The NBA has seen plenty of surprises in another action-full regular season, but there are a few teams that have left their mark in one way or another. On the verge of completing an arduous run of 82 games over the course of a six-month campaign, ClutchPoints is proud to bring you the end-of-season awards, team edition.
The Overachiever award: Denver Nuggets
It wasn't too long ago that the Denver Nuggets saw their season come to an end in the most crushing of ways, losing a season finale matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves, which ended their playoff chances in Game 82 of the 2017-18 regular season.
Without making many changes, the Nuggets got back in the lab and responded under the leadership of head coach Mike Malone and a more cohesive squad that responded to the challenge.
Led by big man Nikola Jokic (20.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 7.4 assists per game), the Nuggets (53-27) have remained in the top two spots in a crowded Western Conference, taking the league by storm after being knocked out of the playoff picture late in the year the last two seasons. Their bench, fortified by able cogs like Malik Beasley, Monte Morris, Torrey Craig and Mason Plumlee, have been a major reason why they've posed such a challenge playing at home — now tied for the best mark in the NBA at 33-7.
Denver is now bound to avoid the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors until the Western Conference Finals, all while maintaining home court advantage for the first two rounds of postseason play.
Not too shabby for a team aspiring to make the climb.
The Now or Never award: Toronto Raptors
Being among the top seeds in the East is nothing new for the Raptors, but to have a franchise-caliber player like Kawhi Leonard to catapult them to greater heights is.
Leonard has enjoyed plenty of rest throughout the season, playing in only 59 games this season after missing 73 contests last season with the San Antonio Spurs. However, it's not about the games he's missed, but the games that he'll be present with this lineup as they approach the playoffs, which will become a now-or-never proposition for the franchise, as failure to reach the NBA Finals could very well result in Leonard's departure to his hometown of Los Angeles in the offseason.
The 2014 Finals MVP has a well-storied rapport with his hometown of L.A. and is reportedly still weighing the choice, as he could opt out of his contract after this season and become a free agent.
If the Raptors reach the NBA Finals or win it, it could make for a much tougher decision once Leonard's season comes to a close.
The Drama Queen award: Boston Celtics & Golden State Warriors
Take a pair of teams with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant and you have enough drama to fill an everyday soap opera.
These two teams were not short on drama this season, ranging from the Warriors' locker room implosion early in the season to the Celtics' countless post-game meetings after yet another head-scratching losing skid.
To add more sauce on top of it, Durant and Irving have been constantly questioned about their free agency destinations come next summer, questions to which they've both exploded with aggression, asking reporters to depart their proverbial lawn.
The two were also spotted having a private conversation in the halls of the Spectrum Center following the All-Star Game, a sight that only flamed the narrative of both players joining forces for the New York Knicks next season.
Needless to say, neither of these franchises had a drama free environment this season — something that could only up their mettle as they approach the postseason.
The Young & Promising award: Sacramento Kings
The Kings took a leap that most of the NBA didn't expect them to make, at least not quite this quickly.
A young team under the leadership of second-year point guard De'Aaron Fox, quickly found results, as an improved cast of Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley III and Bogdan Bogdanovic quickly jelled, taking most teams in the West by surprise.
While the Kings (39-42) will fall short of the .500 mark and one spot shy of making the playoffs, the improvement is encouraging, especially considering they could carry on incorporating Harrison Barnes, who joined the team via trade from the Dallas Mavericks before the deadline.
Sacramento seems to have a lot more stability under the command of vice president Vlade Divac, who is a man of conviction, hoping to get his former franchise back to the playoffs, along former teammates like Doug Christie and Peja Stojakovic, who he leans onto for sound advice.
It won't be long before the Kings crack through the playoff door. Mark our words.
Stay tuned for Part II of The ClutchPoints Awards.
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