With the NBA Playoffs underway, all eyes will be on which contenders can make a deep run and who will be left standing as the champion. Before anyone can be crowned, we must see which teams can emerge from their respective conferences to make the NBA Finals.
The Denver Nuggets have been there before, winning the title in 2023 – the first in the franchise’s history. Can they make it back again and claim their second league title? Let’s look at the odds the Nuggets face in capturing the Western Conference, why they can do it, and what challenges they face.
Denver Nuggets Regular Season
The Nuggets had an up-and-down season but finished with 50 wins. Their 50-32 record was tied with the Los Angeles Lakers, but a tiebreaker left them with the third seed in the Western Conference while the Lakers captured the third seed.
The Nuggets finished with one of the best records in the conference at home, going 26-15 on their court. The challenge has been on the road, where the Nuggets are a decent but underwhelming 24-17 on opposition turf.
The Western Conference isn’t as deep as the East, but there are major roadblocks in the way of another title run for the Nuggets. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. had solid seasons, though it remains to be seen if they can be the same in the playoffs.
Denver Nuggets Odds to Win the Western Conference
Before the 2025 NBA playoffs started, the Denver Nuggets were +2000 to win the Western Conference. This largely has to do with the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder were the overwhelming favorites to emerge from the conference at -150.
Since then, things have shifted. For starters, the Nuggets dropped two of the first three games in their series against the Los Angeles Clippers, changing their odds to not only win the conference, but also the NBA Championship substantially.
Now, the Nuggets are as high as +3700 to win the Western Conference. Some sportsbooks have them at +4000 or greater. Their biggest challenge is simply getting out of their first-round matchup, never mind the fact that they would have to then go through the Thunder to come out of the West.
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Why the Nuggets Can Win the Western Conference
The Nuggets have made the path forward interesting by relieving head coach Michael Malone of his duties before starting the playoffs. However, they have the talent required to get back to the top of the NBA mountain.
It starts and ends with Jokic. He is the three-time MVP and would likely have more if not for voter fatigue. He is as dominant a player as there has been in decades. Add talented, experienced core pieces like Porter Jr. and Murray, and the Nuggets have the foundation needed to make a run.
The Nuggets will need to get the most out of depth players like Christian Braun and Julian Strawther if they are going to make another deep run into the playoffs. Right now, they need to dig deep and find a way to win their Game 4 matchup with the Clippers to keep that series alive.
A Challenging Road Ahead
It is always a tough road to the NBA Championship. Getting out of the Western Conference is the goal for the Nuggets, knowing that they are a threat to win it all if they can navigate the plethora of challenges in their conference. They face an uphill battle, but their core and experience always make them a threat.
The Nuggets have been there before, something few teams in this year’s playoff field can boast about. That kind of experience is rare and could get them through a challenge like the one they currently face.
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