The Thunder and Nuggets went to overtime in a must-win game for Denver. A loss would have sliced their odds at making the playoffs to slimmer than slim. A win would bring them 1.5 games behind the No. 8 seed.
Mason Plumlee’s massive block saved the Nuggets’ playoff hopes
Plumlee made as clutch of a defensive play as they come
On a critical defensive possession after Paul George won a jump ball with just over 13 seconds left in OT, Mason Plumlee challenged Jerami Grant in the paint. He met Grant at the rim and swatted his dunk attempt up-court, giving his Nuggets possession of the ball and, more importantly, command of the ball game.
The Nuggets went on to beat the Thunder, 126-125. And one thing becomes crystal clear after their overtime victory:
Mason Plumlee saved Denver’s playoff hopes
The Nuggets absolutely needed that win against the Thunder on Friday night. Denver only has 35 losses on the year. Western Conference seeds No. 6-8 have 33 losses, and the Clippers at No. 9 have 34 losses.
The Nuggets only have six more games left on the schedule and, well to be honest, their odds at running the table are slim-to-none. Five of their six opponents are headed for the playoffs with the Clippers fighting the same good fight the Nuggets are. Here’s Denver’s remaining schedule:
April 1 vs. Bucks
April 3 vs. Pacers
April 5 vs. Timberwolves
April 7 vs. Clippers
April 9 vs. Trail Blazers
April 11 vs. Timberwolves
The odds might be stacked against the Nuggets, but it isn’t impossible. There a stack of buffalo wings in store for Mason Plumlee, whose vicious block on Jerami Grant made this possible for Denver.
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