Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.

Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.

For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.

No. 28 — May 7, 1994

No eight-seed had ever defeated a No. 1 in the NBA playoffs until this day. That’s when the Denver Nuggets, who had fallen behind two games to none in the best-of-five series, rallied to win both games in Denver to tie the series and force a Game 5 back in Seattle. Close throughout, the Nuggets prevailed 98-94 in overtime, eliminating the 63-win SuperSonics. This was the game with the iconic video of Dikembe Mutombo lying on his back in the free throw lane holding the ball above his head. The Nuggets then fell behind three games to none against Utah and almost pulled it off again, tying the series after winning three in a row, but their luck ran out and the Jazz won Game 7 in Salt Lake City.

—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian