Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon drew praise for battling through a Grade 2 hamstring sprain to play in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gordon was clearly laboring through his injury during Game 7, but still provided a boost to the Nuggets.

Stephen Curry missed four consecutive games in the second round due to a Grade 1 hamstring strain, contributing to the Warriors' elimination by the Timberwolves. Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles injury during the Celtics' series against the Knicks, sidelining him for Game 5 and 6.

They weren't that thin for the Denver Nuggets. They were as thick as Nikola Jokić. The best player in the world had the 68-win Thunder on the ropes multiple times. Jokić outplayed presumptive MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a second-round series that went seven games but ended in an OKC blowout.

The Denver Nuggets expected a lot of interim head coach David Adelman this season. After the shocking firing of Michael Malone, Adelman had just three regular-season games to prepare the Nuggets for the playoffs.