As the Denver Nuggets find themselves ousted from the Western Conference in the NBA playoffs, many are left reflecting on a season marked by highs and lows, dominance against some opponents, and ultimate heartbreak at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round.
Denver's journey was filled with moments of brilliance, none more impressive than their season sweep against the formidable Boston Celtics. The Nuggets disrupted the Celtics' flawless home record with an outstanding victory on January 19 at TD Garden. In their second contest on March 7, Nikola Jokic's 32-point triple-double led the Nuggets to another victory over Boston. Jaylen Brown's 41-point performance for the Celtics wasn't enough to counter the Nuggets' superiority.
Despite their success against Boston, the Nuggets faced significant challenges from the outset of the playoffs. Their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers was a testament to their resilience and determination. Coming from double-digit deficits in three of the games, Denver managed to defeat the Lakers 4-1. This series showcased Jamal Murray's bravery as he played through injuries to his calf and elbow, although he struggled with his shooting, hitting only 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from deep.
The truly grueling test for Denver came in the semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The series extended to a nerve-wracking Game 7, where the Nuggets, after blowing a 20-point lead in the second half, ultimately fell to Minnesota. Murray's valiant 35-point effort in Game 7 was not enough to save Denver's season.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics were enjoying a spectacular season, finishing with a 64-18 record and a remarkable plus-11.7 point differential. Their playoff journey saw them go 16-3, showing dominance until facing the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics cruised through the first three games against Dallas but suffered a stunning 30-point defeat in Game 4. This unexpected loss stirred a mix of apprehension and determination within the team.
Reflecting on the playoffs, 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 Celtics' anticipation of their championship triumph was palpable despite setbacks. "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 the tension mounted, Tatum admitted to sleepless nights and anxious mornings. "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," he said. Despite their overwhelming desire to clinch the title, Game 4 ended in 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," Tatum noted.
However, Tatum remained confident about their prospects. "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," he affirmed.
The Nuggets, despite their early exit, demonstrated admirable grit and tenacity. Yet, their playoffs narrative serves as a juxtaposition to the Celtics' triumphant campaign. As Jayson Tatum and his teammates awaited to lift the championship, the Denver Nuggets were left to reassess and regroup, looking ahead to potential redemption in the next season.