Denver Nuggets - The Next Level [Game 3 + 4]

[Kenny]

5 Game Summary

This round saw the biggest upset of the season, with the lottery bound Atlanta Hawks picking up a 10 point win, to end Denver's latest winning streak at 9. After that wakeup call, the closest any team got to Denver was 11 points.

The feature is against the Milwaukee Bucks:

Nuggets Rout Bucks; Eleven Score in Double-Digits



An overwhelming team display saw the Nuggets come away with a 124-87 win in Milwaukee. James Palmer led a field of eleven double figure scorers, with 15 points. Vince MacMahon, Julian Chandler and Dennis Anderson all scored 11, while Stan Griffiths, Borislav Perko, Taylor MacKenzie, Axel Donnelly, Lawrence Griffiths and Mario Carlos scored 10. The only active player not to reach at least 10 points was John Rice, but he had a career high in assists, with 21.

The Bucks scoring was more concentrated, as Miguel Carlos did the bulk of the scoring with 31 points. Darrell Flanagan scored 18, while Darren Koch added 10.

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DEN@MIL

DEN: 124 (Palmer 15, Anderson 11, Chandler 11)
MIL: 87 (M Carlos 31, Flanagan 18, Koch 10)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Borislav Perko 10 points 14 rebounds 4 assists 2 blocks 1 steal

Rebounds

DEN: Perko 14
MIL: Flanagan, Wozniak 6

Assists

DEN: Rice 21
MIL: Reed 5

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Last 5 Games

@ATL: 90-80 L
@WAS: 90-77 W
@NJN: 92-81 W
@MIL: 124-87 W
@LAL: 105-72 W

Overall: 67-13

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Almost Number Three

Borislav Perko was one block off a third career quadruple-double. He had 10 points, 17 rebounds, 23 assists and 9 blocks against the Nets.

Keeping His Spot

Julian Chandler is looking to keep his starting spot from Mario Carlos, and a 28 point game against Washington certainly helped his cause.

A New Role

Dennis Anderson's large contract is off-putting for most teams, but Denver finally have found a way to utilise him this season. Against the Lakers, he backed up Perko with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

He's Back!

The man with the insanely bright hair is active once again. He utilised some extra minutes against the Hawks to score 11 points and grab 5 rebounds.

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Double Feature

This season's double feature will be in Sacramento. With Denver's top seed confirmed, Borislav Perko, Taylor MacKenzie, Dwight Howard and Vince MacMahon will be rested.

[Andrew]

A true all-around team effort against the Bucks.

[kibaxx7]

I am missing something, how old is Perko now?

[Axel The Great]

Odd loss against Atlanta, but it's natural for every good team to have one every now and then. Nice to see Perko having monster games, crazy numbers. Looking forward to the playoffs.

[Kenny]

A true all-around team effort against the Bucks.

It's my favourite kind of game. Getting everyone involved is a lot of fun.

I am missing something, how old is Perko now?

He's in his 10th season and he's 31. Could be around until the 25th season yet

Odd loss against Atlanta, but it's natural for every good team to have one every now and then. Nice to see Perko having monster games, crazy numbers. Looking forward to the playoffs.

They're real danger games those ones; it's very easy to get complacent. Here's hoping Perko can have some more monster games in the playoffs

[Kenny]

The Double Feature

The last two games of the season were in the Californian capital:

Carlos Leads Second String Nuggets



Mario Carlos made the best of his first career start, leading the Nuggets to a 90-82 win over the Kings. Carlos was one rebound off a double-double, with, 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Stan Griffiths continued his strong finish with the season, with 19 points, while Ollie Rose enjoyed being activated, as he scored 14.

Demitri Richter led four double digit scorers for the Kings, registering a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Toby Lloyd (16) and Glenn Cole (12) were solid, while Steven King had 11 points.

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DEN@SAC

DEN: 90 (Carlos 24, S Griffiths 18, Rose 14)
SAC: 82 (Richter 20, Lloyd 16, Cole 12)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Mario Carlos 24 points 9 rebounds 5 assists

Rebounds

DEN: Carlos 9
SAC: Richter 10

Assists

DEN: Rice 7
SAC: Banks 12

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Palmer Finishes Sacramento's Season with a Dagger



The Nuggets finished their league-topping season on a high, narrowly winning against the Kings 95-92. In the dying moments, who else would have the ball

in his hands?

phpBB [video]

Palmer scored 13 on the night. Denver however were led by the backup point guard, John Rice. The rookie had 20 points, 4 assists and 3 steals. Stan

Griffiths ended the season on a positive note, scoring 19, while Mario Carlos (14) and Ollie Rose (10) both contributed to the win as well.

Demitri Richter led all scorers with 23 points. Tom Coles scored 18, while Toby Lloyd (16), Steven King (15) and Tim Banks (12) all kept the Kings in

the game.

While Denver advance to the playoffs with the number 1 seed, Sacramento will be looking forward to the draft.

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DEN@SAC

DEN: 95 (Rice 20, S Griffiths 19, Carlos 14)
SAC: 92 (Richter 23, Coles 18, Lloyd 16)

Sprite Performer of the Game: John Rice 20 points 4 assists 3 steals

Rebounds

DEN: S Griffiths 5
SAC: Lloyd 8

Assists

DEN: S Griffiths, Palmer, Rice 4
SAC: Banks 6

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Final Standings

East

Chicago 53-29
New Jersey 51-31
Miami 49-33
Detroit 48-34
Charlotte 44-38
Milwaukee 42-40
Boston 40-42
Cleveland 39-43

The East Playoffs will be exactly how it reads.

West

Denver 69-13
Portland 55-27
New Orleans 54-28
Minnesota 52-30
San Antonio 49-33
LA Lakers 45-37
Golden State 43-39
Memphis 42-40

The Lakers will have the 4th seed, pushing Minnesota and San Antonio down a spot.

League Leaders

PPG: [MIN] Hobbes MacDonald 23.9
RPG: [LAL] Archie Sheehan 10
APG: [DET] William Coles
SPG: [DEN] Taylor MacKenzie 2.2
BPG: [LAL] Archie Sheehan 2.3

[Kenny]

2025-2026 Awards and Teams

Most Valuable Player: [MIN] Hobbes MacDonald

No surprises this time around; the best player in the league adds another MVP trophy to his cabinet. Hobbes led the league in points, as well as having 3 combined steals and blocks per game. After expressing his intentions to leave New Orleans in free agency, the Hornets dealt him to Minnesota. Whether he stays in Prince City is uncertain; but for now, he gives the Wolves a great shot at the title.


Most Improved Player: [CLE] Simon Sampson

After being discarded by the Nuggets, Simon Sampson found his way into the starting lineup of the Cavs. This season he averaged 12.3 points and 3.1 assists.


Defensive Player: [MIN] Bongani Malinga

While Hobbes is the go-to-guy, Bongani Malinga is Minnesota's defensive anchor. He sent away 2.1 blocks, grabbed 8 defensive rebounds and stole the ball once per game.


Rookie of the Year: [DEN] Mario Carlos

Mario Carlos was the runaway winner of this award.


6th Man: [DEN] Mario Carlos

Mario Carlos gets the double that only Taylor MacKenzie achieved before him. He was Denver's most consistent scorer, registering double figure scoring in all but 1 game in the 82 schedule.


Teams

All NBA First Team

[LAL] Archie Sheehan
[DEN] Borislav Perko
[MIN] Hobbes MacDonald
[NJN] Nicholas Schneider
[LAC] Dickey Freeman

All NBA Second Team

[DET] Dakota Kane
[DEN] Stan Griffiths
[CHA] Mordecai Durand
[SAN] Njabulo Nyoni
[CHI] Howard Ryan

All Defensive First Team

[DET] Dakota Kane
[MIN] Bongani Malinga
[NOH] Caleb Vick
[DEN] Taylor MacKenzie
[DET] August Freeman

All Defensive Second Team

[LAL] Archie Sheehan
[DEN] Borislav Perko
[MIN] Hobbes MacDonald
[NJN] Nicholas Schneider
[DET] William Coles

All Rookie First Team

[DEN] Mario Carlos
[CLE] Walter Rutherford
[ATL] Vincenzo Carlos
[MEM] Daniel O'Reilly
[UTA] Eric Watters

All Rookie Second Team

[MIL] Myron Maximilian
[PHI] Keith Ellison
[BOS] Brent Tanner
[LAC] Guy Tanner
[DEN] John Rice

[Kenny]

The 25-26 Player Review

The time of the season where player 1 to 15 gets reviewed on their individual performance. Since basically everyone I know on this forum is playing 2k13, I thought I'd give you guys an idea of what each player's signature skill/s might be:


The Starters

Stan Griffiths

Signature Skill/s: Post Proficiency

After to a slow start, Stan ended the season strong. His 10.1 points per game don't look spectacular on paper, but his efficiency was outstanding, as he shot 61.9 percent from the field. This led to him being selected on the All NBA Second Team. Stan picked up the slack when Taylor MacKenzie dropped off and he could well have an even bigger role next season.



Borislav Perko

Signature Skill/s: Post Playmaker, Dimer, Scrapper, Eraser, Break Starter, Defensive Anchor (too many?)

It wasn't one of his triple-double seasons, but Perko led the Nuggets in rebounds (9.3), assists (7.2) and blocks (2.2). Despite these seemingly moderate numbers, Perko continues to be someone with all the signature skills mentioned above. He was named to the All NBA First Team and the All Defensive Second Team.


Julian Chandler

Signature Skill/s: Highlight Film

Julian had a breakout year with the Nuggets. The sophomore scored 11 points per game and basically put Dennis Anderson out of the rotation. He's more of a post-up guy than a jump shooter, which is slightly unusual for a TNL wingman, but what he lacks in the shooting department, he more than makes up for in athleticism. It's more than likely that he'll lose his starting spot to Mario Carlos next season; but Julian Chandler's performance this season will go a long way to making him a key piece for future title runs.


Taylor MacKenzie

Signature Skill/s: Shot Creator, Interceptor, Pick Pocket

T-Mac is on the wrong side of 30, and towards the end of the season, it was beginning to show. His numbers weren't bad - 15.3 points per game off 46.7 from the field - but his ability to show up offensively wasn't always a given. While he was inconsistent on the offensive end, he was already a threat on defense with his steals. He led the league once again in steals per game with 2.2, which led to him being selected to the All Defensive First team once again.


James Palmer

Signature Skill/s: Closer, Microwave

Palmer's reputation as Denver's clutch man continued to grow this season, making shot-after-shot when the team needed a closer. He was the Nuggets third best scorer, with 13.3 points per game at 42.6 percent (35.7 3pt) from the field. At this stage of his career, he's defined as a 4th quarter specialist. To make the next step up, he probably needs to be a more consistent shooter from the field and produce his 4th quarter intensity during the other three quarters of the game.

The Bench

Mario Carlos

Signature Skill/s: Highlight Film, Hustle Points

Mario Carlos looks like he's going to be an outstanding player. His 13.8 points per game (55.5FG%) off the bench was good enough for not only the Rookie of the Year, but the 6th man trophy as well. This is a feat that only Taylor MacKenzie has achieved before him. Mario is a power forward stuck in an athletic swingman's body. He's extremely comfortable posting up, and he's pretty handy on the boards as well. He could be utilised at the 4 when the Nuggets are looking for a small lineup to run opponents out of the game. There's a similarity with Josh Smith, in that, if he develops an outside shot, he'll be unstoppable (thanks Steve Kerr).


Vince MacMahon

Signature Skill/s: Microwave, Spot Up Shooter, Deadeye

Vince had another terrific season from beyond the arc, shooting 42.8 percent; he also shoots 47.6 percent from the field. When you compare him to Palmer, his numbers are generally better across the board. But as Denver look to develop Palmer, he'll have to settle for being a super-sub on one of the best teams of all time.


Dwight Howard

Signature Skill/s: Eraser

He may be the oldest man in the league, but he's still surprisingly one of the best centres. Still capable of the odd monster game on offense, and he's still a dominant force on defense. Howard might play until he's 45.


Dennis Anderson

Signature Skill/s: Lockdown Defender

It was a turbulent season for Dennis; he began the season in the starting 5, then he turned into a bench warmer. He's only just starting to pick up consistent minutes again in his secondary position behind Borislav Perko. Despite being labelled as a contract, Anderson is a guy who can guard anyone from 1-to-4. His offense is a little lacking though.


John Rice

Signature Skill/s: Shot Creator

Although used sparingly for most of the season, John Rice also has a bright future with Denver. When he was on the court, he proved to have an excellent midrange shot off the dribble and kept opponents honest from three point range. He's probably going to be a prospect for the Nuggets the next season or so, but he could very well get them 10-15 points off the bench on any given night.


Ollie Rose

Signature skill/s: Finisher

The former MVP was inactive for the best part of the season, but he played himself into the rotation in the last two games against the Kings. He could be an X-Factor for the Nuggets in this championship run.


Axel Donnelly

Signature Skill/s: Hustle Points

Axel was somewhat of a forgotten man once again, as Perko's backup minutes generally went to a better perimeter shooter. When he does get minutes, he adds great rebounding on both ends.

IR

Kevin Durant

Signature skill/s: Deadeye

Durant had some standout games during the season, providing a real spark off the bench. But when he was on, the Nuggets were weaker on the defensive end. If there was a way to combine his offense with Anderson's defense, you'd have yourself one helluva player.


Lawrence Griffiths

Signature skill/s: Hustle Points

Lawrence was held back for most of the season, since between Stan and Dwight, the centre position was well covered. His athleticism (or lack of it) holds him back as well.


Jim Simon

Signature skill/s: Scrub

It was really sad to see Jim Simon regress as much as he did in his sophomore season. It turns out though that his comparison to Adam Morrison; it was actually unfair to Adam Morrison. AMMO's second season saw him shoot 36 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three: Jim Simon's second season saw percentages of 31.5 and 27.4. It's hard to label the last pick of an NBA Draft a bust, but percentages like that are unlikely to get you playing time for a cellar dweller, letalone the best team in the league. Prediction: he'll get his second ring and leave the NBA to play in Australia.

[Kenny]

NBA Playoffs 2026: First Round



(1) Denver Nuggets Vs Memphis Grizzlies (8)



On paper, the one versus eight matchup always seems lopsided; but the Nuggets and the Grizzlies have had some great battles in the past, which all

started when J.R. Smith left Denver for Memphis. The Nuggets have all the star power, but the "favourites" label has done them a disservice in the past.

Can the Grizzlies come up with a monumental upset? Or will the Nuggets do what everyone expect them to?


The Lineups

Denver Nuggets

The Starters
| Stan Griffiths | Borislav Perko | Julian Chandler | Taylor MacKenzie | James Palmer |

The Bench
| Mario Carlos | Vince MacMahon | Dwight Howard | Dennis Anderson | John Rice | Axel Donnelly | Ollie Rose |

IR
| Kevin Durant | Lawrence Griffiths | Jim Simon |


Memphis Grizzlies

The Starters
| Tangeni Chiwira | Tommy Stevenson | Kitt Vine | Emmanuel Carlos | Ambrose Schwarz |

The Bench
| Daniel O'Reilly | Amos McGrath | Liam Phillips | Patrick Legrand | Kevin Bradford | Dan Gibson | Nikolas Osman |

IR
| Duncan Davis | Raphael Kenny | Waldo Braun |


Keys

Denver Nuggets

Where do you start? This team is loaded full of talent. But if you had to choose, the key would be Borislav Perko. He's an experienced campaigner and he holds the team together on both ends of the court.


Memphis Grizzlies

Kitt Vine is a player to look out for. He led the Grizzlies in points (17.3) and blocked shots (1.5) during the regular season. He'll need to be backed up by Tangeni Chiwira and Tommy Stevenson, who have to stop Denver from crashing the boards.

[Andrew]

Nice idea incorporating 2K13's Signature Skills as part of the player review. Strong finish to the regular season, nice to see another Rookie of the Year in Denver. Best of luck in the Playoffs, hoping to see another championship to cap off the season.

[Phil89]

It's weird seeing Durant not even make your bench.

Good luck getting ring number ?.. I wanna say 13, but it's probably not quite that many? (There is like 7 seasons missing from the first post with the year by year table. I've lost track of how much jewellery you have acquired)

[Mark.]

Good luck for your playoffs. Hard to comment on the match-up further than what your preview says as I have no idea who the players really are! Very impressive to have come this far

[Kenny]

Nice idea incorporating 2K13's Signature Skills as part of the player review. Strong finish to the regular season, nice to see another Rookie of the Year in Denver. Best of luck in the Playoffs, hoping to see another championship to cap off the season.

Since basically everyone I know is playing that game, I wanted to do something so I wasn't completely left out

It's weird seeing Durant not even make your bench.

Good luck getting ring number ?.. I wanna say 13, but it's probably not quite that many? (There is like 7 seasons missing from the first post with the year by year table. I've lost track of how much jewellery you have acquired)

He's still a pretty decent jump shooter, but as you'd know, NBA Live 10 is pretty cruel when it comes to the decline of players that don't play on your team. His years in San Antonio made his overall rating tumble and Dennis Anderson is a much better defender.

If I won this season, it'll be number 10. I've meaning to update that table for a while now

Good luck for your playoffs. Hard to comment on the match-up further than what your preview says as I have no idea who the players really are! Very impressive to have come this far

Thanks for checking in. It's kind of hard for me to comment on it as well actually. I know what my own team does, but I can only go by the numbers of the other team. And usually I'm proven wrong because it's a point guard's game.

[Kenny]

NBA Playoffs 2026: Round One

Game 1: Denver Take First Game; Rookies Shine



The Nuggets won their first game of the 2026 Playoffs 89-76 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Fresh from being named in the All Rookie teams, Mario Carlos and John Rice co-top scored for Denver with 14 points each. Taylor MacKenzie was the only other double digit scorer, with 11.

For the Grizzlies, Ambrose Schwarz led the way with 14, while Emmanuel Carlos and Tangeni Chiwira both scored 12. Daniel O'Reilly also picked up 11 from the bench.

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MEM@DEN

DEN: 89 (M Carlos 14, Rice 14, MacKenzie 11)
MEM: 76 (Schwarz 14, E Carlos 12, Chiwira 12)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Mario Carlos 14 points 3 rebounds 2 assists 1 steal

Rebounds

DEN: Griffiths, Perko 7
MEM: Vine 8

Assists

DEN: Howard, Palmer 3
MEM: Vine 4

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Game 2: Nuggets Hold On



Five Nuggets players scored in double figures, as Denver held on to win againt Memphis 85-82. Dennis Anderson had a surprise hand in the victory, leading the way with 17 points. Taylor MacKenzie scored 13, while Mario Carlos and Borislav Perko (10 rebounds) both had 12 points. James Palmer also hit double digits with 11.

The Grizzlies also had five players with 10 or more, as they were once again led by Ambrose Schwarz, who had 19. Tommy Stevenson was named the Performer of the Game, with his 18 points, 9 rebound performance, and Kitt Vine wasn't far off either, with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Tangeni Chiwira and Emmanuel Carlos chipped in with 10 each.

The series now heads to Memphis, as the Grizzlies will look to salvage the series.

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MEM@DEN

DEN: 85 (Anderson 17, MacKenzie 13, M Carlos 12)
MEM: 82 (Schwarz 19, Stevenson 18, Vine 17)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Tommy Stevenson 18 points 9 rebounds 2 assists 1 block

Rebounds

DEN: Perko 10
MEM: Stevenson, Vine 9

Assists

DEN: Griffiths 6
MEM: E Carlos 6

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Game 3: Nuggets Maul Grizzlies in Memphis



After a close call in game 2, the Denver Nuggets came away with a resounding 101-78 win in game 3. Dennis Anderson's hot form carried over, as he led all scorers with 17 points. Stan Griffiths had a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds), while Borislav Perko went one better with a triple-double (14 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists). The dependable Mario Carlos scored 12, while James Palmer and John Rice both tallied 11.

Ambrose Schwarz scored 16, leading the Memphis scoring once again, while Emmanuel Carlos scored 13. Tangeni Chiwira and Tommy Stevenson basically mirrored eachother, with 12 points and 8 rebounds each, while Kitt Vine and Amos McGrath scored 10 each.

Denver has a chance to close out the series in game 4.

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DEN@MEM

DEN: 101 (Anderson 17, Griffiths 16, Perko 14)
MEM: 78 (Schwarz 16, E Carlos 13, Chiwira 12)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Borislav Perko 14 points 12 rebounds 12 assists 3 blocks

Rebounds

DEN: Perko 12
MEM: Chiwira, Stevenson 8

Assists

DEN: Perko 12
MEM: Vine 5

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Game 4: Nuggets Advance to Semis



The Nuggets capped off a dominant series with an 89-74 win over the Grizzlies. This time, John Rice led the way, scoring 23 points; which happened to be the highest individual score of the series. Taylor MacKenzie had a better night with 18, while Stan Griffiths and Mario Carlos added 11 each. James Palmer also contributed with 10 points.

For the Grizzlies, Kitt Vine was one rebound away from a double-double, with 19 points and 9 rebounds, while Tommy Stevenson (17 points, 12 rebounds) and Tangeni Chiwira (14 points, 13 rebounds) both achieved their milestones.

The Nuggets will now face the winner of the Lakers-Timberwolves series.

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DEN@MEM

DEN: 89 (Rice 23, MacKenzie 18, M Carlos 11)
MEM: 74 (Vine 19, Stevenson 17, Chiwira 14)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Borislav Perko 4 point 12 rebounds 5 assists 5 blocks 3 steals

Rebounds

DEN: Perko 12
MEM: Chiwira 13

Assists

DEN: Perko 5
MEM: Schwarz 8

[Kenny]

NBA Playoffs 2026: Conference Semi Finals



West

(1) Denver 4 - 0 Memphis (8)
(5) Minnesota 4 - 0 LA Lakers (4)
(3) New Orleans 4 - 0 San Antonio (6)
(2) Portland 4 - 1 Golden State (7)

East

(8) Cleveland 4 - 3 Chicago (1)
(4) Detroit 4 - 2 Charlotte (5)
(3) Miami 4 - 3 Milwaukee (6)
(7) Boston 4 - 0 New Jersey (2)



(1) Denver Nuggets Vs Minnesota Timberwolves (5)

These two are the leagues hottest teams right now; and their styles are contrasting. Denver share the scoring load amongst a variety of contributors, while Minnesota have the league's MVP and scoring title winner, Hobbes MacDonald, who's currently averaging 32 in the 2026 Playoffs. This is a much tougher matchup for Denver; not only do the Wolves have the best offensive player, but they also have the most recently crowned Defensive Player of the Year in Bongani Malinga. Denver themselves have a pretty good defensive anchor named Borislav Perko. This is a matchup worthy of a Western Conference Final, but ultimately, only one team can go through.


The Lineups

Denver Nuggets

The Starters
| Stan Griffiths | Borislav Perko | Julian Chandler | Taylor MacKenzie | James Palmer |

The Bench
| Mario Carlos | Vince MacMahon | Dwight Howard | Dennis Anderson | John Rice | Axel Donnelly | Ollie Rose |

IR
| Kevin Durant | Lawrence Griffiths | Jim Simon |


Minnesota Timberwolves

The Starters
| Dorgan MacDonald | Bongani Malinga | Hobbes MacDonald | Quint Miller | Jack Cunningham |

The Bench
| Dilbert Ryan | Seth Donovan | Dean Dixon | Bob Feehan | Tyler Klein | Ezra Tate | Marty Emery |

IR
| Ripley Koch | Newton Morris | Ed Regan |


Keys

Denver Nuggets

Of the four games Denver have played so far, Dennis Anderson has top scored in two. He had a quiet season, but Denver will look to him to be the X-Factor in this series. In his minutes on the court, he will have the assignment of Hobbes MacDonald; while offensively, he has the ability to take Bongani Malinga away from his comfort zone to defend the perimeter. His performance in both these areas of play could swing the series in Denver's favour.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Wolves made a mid-season trade for Hobbes MacDonald for this very situation. He was the Hornets' Finals MVP in their title run and he needs to reproduce that kind of form to upset the Nuggets. Offensively, it could be argued that he doesn't have the help he had back then, but defensively, Bongani Malinga is as good as anyone he's ever played with.

[Phil89]

A lot of brooms used out west. The top two from the east getting eliminated should help you if/when you make the finals. Logic suggests that anyway, I don't know what those teams are like in this game.

[Andrew]

Sweep!

Good to see you were able to get some screenshots before the servers shut down.

[The X]

Glad to see this one still going. How many seasons can you do in Live '10 dynasty mode? And secondly, do you think you'll get it all wrapped up by mid-year before the OE?

[Kenny]

A lot of brooms used out west. The top two from the east getting eliminated should help you if/when you make the finals. Logic suggests that anyway, I don't know what those teams are like in this game.

The toughest team left in the East is definitely Detroit. I was really surprised that New Jersey didn't make it through, as they had a really good team as well. The West is the much stronger conference though.

Sweep!

Good to see you were able to get some screenshots before the servers shut down.

Yeah, I managed to get a few more beyond that series as well. I didn't get everything I wanted off my PS3 though. There's some nice LeBron replays that might not get to see the light of day, unfortunately.

Glad to see this one still going. How many seasons can you do in Live '10 dynasty mode? And secondly, do you think you'll get it all wrapped up by mid-year before the OE?

I believe the cap is 25 seasons once again. I really want to reach that mark, but I don't think it's going to happen before I go to America. So I'm guessing it'll be a lengthy hiatus at that point. The next story I do definitely won't be this long. It'll probably just be a 5 season project. I'd like to do an Eastern Conference team too... although, finding a team I like in that conference is tough.

[Kenny]

NBA Playoffs 2026: Western Conference Semi Finals

Game 1: Anderson Sparks Nuggets Win



A 27 point performance off the bench by Dennis Anderson inspired an 89-82 win in game one against the Timberwolves. Mario Carlos also had a great game from the reserve unit, with 18 points. James Palmer (13) and Stan Griffiths (12) both had minor contributions.

The Timberwolves Jack Cunningham also had 27, as he led the Timberwolves scoring. Hobbes MacDonald had a great all-round game, with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, while Dorgan MacDonald and Bongani Malinga had identical stats, with 10 points and 13 rebounds each.

-------------

MIN@DEN

DEN: 89 (Anderson 27, Carlos 18, Palmer 13)
MIN: 82 (Cunningham 27, H MacDonald 17, D MacDonald 10)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Dennis Anderson 27 points 4 rebounds 2 assists 1 block 1 steal

Rebounds

DEN: Griffiths 8
MIN: D MacDonald, Malinga 13

Assists

DEN: Perko 6
MIN: Cunningham, H MacDonald 4

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Game 2: Nuggets Go Up 2-0



Another inspired performance by Dennis Anderson led the Nuggets to a 101-93 win in game two. Anderson registered a 4x5, with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 blocks. Mario Carlos once again Anderson's in crime on the second unit, scoring 18 points. Stan Griffiths (12), Taylor MacKenzie (11) and James Palmer (10) were once again upstaged by the super-subs.

Hobbes MacDonald did everything he could to keep the game close, having a huge game with 33 points. Bongani Malinga was 1 rebound away from a double-double (14 points, 9 rebounds), while Dorgan MacDonald scored 13 and grabbed 10 boards. Jack Cunningham scored 11.

The series now heads to Minnesota.

-------------

MIN@DEN

DEN: 101 (Anderson 27, Carlos 18, Griffiths 12)
MIN: 93 (H MacDonald 33, Malinga 14, D MacDonald 13)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Dennis Anderson 27 points 6 rebounds 5 assists 6 blocks

Rebounds

DEN: Perko 8
MIN: D MacDonald 10

Assists

DEN: Perko 10
MIN: Cunningham, Feehan, H MacDonald 5

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Game 3: Wolves Get One Back



In their first game back in Minnesota, the Timberwolves took game three by 81-78. In the late stages on the game, Jack Cunningham hit two free throws to put the Wolves up by three. With one play left in the game, James Palmer uncharacteristically missed a three to tie the game up. Cunningham ended up with a game high 25 points. Dorgan MacDonald had 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Bob Feehan (13) and Hobbes MacDonald (12) made minor contributions.

The Nuggets got the bulk of their scoring from the bench once again, as Dennis Anderson led the way with 25 points. Mario Carlos and Vince MacMahon scored 11 each.

-------------

DEN@MIN

MIN: 81 (Cunningham 25, D MacDonald 16, Feehan 13)
DEN: 78 (Anderson 25, Carlos 11, MacMahon 11)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Dorgan MacDonald 16 points 9 rebounds 1 assist

Rebounds

MIN: D MacDonald, Malinga 9
DEN: Griffiths 10

Assists

MIN: H MacDonald 3
DEN: Griffiths 3

-------------

Game 4: T-Mac, Nuggets Bounce Back in Minnesota



After dropping game three, the Nuggets came away with a 93-86 win off Taylor MacKenzie. T-Mac dominated the Wolves, as he exploded for 31 points. Mario Carlos and James Palmer both played significant supporting roles, scoring 15 each, while Stan Griffiths had a double-double (12 points, 14 rebounds).

Hobbes MacDonald was the Wolves best, scoring 25. Jack Cunningham (15), Quint Miller (14) and Bongani Malinga (10 points, 12 rebounds) all had meaningful contributions, but in the end, Taylor MacKenzie proved to be the difference in the game.

The Nuggets have a chance to close out the series in Denver.

-------------

DEN@MIN

DEN: 93 (MacKenzie 31, Carlos 15, Palmer 15)
MIN: 86 (H MacDonald 25, Cunningham 15, Miller 14)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Taylor MacKenzie 31 points 3 rebounds

Rebounds

DEN: Griffiths 14
MIN: Malinga 12

Assists

DEN: MacMahon 7
MIN: Cunningham 10

-------------

Game 5: Nuggets Advance to WCF



The Nuggets secured the series with an 80-70 win. The series ended how it started, with the Nuggets bench dominating. This time, Mario Carlos had the most points for the Nuggets, with 16. Dennis Anderson chipped in with 13, while Vince MacMahon scored 10. Stan Griffiths was the Nuggets only starter in double-digits, with 11 points.

While three Nuggets reserves scored double figures, the Timberwolves only had two overall. Hobbes MacDonald was a standout once again, scoring 22. Bongani Malinga had 10 points, while Seth Donovan was the next best with 9.

The Nuggets will take on the winner of the Blazers-Hornets series.

-------------

MIN@DEN

DEN: 80 (Carlos 16, Anderson 13, Griffiths 11)
MIN: 70 (H MacDonald 22, Malinga 10, Donovan 9)

Sprite Performer of the Game: Mario Carlos 16 points 1 rebound 1 assists 2 blocks 4 steals

Rebounds

DEN: Perko 12
MIN: D MacDonald 12

Assists

DEN: Perko 9
MIN: Cunningham 7

[Kenny]

NBA Playoffs 2026: Conference Finals



West

(1) Denver 4 - 1 Minnesota (5)
(2) Portland 4 - 0 New Orleans (3)

East

(8) Cleveland 4 - 2 Detroit (4)
(7) Boston 4 - 1 Miami (3)



(1) Denver Nuggets Vs Portland Trail Blazers (2)

While the East has been turned completely upside down, on paper the West has panned out the way it should have. This is a rematch of last year's first round, in which Denver swept Portland; but the Blazers are a much improved side and head into the Conference Finals off a sweep against the Hornets. Whoever wins this series will go into the NBA Finals as overwhelming favourites, as they'll be playing against a team that was sub-500 during the season.

The Lineups

Denver Nuggets

The Starters
| Stan Griffiths | Borislav Perko | Julian Chandler | Taylor MacKenzie | James Palmer |

The Bench
| Mario Carlos | Vince MacMahon | Dwight Howard | Dennis Anderson | John Rice | Axel Donnelly | Ollie Rose |

IR
| Kevin Durant | Lawrence Griffiths | Jim Simon |


Portland Trail Blazers

The Starters
| Bertrand Hofmann | Fred Gibson | Dilbert Roy | Charles Thompson | Wyatt Walsh |

The Bench
| Garth Bender | Liam Koch | Seal Childress | Alan Alsten | Lance Gill | Abraham Francis | Joe Fournier |

IR
| Edward White | Wil Schulze | Allan Keenan |


Keys

Denver Nuggets

Last season, James Palmer was arguably the Nuggets best player against the Blazers in round one. He's also due for a big performance after having a quiet campaign so far. This could be the series that ignites his dynamic offensive game.

Portland Trail Blazers

Like the Nuggets, Portland are a team that rely on multiple contributors on the offensive end. Dilbert Roy (18.4ppg) and Wyatt Walsh (16ppg) are the two highest scorers, but the series could come down to Fred Gibson. The Nuggets could look to hack him in the dying stages, as he's had his troubles from the line in the past.

[Andrew]

Sounds like the Blazers are having better luck with Dilbert Roy than Brandon Roy.

Eight wins away from wrapping up the season properly!

[Kenny]

This Is It

After much consideration on how to move forward with this dynasty after EA shut down their Live 10 servers, I've decided that this would be the best time to call it a day. I really wanted to complete the full twenty-five for TNL, and who knows, maybe I'll do what Andrew did with his Bulls dynasty and reboot it. For now though, season 17 is going to be the last one.

Even though I stated the closure of the EA servers was a big reason why I'm retiring this one, it's really been a number of factors that made me come to this conclusion. After much resistance, I finally purchased a copy of NBA 2k13 from Steam. I'm currently playing the "Creating a Legend" mode with the king (of scrubs). Perhaps ignore my introductory statement about not giving up on this dynasty.

I played both 2k10 and 2k11, and my enthusiasm for Live 10 didn't waiver, despite both being solid games. NBA 2k13 on the otherhand, has made it hard to go back. All the flaws that I would otherwise overlook in Live 10, have been amplified by the greatness of 2k13. The fact that I'll (hopefully) be studying abroad in the second half of 2013, as well as the next gen consoles not being far away were also factors.

The playoffs have already been completed and I will get around to updating soon, with any luck. I also plan on making this a relatively long retirement, with retrospective articles and hopefully some fun interactive features for you guys. Call it my "Farewell Tour" I suppose.

Once again, I'd like to thank everyone who has followed, posted, voted or been involved with this dynasty in some form. Your support has contributed to the longevity. Let's hope this can go out on a high

[Axel The Great]

As I've said before, this story was the reason I got into writing my own stories, and though it had to come to an end at some point, it doesn't make it any less sad to hear it.

It's a shame you couldn't do the full 25 seasons, but still, 17 is definitely a feat in and of itself. This is without a doubt an automatic HOF induction when it's done. Looking forward to your final updates.

[Phil89]

17 seasons is epic. I never even had the patience to sim that many, let alone play more than half of them. (I once tried to sim 25 seasons to see what happened, but gave up lol)

I totally understand what you mean about 2k13. It was hard for me to finish playing the last few games of my Thunder dynasty after getting 2k13.

I'm looking forward to see how this ends. It will be fitting if you can end this with yet another ring. Good luck