The Denver Nuggets' playoff journey came to a premature end this season after a heart-wrenching exit from the Western Conference in the NBA playoffs. It was the Minnesota Timberwolves who dealt the final blow, ousting Denver in a grueling second-round series.
Throughout the regular season, the Denver Nuggets showcased their potential with impressive performances, particularly against the Boston Celtics. They swept their season series against the Celtics, including a standout victory at TD Garden on January 19, which marred Boston's near-perfect home record at 20-1. Again, on March 7, the Nuggets triumphed with Nikola Jokic recording a remarkable 32-point triple-double, while Jaylen Brown's valiant 41-point effort for Boston fell short.
Conquering the playoffs, especially the first round, was not without its significant hurdles. Matched up against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nuggets secured a 4-1 series victory, astonishingly overcoming double-digit deficits in three games. Jamal Murray, playing through injuries to his calf and elbow, struggled with his shooting, hitting only 40.2% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the arc against the Lakers.
The semifinals against Minnesota proved to be an even greater challenge, culminating in a nail-biting Game 7. The Nuggets squandered a 20-point lead in the second half of that decisive game, even as Jamal Murray pushed through, scoring a commendable 35 points. Ultimately, however, it wasn’t enough to secure a victory for Denver.
The Celtics’ season, contrastingly, had a strong finish with a 64-18 record and an impressive plus-11.7 point differential. Their playoff journey saw them going 16-3, demonstrating their dominance. They preserved their momentum against the Dallas Mavericks, winning up to Game 3. However, Game 4 was a stark setback for Boston, suffering a harsh 30-point defeat. Despite this, the Celtics' resilience was evident as they anticipated bouncing back in Game 5.
Reflecting on Denver's exit and the Celtics' aspirations, Jayson Tatum shared candid insights: "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."
For Denver, the reality was harsh. As Kentavious Caldwell-Pope succinctly put it, "No gas." The grueling schedule and strenuous games had taken their toll on the Nuggets. For Boston, the sense of fate and readiness for championship glory pervaded throughout their team, even from a 0-3 position. Jayson Tatum recalled the sentiments: "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."
In a poignant reflection of the pressures and anticipations of the crucial playoff moments, 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. We were at shootaround and everybody was trying to act normal. I couldn't take a nap. We lost by like 30."
However, the Celtics' resolve remained unshaken. As Tatum noted, "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." The determination and self-belief were palpable within the team, fueling their aspirations and driving them toward their ultimate goal.
The narratives of both the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics this season have been filled with high stakes, dramatic turns, and the relentless pursuit of victory. As the next season's horizon beckons, the stories, the struggles, and the triumphs will undoubtedly add more layers to the rich tapestry of NBA history.