Comment on Four reasons the Denver Nuggets will — and won’t — make it back to NBA Finals in 2024-25

Colorado (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) vs. Arizona (3-3, 1-3) When/where: 2 p.m. Saturday, Arizona Stadium TV/Radio: KDVR/850 AM BetMGM Line: CU +3, O/U 58.5 Weather: Partly sunny, 71 degrees at kickoff. Series history: CU leads 16-10 (last meeting: Arizona won 34-31 in Boulder in 2023) Three storylines WR depth test: Four Colorado wide receivers left last week’s 31-28 loss to Kansas State with injuries.

Five NBA teams have won the Western Conference in the last five years, marking a half-decade of competitive parity in a league that’s making it increasingly difficult to stay on top after arriving there. The Nuggets are one of those five. They were thwarted in the second round of the playoffs last season, bringing an abrupt end to their pursuit of a repeat championship before they even had a chance to challenge the Boston Celtics.

Colorado State (3-3, 1-0 in MW) at Air Force (1-5, 0-3 in MW) When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday/Falcon Stadium TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/Rams Radio Network BetMGM Line: CSU -7, O/U 46.5 Weather: 52 degrees, with intermittent rain showers Three storylines CSU’s hex-breaker: After beating San Jose State in Fort Collins last week, the Rams believe they’re ready to snap a seven-game losing streak to Air Force.

Around the AFC J-E-T-S! Why!? Why!? Why!?: Which team made the more head-scratching move Tuesday? Was it the Jets, who went “all-in” and traded for receiver Davante Adams a week after firing their head coach and one day after falling to 2-4? Or was it the Raiders, whose return for dealing a three-time All-Pro was a conditional third-round pick?

Projected Starting Five 27 Jamal Murray Point Guard | 27 | 6-foot-4 | 215 pounds Is he the best player in the league who has never made an All-Star or All-NBA team, or is he an unreliable second option who didn’t deserve a max contract extension? This season could be a referendum on Murray’s efficacy as a long-term running mate for Nikola Jokic.

The Nuggets wrapped up their 2024 preseason with a 132-126 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at Target Center, finishing 1-4. Denver’s starters played most of the game, while Minnesota coach Chris Finch rested his. The Nuggets have a week without competition now before they open their 2024-25 season against the Thunder on Oct.