Nikola Jokic made the tiebreaking basket with 27 secs left as well as the Denver Nuggets progressed to the second round of the playoffs by the slimmest of margins, beating the Utah Jazz 80-78 in Game 7 on Tuesday night when Mike Conley’s 3-pointer drew out at the buzzer.
The Nuggets became the 12th group in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a collection, but just after they blew a 19-point lead in this game.
After Jokic’s basket, allure obtained the sphere to Donovan Mitchell adhering to a timeout. The Nuggets took it from him and competed down for a quick break, but Torrey Craig missed the layup. Utah rebounded as well as pushed the round up the flooring to Conley, whose jumper looked excellent all the way up until it fell out.
Jokic had 30 factors and also 14 rebounds and also Jamal Murray scored 17 factors. No. 3 seed Denver advanced to face the second-seeded Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals.
They state the best video clip does not exist …
We ask to vary. pic.twitter.com/y9yct2l6xQ
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 2, 2020
Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points as well as Rudy Gobert finished with 19 factors and also 18 rebounds after a big 2nd half for the Jazz.
A collection that featured historical offending fireworks between Murray and also Mitchell developed into an antique Game 7 defensive battle. Murray shot just 7 for 21, far off his efficiencies of the previous 3 video games.
So the Nuggets transformed much more to Jokic, their All-Star center who tossed in a short hook shot in the lane after the Jazz had tied it at 78.
Murray and also Mitchell became the initial pair of gamers to have two 50-point games in the exact same series, however the males between were the most significant consider this one.
After a peaceful first fifty percent in which Mitchell was all allure had going, Gobert began dominating the paint, keeping belongings active on infraction and also quiting Denver drives on protection.
But the Nuggets prevailed in their third Game 7 in the last 2 years, having defeated San Antonio in the first round last year prior to getting knocked out by Portland. They played three even more do-or-die video games in the bubble to extend their remain.
Denver controlled the very first half as well as had a 19-point lead a min into the third quarter. Mitchell after that scored 9 straight points before Conley struck a 3-pointer that cut it to 55-48. The Jazz obtained it right down to 65-60 after Gobert transformed a three-point play for the final points of the period.
Utah after that obtained the initial eight of the 4th, the final six by Gobert, to open a 68-65 lead.
The Jazz won 3 straight video games after Denver took the opener in overtime, and were poised to put away the series when they led by 15 factors in the second half of Game 5.
Murray, who had actually scored 50 points in Game 4, rallied the Nuggets and completed with 42, then came back with 50 again in Game 6, a three-game overall of 142 that had been topped in the playoffs by only Jerry West and Michael Jordan.
❤ THIS TEAM ❤ #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/O4fGqtCdnm
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 2, 2020
Let’s be truthful.
The amount of y’ all assumed it was over when we were down 3-1?
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 2, 2020
TIP-INS
Nuggets: Denver improved to 3-3 in Game 7s. … Michael Porter Jr. had 10 points and nine rebounds.
Jazz: Mitchell racked up 14 successive Utah points extending halftime. … Utah scored only 15 factors in the second quarter after obtaining held to 20 in Game 6.