Greatest moment in each NBA franchise’s history

Denver Nuggets: Nuggets upset Sonics in 1994

From 1990-93, the Denver Nuggets were on the outside looking in when it came to the NBA Playoffs. Though they improved over those three seasons, they failed to top 36 wins in any of them. With Dikembe Mutombo emerging as a star for the Nuggets in the 1993-94 season, though, the Nuggets went 42-40 and snuck into the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

While making the playoffs was a nice change of pace for Denver, their reward for a postseason berth was unkind. They were matched up in the best-of-five first round series with the top-seeded Seattle Supersonics who had been a juggernaut during the regular season on their way to a 63-19 record.

Looking at the players on the roster alone, there’s no way that the Nuggets should have stood a chance against the Sonics. Where the Sonics boasted a core three of Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Detlef Schrempf, the Nuggets were merely led by LaPhonso Ellis, Reggie Williams, Robert Pack, and Dikembe Mutombo.

Through the first two games, it played out as you would expect with Seattle winning both games by double-digits. However, the Nuggets captured a big win in Game 3 and then another in Game 4 to lead to a decisive fifth game in the series in Seattle.

The Nuggets trailed the Sonics by two points entering the fourth quarter but clawed their way back late in the game to force overtime. Once in overtime, Denver seized control and sent the No. 1 seeded Sonics packing.

For a team that has never won a title in their history, a moment like is huge. Not only do you get the iconic clip of Mutombo celebrating on the ground still holding the rebound, but you also get one fo the best underdog stories in league history.

Next: Detroit Pistons