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Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell had a hell of a series.
It was a Game 7. Anything goes.
What we didn’t see was the shootout we had seen over this series from young stars Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell. In fact, the entire time it was a struggle for both teams. Scoring became a premium. Neither team didn’t want to give anything.
Utah REALLY struggled. Possessions were wasted. Denver was ready to blow this thing out of the water. They led by as many as 19 points. And we were led to believe that it was going to be a comfortable Nuggets win.
That didn’t happen. Mitchell finally broke out, showing us the sizzling bucket-getting he was doing all series (13 of his 22 points scored in the third). Rudy Gobert became a forcible red light (19 points, 18 boards). While Murray struggled to get anything going, Nikola Jokic kept Denver in the scoring column; he had 30 points and 14 boards. Still, it became such a close game that it might come down to one final play.
It was Denver 80, Utah 78. Mitchell had the ball in his hands with 14 seconds left. He drove but then Gary Harris, who was only playing his second game since the pandemic started, poked the ball out. The Nuggets could’ve held on to the ball and it could’ve been finished in free throws. But Murray (17 points) and his teammates got excited at a chance to put the game away outright. They ran the fastbreak. Torrey Craig got the pass.
But he blew the lay-up. Utah had one last shot at it. The ball went to Mike Conley and shot the potential game-winner as Mitchell helplessly looked on with his arms raised on the right wing.
It rimmed out. Denver was moving on.
The game was a defensive struggle. And of course, it came down to one shot. It’s always been unfair like that but a single shot can determine everyone’s playoff legacy. Mitchell doesn’t get out of the first round. The Nuggets move on. No redemption for Gobert. Denver comes back down from a 3-1 deficit, the 12th team to ever do that in playoff history.
It could’ve been the other way around. Denver becomes a disappointment. People wonder about how much they’re paying these players. Utah continues their redemption story. Mitchell’s star becomes brighter. The Mike Conley trade worked out.
But, alas, the shot did not go in. The difference between winning and losing. The margin of celebration and heartbreak. The line between success and failure.
That’s what a Game 7 brings you.
But there are more important things in basketball. Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell embraced each other after a hard-fought series. In the end, it’s still a game.
And in the end, respect for each other was there.
Bullet Passes
The Nuggets go on to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. That is two days after this epic Game 7. Jamal Murray was not pleased at all:
Jamal Murray finding out that the series against the Clippers starts on Thursday… 😅 pic.twitter.com/ioEN19m6nD
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) September 2, 2020
That’s how I feel when I learn that my sushi outing is cancelled.
Game 2 between Toronto and Boston happened. It looked like the champs were going to run away after taking a 12-point lead in the third.
Then SHARPSHOOTER MARCUS SMART HAPPENED. We know that he’s not the greatest three-point shooter but he made 5 for 9 from three in Game 1. He followed that up with 5 MORE THREES IN THE FOURTH QUARTER (ending the night with 6 for 11).
Still, T Dot had one last chance. After Jaylen Brown missed a heave, the Raptors decided not to call timeout for a chance to tie. Fred VanVleet put up what felt like a desperate throw as well. It went left and short and the Celtics now have a 2-0 lead. But thank goodness, they’re on a neutral court these days, right?
Jayson Tatum went for 34-8-6. Look at these young guys busting out in the postseason.
Let’s hope for another Game 7 thriller between the Thunder and the Rockets on Wednesday.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
Game 2: #2 TOR 99 vs #3 BOS 102 (BOS leads series, 2-0)
Game 7: #3 DEN 80 vs #6 UTA 78 (DEN wins series, 4-3)
Watch This Play
Robert Williams gets to the rim unimpeded with this follow slam.
OH WOW. 😳#NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/MWGadgsGhK
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) September 1, 2020
Let’s get another terrific Game 7 tonight. Please take care, y’all.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.