New NBA Champion and defensive ace of the Thunder, Lu Dort, appeared on NBA Today on ESPN and admitted that the Nuggets had them “shaking” when they led OKC 2-1 in their second-round series. Dort went on to say that when the Thunder trailed the Pacers 2-1, they were nervous but confident.
But the Nuggets were the team that truly had them on the ropes because they had won before. This may not exactly be breaking news to fans of the Nuggets, and it certainly doesn’t make their ultimate loss feel any better, but it’s confirmation that the eventual champs viewed the Nuggets as their biggest challenge.
Lu Dort when they trailed 2-1: "Denver Nuggets was the one that had us shaking a little bit. They won before.”
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) July 2, 2025
On Game 4 against the Pacers: “We were a little nervous. I'm gonna be honest but we just knew that we could get it done"
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Looking back, it’s crazy to see how flawed the Nuggets were all season and how injured the team was during the playoffs. At times, it felt like the team essentially had 4.5 able-bodied players with zero reliable bench options, and yet, they had the Thunder on the ropes and forced them to a do-or-die Game 7.
There are no moral victories in the NBA, and definitely not for a team that’s just two years removed from wining a title and employs the best player in hte world, but it’s promising that even in a “down year” when so many things went wrong - leading to the firing of the head coach and GM - the Nuggets were still this close to unseating the Thunder, and likely cruising to another title.
Nuggets’ retooled roster sends a message to Thunder
Now that they’ve won a title, many assume that this young Thunder squad will be a juggernaut for years to come, and the next NBA dynasty is being built in Oklahoma City. But the Nuggets’ moves so far this offseason should have them on high alert.
As Dort pointed out in his interview, the Nuggets had them “shaking a little,” and that was a banged-up version of the Nuggets. With the additions of Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Jonas Valanciunas, and Tim Hardaway Jr., Denver now boasts a beefed-up starting lineup as well as one of the best bench units in the league.
They can truly go blow-for-blow with OKC now up and down the roster. The Thunder had the benefit of a loaded bench, so they didn’t experience a big drop-off when their MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, sat. Now, the Nuggets are hoping to create the same situation with the depth they’ve brought in.
The Nuggets have turned their biggest weakness into a strength, and now, when Nikola Jokic sits, they have the reinforcements to hold the line and then some. This was the best matchup of the NBA playoffs, and it should be the best matchup going forward. These teams have each other circled and could become the league’s marquee rivalry for years to come.