2019 NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets knock off San Antonio Spurs 90-86 in Game 7
For sports fans, the two most famous words in postseason competition are “Game Seven”. That is exactly what it came down to in a first-round series between the Denver Nuggets San Antonio Spurs.
On one side, you had a Spurs team that has extended its playoff streak to 22 straight years. Meanwhile, the second-seeded Nuggets were playing in their first postseason since 2012-2013.
Would the upstart Nuggets find a way to win on their home floor, or would the Spurs find a way to win on the road? Early on, the Nuggets appeared to be in complete control.
They led 47-34 at halftime, limiting the Spurs to just 22.2 percent shooting from the field. The Nuggets continued their momentum into the third period as they led by as many as 17 points. With their backs against the wall, though, the Spurs refused to go away quietly.
In fact, they managed to trim the deficit to just two points with 52 seconds left in regulation. Thanks to a nice floater by Jamal Murray (23 points on 9-for-19 shooting); the Nuggets pushed their lead back to four points.
The Spurs missed on their next possession and surprisingly chose not to foul Denver on what was essentially the game’s final possession. When it was all said and done, the Nuggets emerged with a 90-86 victory.
With the win, the Nuggets advanced past the first round for the first time in a decade. In addition to that, this was Denver’s first Game 7 win since May of 1978, when they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks. Undoubtedly, the Denver Nuggets is one of the biggest surprises of the 2018/2019 NBA season.
Denver’s versatile big man, Nikola Jokic, finished with a triple-double that included 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. The biggest question coming into this series was whether Denver’s inexperience would prevent them from advancing.
They answered this question in a couple of different ways in this Game 7. For starters, they managed to build a big lead despite a poor shooting night for both teams. Secondly, they made key plays down the stretch despite San Antonio’s huge run in the final frame.
So, a Nuggets squad with the younger roster in the Western Conference is moving on after a hard-fought series victory. Their next opponent is the Portland Trail Blazers – a team that made quick work of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Nuggets will have their hands full trying to contain Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. But after watching how this team played in the first round, they have an outside shot at advancing to the conference finals.