(Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
Many people expected the Denver Nuggets to win Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals versus the Minnesota Timberwolves at home on Sunday.
But after taking a 20-point lead in the third quarter, the Nuggets let the game slip away from them, as Minnesota completely turned things around and dominated most of the second half.
As a result, Denver lost, 98-90, meaning that their reign as NBA champs is officially over.
On FS1’s “Speak,” Emmanuel Acho said that he’s disappointed in the Nuggets and called their Game 7 loss the “greatest collapse” in Game 7 history.
“How in the world do you have a historic collapse when you have the best player in basketball currently?”@EmmanuelAcho examines the Nuggets meltdown: pic.twitter.com/muaXAyfjz6
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) May 20, 2024
The series started with the Timberwolves winning the first two games in Denver, which caused many to sound the alarm about the Nuggets’ prospects.
But the Nuggets responded by winning the next three games and reestablished their offensive prowess, and even after they lost by 45 points and scored just 70 points in Game 6, they seemed to be in decent shape heading into Game 7.
They took a 53-38 lead at halftime, and with Jamal Murray scoring 24 points in the first half, it looked like Denver was on its way to the Western Conference Finals.
Instead, Minnesota turned the game upside-down starting in the third quarter while Denver could only muster 14 points in the period, and the run continued in the fourth quarter while Denver watched helplessly.
Defense was again the key for Minnesota, and while Murray and Nikola Jokic got theirs, none of their teammates scored more than seven points.
The Timberwolves were able to pull off the upset even though Anthony Edwards scored just 16 points on 6-of-24 shooting.
Instead of repeating as world champs, the Nuggets now face a somewhat uncertain offseason, as they not only have to strengthen their bench but also make sure starting shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who can opt-out and become a free agent this summer, remains with them.
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