As much as this year has been unlike any other, the Nuggets are back in the same situation they found themselves in about one year ago, with four quarters standing between them and the Western Conference Finals.
The Nuggets aren’t in unfamiliar territory for these playoffs — this is their sixth elimination game so far, having knocked off the Utah Jazz in seven games after facing a 3-1 deficit. This series seemed like it would be over early after the Nuggets dropped Game Three and Four, especially with the way they lost Game Four.