History is in favor of Nuggets completing rare comeback

The Nuggets on Sunday became only the seventh team in NBA history to level up a series 2-2 after dropping the first two games at home (not including the Orlando bubble). 

Five of the six previous teams who achieved the feat — Clippers in 2021, Celtics in 2017, Mavericks in 2005, Rockets in 1994 and Lakers in 1969 — went on to win their respective series. Only the Spurs in the 1995 Western Conference Finals couldn't finish off the eventual champion Rockets in that exact scenario. 

The stat bodes well for the Nuggets, who reclaimed home-court advantage with a 115-107 win in Game 4, just 48 hours after blowing out Minnesota by a score of 117-90. After Sunday's game, the consensus among most NBA analysts was that the Nuggets had seized the momentum in the best-of-seven series.

"They're back in tune, back in sync," Shaquille O'Neal said of the Nuggets on "Inside the NBA" on TNT. "Champions — you really have to put them away at home. The bad loss in Game 2 was probably the best thing that happened to them because now, they're awake."

Celtics legend Paul Pierce echoed similar views on "Undisputed" on FS1.

"I have a whole new respect for Denver," Pierce said. "Before [Game 4], when I looked at the list of teams who've come back from 0-2 at home, I said, 'If there's one team that can do it, it's the Denver Nuggets.' None of those teams were the defending champions... Denver showed me why they're the champs, and Jokic showed me why he deserves to win his third MVP."

When the Nuggets went down 0-2, they were in danger of becoming the first defending champion since the 2011 Lakers to get swept. Nikola Jokic and Co. had other ideas. The champions will host the Timberwolves for Game 5 on Tuesday.