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After being bounced in the semifinals of last year's playoffs, the Nuggets are determined to win their second NBA title in three years.

On the court, Dikembe Mutombo stopped people. Off the court, he helped people. In simplest terms, that is the legacy of Mutombo, the 7-foot-2 mountain of a center who died Monday, about two years after his family revealed that he was dealing with brain cancer.

The Denver Nuggets couldn't quiet an epic second-half comeback by Minnesota or the noise emanating from a boisterous Timberwolves locker room. Just a loud and painful reminder that their reign as champions was finished.

Colorado forward Cody Williams is entering the NBA draft. The 6-foot-8, 190-pound Williams averaged 11.9 points and three rebounds to help the Buffaloes reach the NCAA Tournament.

The Denver Nuggets' first NBA championship Monday night gave owner Stan Kroenke another title. His Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl two years ago and his Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup last season.

Confetti flying in Denver. The Nuggets sharing hugs while passing around the NBA championship trophy. Scenes that for decades seemed impossible finally turned into reality for the Nuggets.

Denver rookie Christian Braun is in rarified air with the Nuggets two wins shy of winning their first NBA championship in franchise history. The rookie from Kansas won a national championship last year and could become just the fifth player to win an NBA title the year after winning a college championship.

Eric Lewis was not selected as one of the 12 referees who will work the NBA Finals, while the league continues to investigate whether he used a Twitter account to defend himself and other referees from online complaints. Lewis had been chosen to work the finals in each of the last four seasons.

The Nuggets are in the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history.

The Denver Nuggets were on their way to potentially a solid postseason run in March. But then, like with many other sports, the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to that. The National Basketball Association was one of the first sports leagues to put their season on hold when cases began to spike in the U.S.