Depraved masochistic Nuggets fans only: Western Conference Finals schedule & pick

If Nuggets fans are still reeling from the sudden and disappointing ending to the team’s season last Sunday, one could hardly blame them. Down to the final minutes, there was never a time in the season where it felt like the Nuggets weren’t going to repeat as champions, and yet they were eliminated in round two of the playoffs.

Even as it was happening it felt surreal, watching the Timberwolves walk down a 20-point second-half lead in Ball Arena. It was like a bad nightmare and it all happened so fast, with the defending champs looking uncharacteristically incapable of doing anything about it.

But these are the realities that Nuggets fans must face and this comes with the territory of being an NBA fan and a basketball fan in general. So for those of you who aren’t too distraught to keep watching the playoffs, here is what the Western Conference Finals schedule looks like.

Western Conference Finals schedule

Game 1: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Wednesday, May 22 (8:30 ET, TNT)

Game 2: Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Friday, May 24 (8:30 ET, TNT)

Game 3: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Sunday, May 26 (8:00 ET, TNT)

Game 4: Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Tuesday, May 28 (8:30 ET, TNT)

Game 5 (if necessary): Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Thursday, May 30 (8:30 ET, TNT)

Game 6 (if necessary): Timberwolves vs. Mavericks, Saturday, June 1 (8:30 ET, TNT)

Game 7 (if necessary): Mavericks vs. Timberwolves, Monday, June 3 (8:30 ET, TNT)

Series preview and prediction

If you can get over the pain of not seeing the Nuggets playing in this series, it should be some very enjoyable, high-level basketball. We all just got a firsthand view of how good the Timberwolves are. Their swarming defense, overwhelming size, and star power of Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards was ultimately too much for Denver and the Wolves could easily be lifting their first championship trophy a few weeks from now.

But the Mavericks are no slouches either. They have the best player left in the playoffs in Luka Doncic and an elite sidekick in Kyrie Irving. They’ve also been getting some incredible play from role players like PJ Washington, Derrick Jones Jr., Derek Lively II, and others.

It’s sure to be a great series and will crown a new Western Conference Champion. Even if it’s just to hate-watch and drive yourself crazy if the Wolves somehow look human, I highly recommend checking this out if you are a fan of basketball.

The Pick: Mavericks in 7