Editing Denver Nuggets (section)

===2015–present: The Nikola Jokić era and first NBA championship===

====2015–2018: Early years====
[[File:Nikola Jokic free throw (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.75|[[Nikola Jokić]] was named [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]] in [[2020–21 NBA season|2021]] (first player in franchise history), [[2021–22 NBA season|2022]] and [[2023–24 NBA season|2024]].]]
On June 15, 2015, at the end of the 2014–15 season, [[Michael Malone]] was named as the new head coach of the Denver Nuggets.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nuggets name Michael Malone new head coach|url=http://www.nba.com/2015/news/06/15/nuggets-name-michael-malone-release/index.html|website=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|date=June 15, 2015|access-date=June 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025202637/http://www.nba.com/2015/news/06/15/nuggets-name-michael-malone-release/index.html|archive-date=October 25, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Entering the [[2015 NBA draft]] with their lowest draft pick (seventh overall) since 2003, the Nuggets drafted [[Emmanuel Mudiay]] who was widely regarded as the top point guard of the draft, leading to speculation that current starting point guard, [[Ty Lawson]], would be traded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/ty-lawson--blowing-smoke-after-nuggets-draft-emmanuel-mudiay---i-m-going-to-sacramento--bro-045504495.html|title=Ty Lawson, blowing smoke after Nuggets draft Emmanuel Mudiay: 'I'm going to Sacramento, bro'|website=Sports.yahoo.com|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=August 1, 2018|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305220638/https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/ty-lawson--blowing-smoke-after-nuggets-draft-emmanuel-mudiay---i-m-going-to-sacramento--bro-045504495.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 14, 2015, Lawson was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of driving under the influence, his second in six months.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ley|first1=Tom|title=Ty Lawson Arrested For DUI For Second Time In Six Months|url=http://deadspin.com/ty-lawson-arrested-for-dui-for-second-time-in-six-month-1717717753|access-date=July 14, 2015|work=[[Deadspin]]|publisher=[[Gawker Media]]|date=July 14, 2015|archive-date=July 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714235422/http://deadspin.com/ty-lawson-arrested-for-dui-for-second-time-in-six-month-1717717753|url-status=live}}</ref> The Nuggets traded Lawson a week later to the [[Houston Rockets]] along with a second round draft pick for [[Joey Dorsey]], [[Nick Johnson (basketball)|Nick Johnson]], [[Kostas Papanikolaou]], [[Pablo Prigioni]] (all of whom were waived), and a first round pick that was used to draft [[Juan Hernangómez]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/rockets-acquire-ty-lawson-and-second-round-pick-denver|title=Rockets Acquire Ty Lawson and Second-Round Pick from Denver|work=NBA.com|date=July 20, 2015|access-date=July 20, 2015|archive-date=December 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231154427/http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/rockets-acquire-ty-lawson-and-second-round-pick-denver|url-status=live}}</ref>

Under Michael Malone's leadership, the Denver Nuggets slightly started to improve while primarily relying on the youth movement consisting of Emmanuel Mudiay, [[Nikola Jokić]], Gary Harris and later also on the recovered Jusuf Nurkić. On January 27, 2016, it was announced that both Mudiay and Jokić would participate in [[Rising Stars Challenge|BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge]] during NBA All-Star 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/mudiay-jokic-selected-for-world-team-012716|title=Emmanuel Mudiay and Nikola Jokić Named to Rising Stars Challenge World Team|work=NBA.com|date=January 27, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2016|archive-date=February 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229223148/http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/mudiay-jokic-selected-for-world-team-012716|url-status=live}}</ref> On February 18, the Denver Nuggets announced that they decided to trade veteran shooting guard Randy Foye to [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] in exchange for [[D. J. Augustin]], [[Steve Novak]] and two second-round draft picks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-aquire-dj-augustin-steve-novak-second-round-picks-021816|title=Nuggets Acquire D.J. Augustin, Steve Novak, Second Round Picks and Cash Consideration|work=NBA.com|date=February 18, 2016|access-date=February 19, 2016|archive-date=February 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221230456/http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-aquire-dj-augustin-steve-novak-second-round-picks-021816|url-status=live}}</ref> One day later, JJ Hickson and the newly acquired Novak were waived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-waive-hickson-novak-021916|title=Nuggets Waive J.J. Hickson and Steve Novak|work=NBA.com|date=February 19, 2016|access-date=February 20, 2016|archive-date=May 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531042005/https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-waive-hickson-novak-021916|url-status=live}}</ref>

Over the course of the [[2016 NBA draft]], the Denver Nuggets added the [[Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball|Kentucky]] guard [[Jamal Murray]] as well as [[Juan Hernangómez]], [[Malik Beasley]], and [[Petr Cornelie]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-select-murray-hernangomez-beasley-2016-nba-draft|title=Denver Nuggets Select Murray, Hernangomez and Beasley in First Round of 2016 NBA Draft|work=NBA.com|date=June 24, 2016|access-date=July 5, 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629081803/http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-select-murray-hernangomez-beasley-2016-nba-draft|url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, their 56th pick was traded to the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]]. On February 13, 2017, Nurkić was traded, along with the rights to the [[Memphis Grizzlies]]' 2017 first-round draft pick, to the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in exchange for [[Mason Plumlee]], a 2018 second-round pick and cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nba.com/blazers/nurk | title=TRAIL BLAZERS ACQUIRE JUSUF NURKIĆ, 2017 FIRST ROUND PICK FROM DENVER | work=NBA.com | date=February 13, 2017 | access-date=February 13, 2017 | archive-date=February 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214110323/http://www.nba.com/blazers/nurk | url-status=live }}</ref> Thanks to the continuing improvements of Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets would make significant improvements to their team, although they would be just one game shy from reaching the 2017 NBA playoffs, finishing 9th in the Western Conference.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2016–17 NBA Standings|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2017_standings.html|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=[[Sports Reference|Basketball-Reference.com]]|language=en|archive-date=March 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317074705/https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2017_standings.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 15, 2017, the Nuggets officially promoted both [[Artūras Karnišovas]] and [[Tim Connelly]] to become the team's newest general manager and president of basketball operations respectively.<ref>{{cite web|title=Denver Nuggets Promote Tim Connelly and Arturas Karnisovas|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-promote-connelly-karnisovas|website=NBA.com|access-date=June 15, 2017|date=June 15, 2017|archive-date=June 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620210552/http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-promote-connelly-karnisovas|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Dempsey|first1=Christopher|title=Nuggets Keep Front Office Stability with Karnisovas, Connelly Promotions|url=http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/front-office-karnisovas-connelly-promotions|website=NBA.com|access-date=June 16, 2017|date=June 15, 2017|archive-date=July 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729233749/http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/front-office-karnisovas-connelly-promotions|url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2017 NBA draft]], the Denver Nuggets selected [[Tyler Lydon]], [[Vlatko Čančar]], and [[Monté Morris]], with the 24th, 49th, and 51st picks respectively. On December 2, 2017, the Nuggets would retire [[Fat Lever]]'s number during their 115–100 win over the [[Los Angeles Lakers]]. Despite compiling their first winning season since [[2012–13 Denver Nuggets season|2013]], they missed the 2018 playoffs, the fifth straight missed playoff run, after losing to the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] in a win-or-go-home situation in the regular season finale, also ending the Timberwolves' 14-year playoff drought.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Butler, Towns lead T-wolves past Nuggets in OT, to playoffs|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975971|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=[[ESPN]]|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818124404/https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400975971|url-status=live}}</ref> The Nuggets finished 9th, one game behind the eighth seeded Timberwolves.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2017–18 NBA Standings|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2018_standings.html|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=[[Sports Reference|Basketball-Reference.com]]|language=en|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929040451/https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2018_standings.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 2018–2020: Rise of Nikola Jokić ====
In the [[2018 NBA draft]], the Nuggets drafted [[Michael Porter Jr.]] and traded with the Magic to get [[Jarred Vanderbilt]]. On January 31, 2019, Jokić received his first All-Star selection as a Western Conference reserve for the [[2019 NBA All-Star Game]], becoming the Nuggets' first All-Star since [[Carmelo Anthony]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/joki-selected-as-wc-reserve-all-star-013119|title=Nikola Jokić Selected as Western Conference Reserve for 2019 NBA All-Star Game|work=NBA.com|date=January 31, 2019|access-date=February 2, 2019|archive-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202161444/https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/joki-selected-as-wc-reserve-all-star-013119|url-status=live}}</ref> The Nuggets finished the 2018–2019 season with 54 wins, first in their division and second in the Western Conference, and made the playoffs for the first time since [[2012–13 Denver Nuggets season|2012–2013]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=2018–19 Denver Nuggets Roster and Stats|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2019.html|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927043243/https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/2019.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Denver Nuggets Franchise Index|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=Basketball-Reference.com|language=en|archive-date=February 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224201552/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the first round, the Nuggets played against the [[San Antonio Spurs]], winning the round in game seven. The Nuggets were eliminated in the second round by the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in 7 games.<ref name=":0" /> Game three of the second round had four overtimes, tying a 1953 game for the longest NBA playoff game.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blazers pull out 4OT win in longest NBA playoff game since 1953|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/bucks-power-past-celtics-2-1-nba-playoff-031713296--nba.html|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=sports.yahoo.com|language=en-US|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009051215/https://sports.yahoo.com/bucks-power-past-celtics-2-1-nba-playoff-031713296--nba.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the [[suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season]], the Nuggets were one of the 22 teams invited to the [[2020 NBA Bubble|NBA Bubble]] to participate in the final 8 games of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |title=NBA Board of Governors approves competitive format to restart 2019–20 season with 22 teams returning to play {{!}} NBA.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[NBA.com]] |access-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-date=June 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612050333/https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |url-status=live }}</ref> Led by Jokić and Murray, the team is the first in NBA playoff history to consecutively come from 3–1 deficits. In the first round, they defeated Utah in 7 games in a record-breaking scoring duel between [[Jamal Murray]] and [[Donovan Mitchell]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=NBA com|title=Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray drop opposing 50s in duel for record books|url=http://www.nba.com/article/2020/08/23/donovan-mitchell-jamal-murray-historic-50-points|access-date=September 22, 2020|website=NBA.com|language=en|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924180246/https://www.nba.com/article/2020/08/23/donovan-mitchell-jamal-murray-historic-50-points|url-status=live}}</ref> The Nuggets repeated the same feat against Paul George and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round, becoming the only team in NBA history to overcome multiple 3–1 deficits in a single playoff run. In the Western Conference Finals, the Nuggets' title race came to an end, after the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers trounced them in five games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NBA Playoffs: Teams to come back from 3–1 series deficit in postseason history|url=https://ca.nba.com/news/nba-playoffs-teams-to-comeback-from-3-1-series-deficit-in-postseason-history-cavaliers-warriors-celtics-suns-rockets/1dn5yjwd5hke812b67ocn8bit3|access-date=September 22, 2020|website=NBA.com Canada {{!}} The official site of the NBA|date=September 16, 2020 |language=en|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008232111/https://ca.nba.com/news/nba-playoffs-teams-to-comeback-from-3-1-series-deficit-in-postseason-history-cavaliers-warriors-celtics-suns-rockets/1dn5yjwd5hke812b67ocn8bit3|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 2020–22: Jokic wins back to back MVP awards ====
[[File:Michael Porter Nuggets (cropped).jpg|thumb|Michael Porter Jr. was drafted as the 14th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and helped the Nuggets to their first title in 2023]]
In the [[2020–21 NBA season]], Jokić was named the [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|NBA Most Valuable Player]], becoming the first center since [[Shaquille O'Neal]] in [[1999–2000 NBA season|2000]] and the first player in Nuggets franchise history to win the award. He also became the first Serbian player, third European player overall (along with [[Dirk Nowitzki]] of [[Germany]] and [[Giannis Antetokounmpo]] of [[Greece]]), and sixth international player to ever win the award (along with [[Hakeem Olajuwon]] of [[Nigeria]], [[Tim Duncan]] of the [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]], [[Steve Nash]] of [[Canada]], Nowitzki of Germany, and Antetokounmpo of Greece). Jokić also became the lowest ever drafted player at #41, and the first player in NBA history to be selected in the second round of the common era draft, to win the MVP award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nikola Jokic wins 2020–21 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nikola-jokic-wins-2020-21-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-award |website=www.nba.com |access-date=June 9, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721153907/https://www.nba.com/news/nikola-jokic-wins-2020-21-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-award |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 8, 2021|title=Sources: Nuggets big man Jokic wins MVP honor|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31592058/denver-nuggets-big-man-nikola-jokic-wins-first-nba-mvp-award-sources-say|access-date=June 8, 2021|website=ESPN.com|language=en|archive-date=June 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608224938/https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31592058/denver-nuggets-big-man-nikola-jokic-wins-first-nba-mvp-award-sources-say|url-status=live}}</ref> Although the Nuggets finished the season with the third seed in the Western Conference and beat their first round opponents, the [[Portland Trail Blazers]], in six games, the loss of starting guard [[Jamal Murray]] to an ACL tear contributed to the team's sweep by the eventual Western Conference champions, the second-seeded [[Phoenix Suns]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Jamal Murray injury timeline: How Nuggets star recovered from ACL tear |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/jamal-murray-injury-timeline-nuggets-acl/dvzmgseycqpbiqj3jeita0fo |website=www.sportingnews.com |date=September 16, 2022 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425162140/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/jamal-murray-injury-timeline-nuggets-acl/dvzmgseycqpbiqj3jeita0fo |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[2021–22 NBA season|following season]] saw more poor injury luck for the Denver Nuggets. Nine games into the season, starting forward [[Michael Porter Jr.]] joined Murray on the sidelines with season-ending back surgery.<ref>{{cite web |title=How long is Michael Porter Jr. out? Latest injury updates on Nuggets forward |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/michael-porter-jr-injury-updates-nuggets/1b3fo58nx0238133a3839tkqqx |website=www.sportingnews.com |date=November 22, 2021 |access-date=April 25, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425161817/https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/michael-porter-jr-injury-updates-nuggets/1b3fo58nx0238133a3839tkqqx |url-status=live }}</ref> In spite of the injuries, Jokić and starting power forward [[Aaron Gordon]] carried the Nuggets to the sixth seed, the former becoming the first-ever player in NBA history to accumulate 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season.<ref name="nba.com">{{cite web |title=NIKOLA JOKIĆ NAMED KIA NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON |url=https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nikola-jokic-named-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-for-second-consecutive-season |website=www.nba.com |access-date=April 25, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425161817/https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nikola-jokic-named-kia-nba-most-valuable-player-for-second-consecutive-season |url-status=live }}</ref> Jokić went on to receive the Kia MVP Award for the second year in a row – joining 12 other players in NBA history to achieve the award in back to back years, and the first center to do so since [[Moses Malone]] in [[1981-82 NBA season|1982]] and [[1982-83 NBA season|1983]].<ref name="nba.com"/> In the first round of the [[2022 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], Jokić's Nuggets fell five games to the [[Golden State Warriors]], who went on to win the championship.

====2022–2023: First NBA title====
[[File:Denver Nuggets 2023 Championship parade.png|thumb|Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke (centre), star players Nikola Jokić (right), Jamal Murray (left) parading the teams' first NBA championship]]
In the [[2022–23 NBA season|2022–23 season]], elevated by the offseason acquisitions of [[Kentavious Caldwell-Pope]] and [[Bruce Brown (basketball)|Bruce Brown]], the Nuggets secured the top seed in the Western Conference with 53 wins and 29 losses, two games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nuggets defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 4–1 in the first round of the [[2023 NBA playoffs|2023 playoffs]], before defeating the Phoenix Suns 4–2 in the Conference Semifinals. The Nuggets' playoff dominance continued in the Conference Finals; spearheaded by outstanding play from Jokić, who was named the [[NBA Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award|Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player]], the team swept the Los Angeles Lakers in four games to advance to their first ever [[2023 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]].<ref>{{cite web |title=NBA play-offs: Nikola Jokic leads Denver Nuggets to first finals appearance |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65680026 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=May 23, 2023 |date=May 23, 2023 |archive-date=May 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523064231/https://www.bbc.com/sport/basketball/65680026 |url-status=live }}</ref> This also marked the first time that the Nuggets had beaten the Lakers in a playoff series (having previously been 0–7 against them), as well as the first playoff series sweep in franchise history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nuggets earn 1st Finals appearance with sweep of Lakers |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nuggets-earn-1st-finals-appearance-with-sweep-of-lakers |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=NBA.com |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604004259/https://www.nba.com/news/nuggets-earn-1st-finals-appearance-with-sweep-of-lakers |url-status=live }}</ref> In the NBA Finals, on June 12, 2023, the Nuggets would beat the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat 4–1 to win their first NBA championship, with Jokić receiving the [[NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/nuggets-heat-nba-finals-jokic-99c0f25e6e468a97f8c86330f988933d|work=Associated Press|agency=Associated Press|title=Nuggets take home 1st NBA title in rugged 94-89 win over Heat|last=Pells|first=Eddie|location=Denver|date=June 13, 2023|access-date=June 13, 2023|archive-date=June 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613091447/https://apnews.com/article/nuggets-heat-nba-finals-jokic-99c0f25e6e468a97f8c86330f988933d|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2023/06/12/nikola-jokic-is-nba-finals-mvp-after-nuggets-win-first-championship/70314309007/|last=Zilgitt|first=Jeff|date=June 12, 2023|access-date=June 13, 2023|title=Nikola Jokic named NBA Finals MVP after leading Denver Nuggets to first championship|work=USA Today|location=Denver|archive-date=February 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210113413/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2023/06/12/nikola-jokic-is-nba-finals-mvp-after-nuggets-win-first-championship/70314309007/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2023–2024: Dethroned and Jokic's third MVP season====
In the [[2023–24 NBA season|2023–24 season]], the first season in league history with the Nuggets as defending champions, Denver finished with the 2nd seed in the [[Western Conference (NBA)|Western Conference]] with a 57–25 record, tying with the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]] and finishing 1 game ahead of the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]. On May 8, 2024, [[Nikola Jokić]] won his third [[NBA Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]], becoming the ninth player to do so and tying with other greats such as [[Moses Malone]] and [[Larry Bird]]. In the first round of the playoffs against the [[Los Angeles Lakers|Lakers]], the Nuggets won the series 4–1, with [[Jamal Murray]] hitting several game-winning shots to pull out a win. In the conference semifinals against the [[Minnesota Timberwolves|Timberwolves]], the Nuggets were up by 20 points in the 3rd quarter of the 7th game, but, after a Wolves comeback in  the final quarter, they ended up losing the game 98–90.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/denver-nuggets-game-7-loss/|work=CBS News|title=Denver Nuggets fall to Timberwolves in Game 7, season ends in disappointing fashion|last=Sarles|first=Jesse|date=May 19, 2024|access-date=May 19, 2024}}</ref>