's 35-point performance was not enough to stave off elimination as the Timberwolves surged to victory, knocking Denver out of contention.
"People always ask me, when did you guys know you were going to win a championship? When Minnesota beat Denver, I felt like Denver was the only team that they matched up best with us. I thought that we were going to play Denver in the Finals and it was going to be a good one," reflected Jayson Tatum.
Celtics' Journey to Championship Glory
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics had an outstanding season, finishing with a 64-18 record and a remarkable plus-11.7 point differential. Momentum carried them through the playoffs, where they compiled a 16-3 record, advancing to face the Dallas Mavericks in the finals.
The Celtics managed to build a commanding lead, going 3-0 up against the Mavericks. However, Game 4 took an unexpected turn as Boston suffered a crushing 30-point defeat. "Oh my God. Nobody has ever come back from 0-3, so I remember getting back to the locker room and I remember saying, 'I don't know what game it's going to be, but we're going to win the championship.' That was a weird feeling," recalled Tatum.
"I wasn't able to sleep that night and I remember the morning of Game 4 we had shootaround, and I had never been in the position that if we win tonight, we're champions. We were at shootaround and everybody was trying to act normal. I couldn't take a nap. We lost by like 30," Tatum recounted.
The Chased Dream
Despite the setback, confidence remained high within the Celtics' camp. "We wanted to win so bad. We were so anxious and so tight. But I knew when we were coming back home for Game 5, we were going to win," said Tatum, underlining the resilience and determination that ultimately led Boston to lift the championship trophy.
The emotional roller-coaster for the Denver Nuggets and their fans mirrored the highs and lows of the intensity of playoff basketball. Injuries, hard-fought battles, and unexpected defeats mark the narratives of many teams, but they also underscore the resilience and spirit that professional athletes bring to the court. This season, while ending in heartbreak for Denver, demonstrated their potential and paves the way for future seasons where they will undoubtedly look to go further and possibly secure a championship title.