The Nuggets are going into Oklahoma City for a colossal Game 7 against the Thunder on Sunday (1:30 p.m. MT). The winner advances to the Western Conference Finals to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. The loser enters the offseason. Here are three keys to the winner-take-all playoff game, which will air on ABC.
1. Battle of the second options: Non-Joker minutes, you say? The Nuggets have been jeopardized far more by the minutes without Jamal Murray in this series. Through six games, their net rating is 30.7 points better with Murray on the floor than off it.