MARINA DEL REY, Calif. – A trip back to 2019 gives David Adelman some comfort ahead of the Nuggets’ massive Game 4 Saturday afternoon at Intuit Dome.

That year featured Denver’s first trip to the playoffs during the Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray era. The Nuggets, the No. 2 seed, ceded home-court advantage to the Spurs by losing Game 1 and fell behind 2-1 after Derrick White’s 36-point performance in Game 3. The Nuggets regained home-court advantage in Game 4 thanks to Nikola Jokic’s 29-point, 12-rebound and eight-assist line and went on to win the series in seven games thanks to a Jokic triple-double and 23 points from Murray.

The Nuggets also lost home-court advantage at Ball Arena in the second round. Portland snatched Game 2 in Denver and outlasted the Nuggets in a four-overtime marathon in Game 3. The Nuggets fought off the fatigue to reclaim home-court advantage behind another Jokic triple-double and 34 points from Murray in Game 4 before losing in seven games.

“We’ve been through it. I think the most important part is the guys that weren’t there, the faces that weren’t there, understanding that that’s who we are. We will bounce back. We have a really strong mental group throughout the years. Our top two players have been here forever. They’ve won a championship,” Adelman, the Nuggets’ interim coach, said Friday.

“We’ve been through all of the success and joy that everybody remembers, but please remember also some of the heartache that we’ve had. Yesterday was one of those nights, man. You don’t forget a game like that. It was embarrassing.”

Unfortunately for Adelman, Jokic and Murray are the only two players who experienced those games on the court. Aaron Gordon was leading the Magic back to the playoffs in 2019. Michael Porter Jr. was officially on the roster but missed the season after having his second back surgery, while Christian Braun was preparing for his high school graduation.

Fortunately for Denver’s interim coach, who was in his second year as a Nuggets assistant back in 2019, his top two guys have grown significantly since 2019. Jokic has won three Most Valuable Player awards, one Finals MVP and became the third player in NBA history to average a triple-double, while Murray has earned his reputation as a player who elevates his game in the biggest moments. Those aren’t the only changes.

“They’ve grown up. We saw them as kids. Now, we see them as dads and men that’ve been through a lot and had a lot of success. … Part of leading is how calm you can be and lead at the same time in really tough situations. I think they’ll do that, because that’s who they’ve been over these years. That’s what gives me confidence,” Adelman said.

“These guys have seen everything, done everything – literally, done everything. So, I’m excited for tomorrow. I said that before Game 3. My excitement, obviously, went away as the game went on. … I think Game 4, we’re going to embrace it as best we can. We know the challenge. We know how good they are. So, you’ve got to meet their level, and then you’ve got to surpass it.”