The Denver Nuggets face a near-insurmountable deficit to the Phoenix Suns.
Behind a combined 55 points from Chris Paul and Devin Booker, the Suns took a 3-0 lead over the Nuggets on Friday night.
The night started out well for Nikola Jokic, who was presented with his first MVP award, and gave a speech to the home fans. Unfortunately, that nice moment only lasted a few minutes, because once the game started the Suns took control early.
Phoenix held a ten-point lead after the first quarter, and a fourteen-point lead heading into the fourth. It felt like the Nuggets were fighting from behind all night, and they never could quite sway momentum in their favor despite the home-court advantage at Ball Arena.
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A 30 point, 10 assist, 20 rebound night from Jokic wasn’t enough to put the Nuggets over the top. The loss of Jamal Murray for the season is finally rearing its ugly head for a Denver team that had such high expectations heading into the season.
With Murray leading the backcourt, who knows how far this Denver team could have gone? Now, they’re staring elimination in the face.
Jokic drops 32/20/10.
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 12, 2021
Nuggets down 0-3. Pain. pic.twitter.com/LYv6HX5onW
Nuggets replacing Gary Harris with Aaron Gordon pic.twitter.com/LqgD2N2NPl
— Sam Yeezy (@samstaydipped) June 12, 2021
Pray for the Nuggets, they got CP3 looking like he's wearing a New Orleans Hornets jersey.
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 12, 2021
I feel pretty good about The Nuggets next season
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) June 12, 2021
It’s going to be 118 in Phoenix Tuesday the Nuggets want no part of that
— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) June 12, 2021
Jokic trying to find someone who helps him during this series. pic.twitter.com/9j8GI0nzHf
— MVP Stand account (@NatsLolConx) June 12, 2021
Chris Paul: Anyone order some freshly cooked Nuggets pic.twitter.com/xVV6FPX66M
— UZi (@13Uzi) June 12, 2021
The flavortown fellas gonna sauce up these nuggets pic.twitter.com/g7SlNKheGq
— valleyjacob (@blvckjacob) June 11, 2021
Devin Booker cooking the Nuggets like pic.twitter.com/xDSQaFn934
— UZi (@13Uzi) June 12, 2021
Even the easiest of puns had to be made.
Denver has high hopes for next season, even should their 2021 campaign fall short of its ultimate goal. The Nuggets remain young and, with Jokic and Murray both under 30 and under contract for the foreseeable future. There’s no reason they shouldn’t be in this position again next year.
That doesn’t make it any easier to process for Nuggets fans in the moment, though. Stay calm, Denver. Your time is coming.