Denver Nuggets: 15 greatest playoff moments of all-time

4. The JaVale McGee Game vs. Andrew Bynum and the “Close-Out” Lakers

• 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game 5
• May 8, 2012 (STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA)
• Denver Nuggets 102, Los Angeles Lakers 99

Since joining the NBA back in 1976-77, the Nuggets have had their playoff dreams dashed far too many times by one conference foe: the Los Angeles Lakers. Six times since the ABA/NBA merger have the Nuggets fallen to the Lakers in the spring to end their season.

Frankly, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. While Denver has had many excellent teams over the years, the Nuggets haven’t had the star players or the glamor associated with the Lakers brand. Whether it was Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant or Pau Gasol, Denver has never been able to get past the purple and gold in the NBA playoffs.

That being said, it doesn’t mean that the Nuggets would go down without a fight when they took on Los Angeles in the postseason. In their most recent postseason meeting, Denver was at least able to go the distance against Bryant and the Lakers in 2012.

The Lakers were already up 3-1 in the best-of-seven, first-round series that spring. Lakers starting center Andrew Bynum would claim that “close-out games were kind of easy“, not really giving a Nuggets team without a star player a chance entering Game 5. Enter JaVale McGee.

McGee had only spent 20 games with the Nuggets that season, as he came Denver’s way in the Nene trade. Known for his uncoordinated ways and being a lovable goofball in the NBA today, McGee certainly had his moment in the sun in this “close-out game.”

Coming off the bench for the Nuggets, McGee had 21 points and 14 rebounds in his double-double. He was keeping pace with Andre Miller’s team-high 24 points off the Denver bench. Overall, McGee outplayed Bynum on the stats sheet, as the Lakers big man had 16 points and 11 rebounds in his double-double.

Denver narrowly won this game 102-99 over the Lakers to force Game 6. Do keep in mind that this game was being played at STAPLES Center, so it was one that was ripe for the picking for the Lakers to have an easy series win in five games. However, McGee and the Nuggets had other plans.

His surprising double-double off the Denver bench was the difference in the ball game. Having sixth man Miller show up in a big way wasn’t out of the question, but having McGee play one of the greatest games of his life in an elimination sure was. Los Angeles might have won the series four days later in seven games to take a 6-0 postseason lead all-time on Denver, but the Nuggets gave the Lakers their best shot to date. This remains the Lakers’ most recent playoff series victory.