Catastrophic nuggets cause blackouts
The NBA's reigning champions, the Denver Nuggets, are finding themselves in a tough spot. After missing the mark in the Western Conference finals, their upcoming game against the Minnesota Timberwolves will determine their fate. The Nuggets' struggles stem from a low shooting percentage, which has been a major setback for them.
Currently in a 3-3 tie with the Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets have been in a downward spiral when it comes to making shots. A meager 30% of their field goals landed in the hoop, making it tough for them to keep pace with their opponents. It was even worse from behind the arc, with the team only making 19.4% of their three-point attempts. This made life easy for the Timberwolves. Standout player for the home team, Anthony Edwards, scored 27 points in the game, while Nikola Jokić, who leads the Nuggets, could only manage 22.
The loser of this series will face either the Dallas Mavericks, led by German player Maximilian Kleber, or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West final. The Mavericks have a slight advantage with a 3-2 lead, as they prepare for their next game on Saturday, which is set to take place in Dallas.
In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics have already punched their ticket to the semi-finals, having defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers by 113-98. This win wraps up the series at 4-1 in favor of the defending champions. The team's top scorers were Jayson Tatum with 25 points and Al Horford with 22 points. Backed by their stellar record in the regular season, the Celtics are a hot favorite for the championship title.
Now, the Boston Celtics are all set to face the winner of the game between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers, who are currently in a 3-2 battle. The Celtics are on their way to the East final for the third consecutive time.
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Despite their struggles in the current series, the Denver Nuggets still have a chance to make it to the NBA basketball playoffs' Western Conference finals. Should they lose to the Minnesota Timberwolves, they'll face a tough challenge against either the Dallas Mavericks or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals.
Although the Eastern Conference's Boston Celtics have clinched a spot in the semifinals, they will face the winner of the series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers in the next round, aiming to secure their third consecutive appearance at the East final.
Source: www.ntv.de
