An NBA postseason series can last for seven games and play out for at least 336 minutes. But sometimes, it takes just a split-second to alter the direction of a series.
The Denver Nuggets had just blown their 22-point lead and were desperately trying to avoid being down 3-1 in the series. Nikola Jokic continued to churn our videogame numbers, while Christian Braun and Jamal Murray were providing just enough support. However, it felt like the Los Angeles Clippers were on the verge of completing a comeback thanks to the efforts of Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Normal Powell. In the end, though, Aaron Gordon was prepared for his moment and we could be potentially looking back at it as a pivotal one.
Game 4 was a microcosm of the turbulent 2024-2025 campaign the Nuggets have been going through so far. Play great enough to build a supposedly insurmountable lead only to see it disappear. Be both sublime and inconsistent, to the point that it will leave you head scratching. Lose your coach and throw everything into chaos. And yet they’re still here, with the series tied heading back to Denver with a shot at advancing and getting some rest before facing a well-oiled machine in the Oklahoma City Thunder.
It’s obvious that the Nuggets have been leaning on their championship experience through much of this series. The signs of frustrations are there, but overall, Denver does not get too high (no pun intended) or low with every moment. It’s allowed them to be ready for the moment, because the NBA Playoffs is a game of moments, and seizing the right moments could lead to moments like this.
Jokic remains the tip of the spear for the Nuggets, but even with some moving parts, they continue to be multifaceted thanks to the familiarity among the veterans and the development of their young players. Denver interim head coach David Adelman has been with the Nuggets for nearly 10 years so there wasn’t much of a transition when Michael Malone was fired. That continuity allows them to retain their status as title contenders and with the way Game 4 played out, we’re reminded of how Denver is still one of the more difficult teams to beat in a seven-game series and the Clippers have first-hand experience of that.
The Denver Nuggets may be battered and bruised at this point in the season, although among the remaining teams in the NBA Playoffs, who isn’t? The postseason remains a grind and is very much up for grabs, but right now, the Nuggets were able to climb back from the jaws of defeat thanks to one play and one play could again swing the series.
