Denver Nuggets’ Playoff Journey Comes to an End
The Denver Nuggets saw their NBA playoff journey come to a premature end after being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the Western Conference. Despite Denver’s strong regular season, which included sweeping their series against the Boston Celtics, the playoffs proved to be an uphill battle.
During the regular season, the Nuggets showcased their formidable strength by defeating the Celtics in both encounters, including an impressive victory on January 19 at the TD Garden. That particular game marked the first blemish on Boston's then-perfect home record of 20-1. In their second meeting on March 7, Denver triumphed yet again, with Nikola Jokic delivering a stellar 32-point triple-double, while Boston's Jaylen Brown scored an impressive 41 points.
Their playoff journey began with significant challenges right from the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets managed to overcome these obstacles, defeating the Lakers 4-1. Remarkably, Denver managed to claw back from double-digit deficits in three of those games. Jamal Murray, despite battling injuries to his calf and elbow, played through the pain. However, his shooting performance was less than ideal, hitting only 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from deep against the Lakers.
The pivotal semifinal series against Minnesota was a rollercoaster, ultimately stretching to a decisive Game 7. The Nuggets initially looked poised to advance, maintaining a 20-point lead in the second half. However, that lead evaporated, and Denver's playoff dreams were extinguished. Murray, who gave a standout performance with 35 points in Game 7, couldn’t prevent the eventual collapse.
Celtics’ Dominance Amidst Ups and Downs
On the other side of the league, the Boston Celtics ended their season on a high note, boasting a 64-18 record and an impressive plus-11.7 point differential. Throughout the playoffs, the Celtics exhibited dominance, carving through the competition with a 16-3 run. Their journey to the finals saw them face the Dallas Mavericks, where they won the first three games of the series, signaling a potential sweep.
However, Game 4 against the Mavericks shattered Boston’s momentum, resulting in a disheartening 30-point loss. Jayson Tatum reflected on this pivotal moment, saying, "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." In a candid moment of realization, Tatum admitted, "No gas."
The 0-3 lead held by Celtics ingrained a mix of confidence and anxiety within the team. Tatum recalled, "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." His anticipation and sleepless night before Game 4 were palpable, "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 team’s anxiety was evident as they tried to mask their nerves during the shootaround. Tatum continued to recount that day, "We were at shootaround and everybody was trying to act normal. I couldn't take a nap. We lost by like 30." This loss added urgency and determination to their next home game. That anticipation culminated as Tatum reflected, "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."
Conclusion
The Denver Nuggets’ playoff run came to an abrupt end against the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Celtics wavered momentarily before recapturing their form and pushing towards their championship aspirations. Both teams displayed moments of brilliance throughout the season, showcasing the highs and lows inherent in professional sports.