Denver Nuggets Eliminated by Timberwolves in Western Conference Semifinals
The Denver Nuggets' aspirations for an NBA championship came to an abrupt halt as they were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs. The Nuggets, despite a promising season and a strong start in the playoffs, found themselves ousted after a decisive Game 7 loss.
Their season had been filled with notable highs, including a season sweep over the Boston Celtics. On January 19, the Nuggets handed the Celtics their first home defeat of the season, breaking Boston's 20-1 home record in an impressive display at TD Garden. The success continued in their second meeting on March 7, where Nikola Jokic recorded a phenomenal 32-point triple-double. Despite Jaylen Brown’s valiant effort and 41-point performance, the Celtics were unable to overcome the Nuggets in this match-up.
However, the playoffs proved to be a different story. Denver faced substantial challenges right from the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers. They managed to secure a 4-1 series win, overcoming double-digit deficits in three of those games. Despite battling calf and elbow injuries, Jamal Murray was pivotal, even though his shooting percentages were less than his usual standard. Murray hit just 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the arc against the Lakers.
In the semifinals, the Nuggets encountered the resilient Timberwolves. The series was a grind, pushing all the way to Game 7. Denver suffered a heart-wrenching blow in the decisive game, squandering a 20-point lead in the second half to eventually fall to Minnesota. Jamal Murray, undeterred by earlier injuries, delivered a remarkable 35-point performance, but it wasn't enough to secure victory for his team.
For the Celtics, the post-season was a testament to their dominance throughout the year, finishing the regular season with a 64-18 record and a commanding plus-11.7 point differential. Their playoff journey saw them go 16-3, demonstrating their strength and depth.
Up until Game 3 of the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Boston seemed nearly invincible. However, a shocking 30-point defeat in Game 4 brought the series to an unforeseen twist. Jayson Tatum reflected on that critical moment, "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."
The unexpected Game 4 loss left its mark on the Celtics. "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," Tatum recounted.
Despite the setback, the Celtics maintained optimism. Tatum shared his restless anticipation before the potentially decisive Game 4. "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 continued, highlighting the team’s anxiety. "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."
With the stakes higher than ever, Boston returned home with renewed determination, buoyed by their belief in eventual victory. This spirit and resilience encapsulated the essence of their successful season and the remarkable journey through the playoffs.