Last year, the Nuggets had it. Up 20 at home in Game 7 against the Timberwolves and still let it slip. The second half was a nightmare, and just like that, their season was over. That loss stuck with them. Fast forward to this year, same pressure, same Game 7 scenario. Only this time, it was against the Clippers. And this time? Denver didn’t flinch. They showed up, showed out, and punched their ticket to the next round.
Nikola Jokić had a flat-out historic 2024–25 regular season. He averaged 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, becoming just the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double across a full season, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. He didn’t just pad stats; he did it efficiently, shooting nearly 58% from the field and over 41% from three. Oh, and let’s not forget: he logged 34 triple-doubles, tying for the fourth-most ever in a single season. If that’s not dominance, what is?
Coming off a monster regular season, it looked like the Joker would carry that same dominance into the playoffs. But Game 7 against the Clippers told a different story. Sure, Denver got the job done with a 120-101 blowout, but Jokić wasn’t the main headline. He finished with a solid but quiet line: 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, 10 boards, and 8 assists. As Shaquille O’Neal bluntly put it, “Joker didn’t play great today, but didn’t have to.” Gordon led the charge with 22 points and 5 assists on an efficient 9-of-16 from the field.
Apr 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) and guard Russell Westbrook (4) celebrate defeating the against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Shaquille O’Neal was actually fired up about the team performance more than any single star. “The Denver Nuggets played the perfect game,” he said on TNT. “Their best players were not the leading scorers… but everybody chipped in.” It was true—Murray and Westbrook each added 16, Christian Braun had 21, and Peyton Watson even knocked down a crucial corner three. What made this more special and unexpected was that “the crowd was engaged.” The energy wasn’t just in the players; it pulsed through the arena.
And when asked about last year’s Game 7 heartbreak against Minnesota, Jokić shrugged it off. “To be honest, personally zero,” he said. “My whole focus, my whole energy was today… to try and beat a really, really talented team.” That’s Jokic: not chasing revenge, just chasing wins. And this time, the whole squad was right there with him.
Not just the Nikola Jokić Show
The Nuggets are quietly reminding everyone in the 2025 NBA Playoffs that they’re not just riding on the shoulders of Jokić. Sure, he’s still their anchor—the reigning Finals MVP and arguably the smartest player on the court every night—but this team has way more depth than they often get credit for. Jamal Murray? He’s been cold-blooded in the clutch. His 29-point outing in Game 2 of the first round (including a dagger three in the final minute) is just one of several big moments. Michael Porter Jr. is letting it fly from deep and hitting over 44.1% of his threes this postseason. And Aaron Gordon, often overlooked, continues to be a glue guy on both ends—defending wings and adding timely scoring. This isn’t just Jokić’s team anymore—it’s a full squad effort.
A standout story this postseason has been Russell Westbrook. Often dismissed in recent years, Westbrook is shooting 41.9% from three—better than Steph Curry (39.1%), Kawhi Leonard (40.5%), Jayson Tatum (36.4%), Anthony Edwards (33.3%), and Jalen Brunson (33.3%) as per StatMuse. Though he’s playing fewer minutes, his efficiency and shot selection have improved drastically, giving the Clippers a much-needed spark off the bench. In a playoffs defined by depth and adjustments, the Nuggets and Westbrook exemplify how modern postseason success isn’t just about stars—it’s about strategy, balance, and players rising to the occasion when it matters most.
Denver isn’t the only team leaning on a full roster. The Boston Celtics are rolling with a quartet of stars—Tatum, Brown, Holiday, and Porziņģis—all scoring in double digits. The Minnesota Timberwolves have built a scary two-way force around Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert. And don’t sleep on the New York Knicks either—Jalen Brunson may be the headliner, but Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein are doing serious heavy lifting.
This postseason has made one thing crystal clear: success isn’t about who your star is—it’s about how many players can step up when it matters. Between the Nuggets’ team-first blueprint and a resurgent Russell Westbrook, 2025 is reminding us that playoff basketball is still a team game at heart.
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