The Denver Nuggets have fought hard in the first round of the playoffs, and for the first time in quite a while, the team will host a Game 7 matchup.
The Nuggets were leading the San Antonio Spurs 3-2 in their first-round series. There were many experts who felt Denver — the No. 2 seed in the West — was ready to advance, but the Spurs managed to take Thursday's night's Game 6 matchup in rather convincing fashion (120-103). As a result, the Nuggets will welcome the Spurs to the Pepsi Center for a Game 7.
According to Basketball-Reference, this is just the second time since the Nuggets became an NBA franchise (moving from the ABA in 1976) that they will host a Game 7. They played two other Game 7s: 1994 West semis at Utah (L), 2012 first round at Lakers (L).
The Nuggets and Spurs have gone back and forth in their first-round battle. In Game 1, DeMar DeRozan led San Antonio to a 101-96 victory, scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds. In Game 2, the Nuggets managed to erase a 19-point deficit to claim their first win of the series (114-105). Games 3 and 4 were hard-fought affairs, with each team claiming a win.
Denver came away with a 108-90 victory in Game 5, giving them a 3-2 series lead. However, the Spurs weren't ready to lie down just yet. Despite the fact that big man Nikola Jokic had 43 points, the Spurs managed to defeat the Nuggets in Game 6:
“It is probably going to be even tougher than this one,” Jokic told ESPN after Game 6, referring to Saturday's Game 7 matchup. “We are playing at home. That may be a little good thing for us.
“We need to go there and give our best,” Jokic added. “Just go out there and work and punch people, play physical, setting screen, whatever we need to do just to get a win.”
Nuggets head coach Mike Malone says his team is lucky to be playing at home for Game 7:
“Game 7 — how much do you have to say?” Malone told ESPN. “For us, we're lucky we're playing in front of our home crowd. … The hope is that we will respond in Game 7.”
The Nuggets and Spurs will meet for Game 7 on Saturday night. Tip-off inside the Pepsi Center is set for 10:00 p.m. ET, with TNT having live broadcast coverage.
Follow Us
Subscribe