In a thrilling conclusion of one of the most thrilling playoffs in recent memory, the Golden State Warriors have advanced to the NBA Finals with a heart-stopping 5-4 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 37 of the Western Conference Finals. The marathon series, which put both teams under such a strain that they were at their best, eventually came to a dramatic end, leaving fans and players speechless.

The deciding game, which was held at the Chase Center in San Francisco, was a defensive battle from the beginning to the final buzzer. It was obvious, due to the intense series, that both teams were trying to find the offense in the first few minutes of the game. The Warriors, who had the advantage of their experienced players-S. Curry, K. Thompson, and D. Green just made the halftime score 2-1 against the opponents as the fight for points dominated the game.

During the second half, the Nuggets, led by the unstoppable Nikola Jokic, began to assert themselves. The skills of the Serbian center in passing and his soft touch around the rim helped Denver to return to the game and even take a 3-2 lead in the fourth quarter. The crowd in the arena was holding their breath as the clock was running down, with the Warriors fans having their hands on their heads and only hoping for a miracle.

The miracle happened in the person of Andrew Wiggins, who proved to be a great force all through the series. Wiggins, who received a pass from Curry with only 5.2 seconds left in regulation, went full force to the basket and picked up a foul on a great layup move that he made in mid-air. The Canadian forward then coolly went on to score the free throw, thus leveling the game at 3-3 and sending it to overtime.

The overtime was a battle of wits between the two teams, tired to the point of exhaustion, and every possession mattered to the extent they could determine the outcome of the series. Denver took the lead first, with Jamal Murray making a critical basket from the mid-range meters to give the Nuggets a 4-3 lead. The Warriors, leading 3-1, had to learn to find solutions to confront a big man.

When there was just under a minute left in overtime, Klay Thompson, the guy called on for moments of greatness, got the ball from Green on the wing. Thompson quickly and without hesitation rose over his defending player and fired a high-arcing three-pointer that looked as though it would take forever to land. With the sound of the swish of the net, the Chase Center roof was raised to the sky, and the score became 4-4, which equalized both teams.

It was the final moments of the game, which will be forever remembered in the NBA’s history. There were only 10 seconds left on the clock when Denver had the ball, and they were looking to take the last shot. Green and Looney were double-teaming Jokic, who was trying to pass the ball to an open teammate, when all of a sudden, a defensive play saw Green intercept the pass at the halfcourt.

Stephen Curry, who has thrived in the game due to his speed and intuition, rushed to the ball to recover it successfully. As the time was running out, Curry ran the ball up the court, passing the ball through the Denver defenders who were out of position. When he got near the three-point line, he gave himself time to pull up for a potential game-winning three. Nevertheless, still realizing there was a defender about to close in, he quickly decided to pass the ball, and this decision would be the game-changer.

Stephen Curry did not shoot but rather released a perfect no-look pass to Jordan Poole, who was actually standing in the corner, though unnoticeable to the spectators. Poole, who was the young guard who had helped his team in many of the games through the playoffs, succeeded in catching the ball and started making the shot as an immediate reaction. When the buzzer rang, Poole’s shot went through the air, the fate of both teams dangling, holding their breath and their fingers.

A Coke was inserted on Wayne that hit through the rim, got back with one, two on the floor and then finally settled in the net. The Chase Center blew up full-on with cheers, happy screams, and fans’ disbelief. The Warriors had done the incredible; they have won the game 5-4 and have won the series in the most improbable way possible.

At the same time as their stunning victory was being celebrated, as confetti rained down from the rafters, the Warriors were rejoicing. Stephen Curry, overwhelmed with emotions, clung to Poole, the novice shooter who made the killing shot. Draymond Green, who was always the heart and soul of the team, decided to get the guys into a happy ring dance in the middle of the field.

For the Nuggets, the defeat was a hard pill to swallow. Nikola Jokic, who had been nothing less than great throughout the series, sat on the bench with a towel on his head, the loss reflected in his body language. Head Coach Michael Malone gave his players support, by the way, and mentioned the almost supernatural effort they had shown for the last 37 games.

This series, which is hard to find elsewhere in its length and depth of intensity, pushed the limits of what was previously thought possible in professional basketball. Both parties had undergone injuries, fatigue, and mental endurance while in a fight that seemed to be endlessly going. However, finally, it was the Warriors’ know-how and championship-impressive winning DNA that made possible their emergence as the winner.

The party went on, however, people began thinking about the NBA Finals already. The Warriors, who have gone through this fantastic series, are now confronted with the task of their next match and thus must find a way to reassemble and prepare. Certainly, the discussion will be about tiredness and healing, and it will last for a few days.

But, for the present, the devoted Golden State Warriors and their supporters are quite happy to simply exalt this time. In a series where reason and predictions were thrown out the window, they nonetheless were able to come out as winners and become part of the NBA history by doing so. Receiving the loving rivalry from the enthusiastic chanters of “Warriors,” the team was an admiration to a team that in the past dominated, and that’s the reason why they are still head to head with other sports dynasties.