Denver Nuggets' Playoff Journey Falls Short
The Denver Nuggets' promising playoff run came to an abrupt end as they were knocked out by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the Western Conference in the NBA playoffs. Despite a sweeping regular-season series against the Boston Celtics, Denver faltered when it mattered most.
Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets showcased their dominance over the Celtics, including an emphatic victory on January 19 at TD Garden, which shattered Boston's perfect home record of 20-1. The victorious trend continued on March 7, when Jokic recorded a remarkable 32-point triple-double, steering Denver to another triumph over Boston despite Jaylen Brown's impressive 41-point performance.
Denver's playoff journey commenced with a showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets dispatched the Lakers convincingly, clinching the series 4-1. Facing significant hurdles, such as overcoming double-digit deficits in three of the games, Denver’s resilience was nothing short of extraordinary. Jamal Murray, despite calf and elbow injuries, made pivotal contributions, even though his shooting percentages lagged at 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from deep.
The semifinal series against Minnesota painted a different picture. Denver found themselves in a tight contest that stretched to Game 7. After building a substantial 20-point lead in the second half, the Nuggets watched it slip away, ultimately falling short. Murray’s 35 points in Game 7 exemplified his fighting spirit, but it wasn't enough to save Denver’s playoff dreams.
The Celtics, on the other hand, wrapped up their season with an impressive 64-18 record and a plus-11.7 point differential. Their playoff dominance was clear as they stormed through with a 16-3 record. They seemed poised for a championship run as they advanced to face the Dallas Mavericks. Victories in the first three games of the series suggested a strong finish, but a staggering 30-point loss in Game 4 cast a shadow of doubt.
Reflecting on their journey, Jayson Tatum remarked, "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 road to the championship was a mental marathon as much as a physical one. "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 shared.
Tatum’s anxiety was palpable as the crucial Game 4 approached. "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." The pressure of the moment was overwhelming, leading to a disappointing 30-point loss. "We were at shootaround and everybody was trying to act normal. I couldn't take a nap. We lost by like 30," Tatum confessed.
Despite the setback, the Celtics regrouped with a renewed sense of determination. "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," Tatum said, embodying the team’s resolve to claim their spot as champions.
Denver's elimination from the playoffs served as a turning point and a motivational backdrop for the Celtics. As Kentavious Caldwell-Pope succinctly put it, "No gas."
The journeys of both teams highlight the grueling nature of the playoffs and the fine margins that separate triumph from heartbreak. While the Nuggets will rue missed opportunities, the Celtics’ ability to harness their nerves and focus under pressure remains an inspiring narrative in this season of NBA drama.