The NBA Cup is underway, and teams are fighting for a trip to Las Vegas. The Los Angeles Lakers won the tournament last year, but there is a strong chance that a new champion will be crowned this year. Do the Nuggets have a shot at winning? Or, is it too late? Now is a good time to see where they stand.
Do the Nuggets Still Have a Shot at Winning the NBA Cup?
The Nuggets are a part of West Group C. This group also features the Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Memphis Grizzlies. The Warriors are the top team in this group, as they have a 3-0 record and a point differential of +12. Golden State clinched this group and will advance to the knockout round of the tournament. Regarding the tournament, the six winners of their group make it to the next round, and two wildcard teams join them. So, both conferences will have one wildcard.
The Nuggets are towards the bottom of their group with a record of 1-2. They have a point differential of +2. Denver lost their first NBA Cup game when the New Orleans Pelicans beat them 101-94. The Nuggets won their second cup game when they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-110. Their second loss was against the Dallas Mavericks, who beat them 123-120 in an exciting game. Nikola Jokic finished with a 33-point triple-double. This game was his return from a three-game absence. The Nuggets had a good game overall, as they had six players in double figures. But even with their effort, they failed to hold on. Now, the Nuggets have one last cup game to potentially make the next round.
Denver will play the Warriors next Tuesday. Naturally, it will not be easy to get a big win over the leader of their group. If the Nuggets lose this game, their NBA Cup hopes come to an end. The only teams that are officially out are the Pelicans, Jazz, Raptors, and Wizards. So, for a little while longer, the Nuggets pursuit of the NBA Cup is still alive, even if the chances are slim. This is especially true as the Mavericks have a 2-1 record and a point differential of +41. So, the odds may not be in Denver’s favor. When and if the Nuggets are officially eliminated, they can regroup and focus on the bigger picture. In other words, they want another championship. But will that happen?
What’s Next for the Nuggets?
Jokic and the Nuggets are trying to climb to the top of the Western Conference. They have had their share of ups and downs, including a recent loss to the New York Knicks. The Knicks beat them 145-118 in a game where OG Anunoby had a career-high 40 points. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone ripped into the team after the game saying they were embarrassed. He also challenged players like Jokic and Jamal Murray to be more vocal. Overall, the Nuggets are having a decent season despite a few hiccups. And as the season progresses, fans will see if Denver is still able to compete with some of the elite teams in the West. Time will tell.
