Denver Nuggets overcome the odds and advance to the Western Conference Finals
Last month, the Denver Nuggets were down 3 to 1 in the 1st round series against the Utah Jazz. They outscored the Jazz offensive powerhouse, Donovan Mitchell, to win three straight games and advanced to face the Los Angeles Clippers in the semifinals of the Eastern Conference.
The Nuggets found themselves in a similar situation against the Clippers. They lost Game 1 by a heartbreaking 120 to 97. They were able to get a comeback in Game 2 with a respectable 110 to 101 win. After this, they lost two games straight to once again find themselves in a 3 to 1 hole. And just like the previous series, they clawed their way towards a Game 7 and win the series with a decisive 104 to 89 finish.
Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets to yet another Game 7 victory. Murray led the game in scoring with an explosive 40 points. Jokic contributed to the team with his reliable triple-double. The Serbian big man posted 16 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists, three blocks, and two steals.
Clippers struggle to find chemistry and make shots
On the other side of the court, it didn't seem like the Clippers were in sync at all. Kawhi Leonard was held down to only 14 points with six rebound and six assists. Paul George wasn't able to do any better. George was held down to 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists. As a team, they shot horribly. From beyond the arc, they only made 9 out of their 35 attempts (25.7%). The Clippers were able to get more shots out. They attempted a total of 90 field goals but only made 34 (37.8%), while the Nuggets only attempted 77 but were able to convert 38 (49.4%) They also didn't do so well with rebounds. They only had 37 compared to the Nuggets' 53.
First Western Conference Finals in 11 years.
It has been a while since the Denver Nuggets have made it to the Western Conference Finals. The last time we saw them make an appearance was way back in 2011. Back then, the Nuggets was coached by George Karl and had Carmelo Anthony in his prime, Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, JR Smith, Dahntay Jones, and the "Birdman" Chris Andersen. And just like this season, they were against Phil Jackson's Los Angeles Lakers. Back then they had Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Trevor Ariza, and Lamar Odom. That season, the Lakers finished off the Nuggets in Game 6 on went on to win the NBA Championships in Game 5 against the Orlando Magic.
This season's Western Conference Finals will be very interesting to watch. LeBron James and Anthony Davis have proven time and again that they are a formidable dynamic duo. It will be a daunting task to topple two of the best players in the league. Jokic, Murray, and the rest of the Nuggets will have to pull all the stops if they want to take down this goliath.
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