Defending Nikola Jokic was a riddle the Celtics were never able to solve this season. However, that’s an issue Boston no longer has to worry about during this playoff run on the heels of a stunning Game 7 loss by the Nuggets to the Wolves on Sunday night in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The defending champions led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter before the Wolves closed the game out with a 60-32 run to pull away with a 98-90 win. Jokic (34 points, 19 rebounds) and Jamal Murray (35 points) did all they could to keep Denver alive but the duo got no help from their supporting cast. Meanwhile, the Wolves used a tenacious defensive effort and a balanced scoring effort (six players in double figures) to advance to the West Finals for the first time in two decades.
The shocking loss sets the stage for a dream scenario now for the Celtics entering the Eastern Conference Finals. Suddenly, Boston’s toughest potential matchup will be watching from the sidelines and the odds of the Celtics pulling off their first title win in 16 years have suddenly skyrocketed.
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Boston will face one of the weakest East Finals teams in recent history to start after the Pacers upset the shorthanded Knicks on Sunday afternoon. Indiana shot the lights out in Madison Square Garden but they are inexperienced and lack any real defensive grit across their roster. The Celtics, even without Kristaps Porzingis, have enough weapons to make it a quick series against Indiana as long as their own defense is dialed up.
After that? The Western Conference has a pair of talented but unproven duos set to face off between the Wolves and Mavericks. Minnesota is the better team on paper but Dallas has more star firepower in Luka Doncic. Either way, the Celtics have the weapons to slow down either squad in a potential Finals matchup. Either opponent would be Boston’s toughest matchup to date in their postseason run but there’s little doubt the Celtics would be the favorite for the matchup.
A dream scenario doesn’t guarantee anything for this Celtics squad. Boston thought they would be cruising to the NBA Finals last year when the No. 8 seeded Heat had other plans. Boston was also favored in losses to the Heat and Warriors in the 2020 and 2022 playoffs respectively.
Still, the talent gap in those series does not compare to 2024, particularly in Boston’s next round matchup. There may not be an easier path to the NBA championship ever for this franchise and it’s now on this core to take advantage.
