NBA Playoffs 2020: Putting the Denver Nuggets remarkable run into perspective

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Jokic and Murray

The Denver Nuggets have pulled off the improbable, overcoming a 3-1 deficit for the second-consecutive series to advance to the Western Conference Finals. It is the franchise's fourth Conference Finals appearance and the first since 2009. 

In doing so, Denver becomes the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit more than once in the same postseason. They become the third franchise after the Boston Celtics (1968, 1981) and the Houston Rockets (1995, 2015) to overcome a 3-1 deficit twice. 

This team knows a thing or two about performing with its back against the wall as it seemingly unfazed by pressure. Now that the Nuggets are moving on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, take a look at some numbers to contextualize just how special their run has been so far.

  • Dating back to last year, Denver is the first team in NBA history to play a Game 7 in four straight series (per ESPN Stats & Info). It is now 3-1 in these winner-take-all contests.
  • This postseason, the Nuggets became the first team since play-by-by began (1997) with three 15-point comebacks facing elimination in a postseason (per ESPN Stats & Info)
  • The Nuggets are now the second team to win six elimination games in a single playoff, equalling the record set by the 1994 Nuggets, (per NBA Stats)
  • When facing elimination, the Nuggets have allowed their opponents to score just 97.3 points per game on and 42.3% shooting.

As for star power, Denver's attack begins with All-Star centre Nikola Jokic, who has taken his game to the next level in refusal to go home.

In their 104-89 Game 7 win against the Clippers, Jokic recorded his fifth career playoff triple-double with 16 points, 22 rebounds, and 13 assists, creating some history along the way. He became the first player in NBA history to record a 20-rebound triple-double in a Game 7, (per NBA Stats) and joined Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan as the only players to record a 20-rebound playoff triple-double since the NBA-ABA merger (1976), per ESPN Stats& Info.

Nikola Jokic facing elimination in 2020
  PTS FG FG% 3P 3P% FT FT% REB AST
R1G5 vs. UTA 31 12-19 63.2 7-11 63.6 0-0 0.0 6 4
R1G6 vs. UTA 22 7-15 46.7 3-5 60.0 5-5 100 4 9
R1G7 vs. UTA 30 12-23 52.2 2-5 40.0 4-4 100 14 4
R2G5 vs. LAC 22 9-17 52.9 2-6 33.3 2-4 50.0 14 5
R2G6 vs. LAC 34 13-22 59.1 4-6 66.7 4-5 80.0 14 7
R2G7 vs. LAC 16 5-13 38.5 0-4 0% 6-6 100% 22 13
AVG 25.8 58-109 53.2% 18-37 48.6% 21-24 87.5 12.3 7.0

 The Denver Nuggets will move on to face the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Friday, Sept. 18 at 9 p.m. ET.

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Author(s)
Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News.