The Denver Nuggets faced a challenging journey in their playoff run, ultimately falling short in the Western Conference of the NBA playoffs. Their season, marked by both triumphs and setbacks, concluded with an early exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in a grueling second-round series.
The Nuggets' regular season had its highlights, notably sweeping their season series against the Boston Celtics. Their first victory on January 19 at TD Garden was significant, as it handed Boston its first home loss after a perfect 20-0 start. Denver maintained its dominance in the second meeting on March 7, with Nikola Jokic posting a remarkable 32-point triple-double, despite Jaylen Brown’s impressive 41-point effort.
The playoff challenges began early for Denver, facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The Nuggets triumphed 4-1, showcasing their resilience by overcoming double-digit deficits in three of the games. Jamal Murray, playing through calf and elbow injuries, contributed despite hitting only 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from deep against the Lakers.
Their second-round encounter with the Timberwolves proved to be a nail-biter that went the full seven games. Denver saw a substantial lead slip away in the decisive Game 7, where they blew a 20-point second-half lead. Despite Jamal Murray’s valiant 35-point performance, it wasn’t enough to stave off elimination.
On the flip side, the Boston Celtics enjoyed a stellar season, finishing with a 64-18 record and a plus-11.7 point differential. Their playoff run was nothing short of dominant, going 16-3. The Celtics' journey advanced through the playoffs, culminating in a showdown with the Dallas Mavericks.
The Celtics convincingly won up to Game 3 but stumbled in Game 4, suffering a heavy 30-point defeat. Reflecting on this moment, Jayson Tatum shared, "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 sentiment in the Celtics' camp remained optimistic despite the setback. "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 recalled.
As Game 4 approached, the tension was 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," Tatum continued. "We were at shootaround and everybody was trying to act normal. I couldn't take a nap. We lost by like 30."
With Game 5 back at home, the Celtics were resolute in their pursuit of the championship. "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.
In the end, the Celtics secured the victory they needed, demonstrating their mettle and resilience. The narratives of both teams highlighted the unpredictable nature of the NBA playoffs, where every game could pivot the fortunes of the franchises involved.