The Denver Nuggets are down 1-3, and in most cases, that is where the conversation ends. It signals control, momentum, and a series that is already leaning heavily toward closure, especially against a Minnesota Timberwolves team that has looked composed and consistent throughout.
But this is not a normal situation, not with Nikola Jokic involved. Because when Jokic is part of the equation, history forces a second look. There is an old saying, better be safe than sorry—you would be sorry to dismiss him prematurely.
Nikola Jokic has already beaten 1-3 before
In the 2020 playoffs, Denver trailed 1-3 twice, first against the Utah Jazz and then against the Los Angeles Clippers, and in both cases, they came back to win the series. That run remains one of the most remarkable in recent NBA history, not just because of the comebacks themselves but because they happened back-to-back. It was unprecedented.
Jokic finished that postseason with a perfect 2-0 record when facing a 1-3 deficit, and while that does not guarantee anything now, it fundamentally changes how this situation should be viewed. Most teams collapse under that pressure, but Denver, led by Jokic, has already proven it can move in the opposite direction. That kind of history lingers.
Those comebacks happened in the 2020 bubble, with Jamal Murray playing at an elite level alongside Jokic, forming one of the most dynamic duos of that postseason. The current roster is different, the environment is different, and Denver has not faced a 1-3 deficit since then. That context matters.
At the same time, Jokic’s core strength remains unchanged. His ability to control tempo, create structure, and make the right decision under pressure is not tied to one specific playoff run.
It is a constant, and it becomes even more valuable when a team is trying to extend a series against the odds. That is what keeps Denver alive longer than most teams would be. It is simply Jokic being Jokic.
Anthony Edwards’ injury changes the equation
This series had a clear direction until it didn’t. Anthony Edwards’ injury introduces uncertainty at the exact moment Minnesota was in position to close things out.
His injury seems to be a hyperextension of the knee; even a mild one can take 2-4 weeks to heal. That means he is out for at least the rest of the series.
And here is the kicker. In a 1-3 scenario, the trailing team does not need a complete reversal; it needs an opening. An injury, a disruption, a moment where control is no longer absolute, and suddenly the series becomes less stable than it appeared just one game earlier. And this is where unfortunate circumstances amplify the 1-3 Jokic effect.
The Denver Nuggets only need one game to flip the pressure
Denver does not need to solve everything at once. It needs to win the next game. If the series moves to 2-3, the entire dynamic changes. The team that was closing begins to feel pressure, while the team that was trailing starts to build belief, especially when it has already lived through this situation before.
He does not need to dominate every possession, but he needs to control enough of them to keep the series alive, to extend it just far enough that doubt begins to creep into Minnesota’s side. That is how comebacks start, not with certainty, but with a shift in momentum that grows over time.
The Nuggets are still in a difficult position, and nothing about a 1-3 deficit should be understated. But writing them off completely may be premature.
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