Add extraordinary Nuggets-Timberwolves series to conference semifinals lore

This series has been over twice. 

First, the Minnesota Timberwolves completely discombobulated the typically unflappable Nikola Jokic offense in their winning the first two games of the series. Quickly and rather unexpectedly, the Denver Nuggets appeared to be going out as defending champions with the whimper of a heat pack flying across the floor. The best way to describe what occurred in Game 2 was the Wolves punked the Nuggets. 

But then Jokic received his third MVP in four seasons on an off-day and the Nuggets traveled to Minnesota and won the next two games on the road, followed by an unstoppable display in Game 5. The Nuggets were unhurried again on offense, finding their comfort level and disrupting Anthony Edwards’ attack with double teams on the other side of the floor. The series was over again, except in the opposite direction.

Jokic came out in Game 6 more purposeful and aggressive than usual with a clear mission to end the series in Minnesota at all costs despite them having the luxury of an extra game to work with. But the Wolves withstood the initial 9-2 deficit by barraging the Nuggets with a 20-0 run that set the tone for the game that was later punctuated by a 24-0 run in the fourth quarter. The Nuggets unearthed a solution to the Wolves only to be suffocated all over again.

Now, this turbulent series that has been thrilling and surprising, but also meandering on a game-by-game basis, gets a Game 7. This has been an instant classic series without an instant classic game. 

The Nuggets are attempting to survive the crucible of the conference semifinals, becoming the first defending champion to reach the NBA’s final four since the Golden State Warriors in 2019. The Nuggets really showed up during their two regular season games against the Boston Celtics this season, but they have otherwise largely had the attitude that all they have to do to repeat is show up relatively healthy. Jokic has had to care and exert a level of visible effort and problem-solving with his sense of desperation being in stark contrast to his typically zen mind. Jokic’s celebrity is a no-fuss humbleness, but this series has been humbling in a way we haven’t witnessed him experience to date. 

On the Minnesota end, they have an ascendent 22-year-old ahead of schedule without a ceiling on what he can accomplish, yet also potentially have a quickly closing window on this iteration of the team based on how expensive their payroll and luxury-tax obligations project to be. There is urgency in both directions. Title windows are always more fleeting than they feel in the moment. Edwards is special enough to defy any challenge. These playoffs have established that Edwards is a generational blend of two-way explosion and control on the court, as well as joy and ruthlessness as a competitor and leader.

The conference semifinals cannot match the immediacy of the stakes inherently contained in the conference finals as teams are literally on the verge of the NBA Finals, but they are notable for how frequently they can swing a title and establish either the start or end of something. There is a haphazard and confounding feel to some of the games during this round as they are usually part of a doubleheader. The colossal moments are a little bit more crowded. We witness the end of one game and immediately go to the tip of the next, or the final buzzer is well after midnight. There is still so much more to unfold with the winning team still needing eight more wins to raise the Larry O’Brien trophy. 

We eagerly speculate that the Brooklyn Nets would have won the title in 2021 if Kevin Durant’s toe wasn’t on the line in Game 7 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Kawhi Leonard’s game-winner against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019 led to a one-and-done title for the Toronto Raptors and the exit of Jimmy Butler to the Miami Heat shortly thereafter. 

Here is a sampling of conference semifinal series over the past 20 years that delivered extraordinary excitement, stakes or both the way this one has:

• 2005: Pistons/Pacers
• 2006: Mavericks/Spurs
• 2007: Spurs/Suns
• 2008: Celtics/Cavaliers
• 2009: Magic/Celtics and Lakers/Rockets
• 2010: Celtics/Cavaliers
• 2011: Thunder/Grizzlies
• 2012: Heat/Pacers
• 2013: Spurs/Warriors
• 2014: Thunder/Clippers
• 2015: Rockets/Clippers
• 2016: Thunder/Spurs
• 2017: Spurs/Rockets
• 2018: None
• 2019: Raptors/Sixers and Warriors/Rockets
• 2020: Nuggets/Clippers
• 2021: Bucks/Nets
• 2022: Bucks/Celtics
• 2023: Celtics/Sixers

In this era, the NBA moves more quickly than ever before, but we now have an expectation that the Nuggets, Wolves, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder will be four of the top five to seven teams in the league every season for at least the next three to four years. Their superstars either have prime to spare looking ahead, or are just now approaching it, and they are each very settled in their situations. One of these teams could go on a multi-championship run. The NBA has successfully tried to legislate parity into the game and any multi-championship run in this era will be even more precarious than those in the past. 

If champions repeat, we want to see them tested like this. If they’re taken down, it has to be in this way by a worthy foe rather than crumbling under the weight of a restrictive second apron.