DENVER — Those sounds: the clamoring from a thirsty Denver crowd, the roars of exhilaration from Jamal Murray’s motivated lips. Those looks: the smirk that escaped the otherwise stiff Nikola Jokic during his exit to the tunnel, the loss of color and life from Jalen Williams’ expression. Those are the signs of what Alex Caruso was fearful of.
Giving the Nuggets hope.
“You don’t wanna give a team fighting for their life any hope or belief,” Caruso warned hours before Game 6, ahead 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals then.