Denver Nuggets: After a thriller, Denver is on to Round 2

With their first playoff series win since 2009, the Denver Nuggets are on to Round 2. But it wasn’t without drama.

Phew.

It took a great defensive effort, a couple clutch shots by Jamal Murray and some questionable clock management by the Spurs down the stretch, but the Denver Nuggets are on to Round 2.

They hadn’t made it past the first round since 2009 — when they made it to the Western Conference Finals.

Nikola Jokic looked like an MVP candidate, averaging a near-triple-double for the series and Murray looked like a legitimate crunchtime scorer at times — but a non-factor just as often.

Gary Harris and Paul Millsap both seemed to keep the ship afloat when the Nuggets were taking on water. And Torrey Craig played better than anybody — probably including Craig himself — could have imagined — stepping into the starting lineup in Game 4 and turning the series around.

Malik Beasley and Monte Morris played about as well as could be expected from young players in their first playoff series — looking their age at times but coming through most of the time.

And finally, Mason Plumlee was streaky. But his effort never lacked.

So now it’s on to the Blazers — and Damian Lillard. Lillard is probably the hottest player in the NBA right now, carrying Portland past the Thunder and putting the final nail in the coffin with a 40-foot game winner in Game 5.

The Blazers are better than the Spurs. And though, this is the second round matchup most Nuggets fans would have hoped for, it’s no walk in the park — even without Jusuf Nurkic.

The Nuggets aren’t going to be able to hold Portland to under 40 points in a half. And they’re not going to let the Nuggets off the hook when Denver isn’t making shots.

But, now it’s time to enjoy the win. But with just a day off before Game 1, there’s not much time to bask.