Nuggets' Playoff Journey Ends in Heartbreak
The Denver Nuggets' playoff journey came to an untimely end after being eliminated in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite their aspirations, the Nuggets were thwarted, ultimately falling short of their championship dreams.
Denver's season was filled with highs and lows, including a remarkable regular season sweep against the Boston Celtics. Their first victory against the Celtics on January 19 saw them spoil Boston's perfect home record of 20-1 at the TD Garden. The Nuggets proved their prowess yet again on March 7, driven by a stellar 32-point triple-double performance from Nikola Jokic. Even though Jaylen Brown countered with an impressive 41 points in that game, the Nuggets emerged victorious.
However, the playoffs presented a different challenge altogether. The Nuggets started their playoff run against the Los Angeles Lakers, defeating them 4-1 in the first round. It wasn't an easy path; Denver had to claw back from double-digit deficits in three of those games. Jamal Murray battled through injuries to his calf and elbow but still managed to contribute, despite shooting just 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from deep against the Lakers.
The semifinal round against Minnesota proved to be a nail-biter, culminating in a decisive Game 7. Denver held a commanding 20-point lead in the second half, only to see it slip away. Despite a valiant effort from Jamal Murray, who scored 35 points in the final game, the Nuggets couldn't hold off the Timberwolves’ surge.
The Boston Celtics, on the other hand, had an extraordinary season with a 64-18 record and an impressive plus-11.7 point differential. Their playoff performance was equally spectacular, going 16-3 before facing the Dallas Mavericks. After winning the first three games against Dallas, the Celtics suffered a stunning 30-point loss in Game 4.
Reflecting on their playoff run, Jayson Tatum shared insights into their mindset. "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," Tatum remarked.
The gravity of the situation wasn't lost on the Celtics' star, especially after their Game 4 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," Tatum stated.
Recalling the tension before their potential championship-winning game, Tatum added, "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." Despite their efforts, they suffered a significant loss. "We were at shootaround and everybody was trying to act normal. I couldn't take a nap. We lost by like 30."
The Celtics looked forward to redeeming themselves in Game 5, returning to Boston with renewed 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 concluded, reflecting the team's resilience and belief in their capabilities.
The Nuggets’ playoff exit and the Celtics' reflections offer a glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster of professional basketball, highlighting the highs and lows, the victories and defeats, and the unyielding spirit that defines the sport.