Bossert's Belmont Analysis: June 24

After eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers from the postseason for the second straight year, the Denver Nuggets will have to do the same to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Nuggets took down Minnesota in five game in last year’s first round. Now they meet in the second round after the T-Wolves put the finishing touches on a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series between Denver and Minnesota is set for Saturday at a to-be-determined time. The Timberwolves’ sweep of the Suns marked the first time Minnesota has won a playoff series in 20 years.

The Denver Nuggets ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ season, winning their first-round NBA playoff series 4-1 after prevailing 108-106 in Game 5 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Monday night, April 29, 2024. Related Articles Denver Nuggets | Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves playoff series schedule released Denver Nuggets | Nuggets 3-pointers: Michael Porter Jr.

Initial thoughts from the Nuggets’ Game 5 win to the Lakers at Ball Arena in the Western Conference playoffs on Monday night. 1. Nuggets come out with a sense of urgency: The Nuggets finally won a first quarter. After Denver got outscored 122-95 in first in the previous four games, head coach Michael Malone challenged his team to play with a sense of urgency from the jump.

Jamal Murray (27) of the Denver Nuggets prepares to pull up for his eventual game-winning shot with fewer than five seconds to play during the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 108-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at Ball Arena in Denver on Monday, April 29, 2024. The Nuggets eliminated the Lakers from the playoffs for the second straight year by way of a 4-1 series victory.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope exited Game 5 of the Nuggets’ first-round playoff series with a sprained left ankle, according to the team. He is questionable to return. The injury appeared to occur as he left his feet for a layup attempt in the first quarter Monday night at Ball Arena. Caldwell-Pope checked out of the game with 4:41 remaining in the frame and was immediately examined by athletic trainers next to Denver’s bench.

Colorado has found its central big man. And head coach Tad Boyle hopes the Buffaloes have uncovered a diamond in the rough. On Monday, Boyle’s Buffs received their third frontcourt transfer commitment of the spring, landing 6-foot-10 center Elijah Malone out of Grace College, an NAIA program in north central Indiana. Malone was named the 2023-24 NAIA player of the year after leading Grace to a 34-2 record in a season that ended in the NAIA semifinals.