DENVER — The biggest result of the weekend came from the Nuggets. Denver opened its first-round series against Minnesota with a 116-105 win on Saturday, getting 30 points from Jamal Murray and a triple-double from Nikola Jokic. It was not just a playoff win. It was the kind of opener that re-established the tone of the series and reminded everyone what Denver looks like when its stars control the game late.
The Avalanche followed with a playoff statement of their own on Sunday. Colorado beat Los Angeles 2-1 in Game 1 at Ball Arena behind 24 saves from Scott Wedgewood, while Artturi Lehkonen and Logan O’Connor provided the offense. It was a tight game, not a blowout, which made the result feel even more important. In the playoffs, starting a series with a win matters. Doing it in a one-goal game matters even more.
The Rockies gave the weekend its surprise. After beating the Dodgers 4-3 on Saturday, Colorado came back with a 9-6 win on Sunday to take the series and hand Los Angeles its first consecutive losses of the 2026 season. For a Rockies team that does not always command major attention, that is exactly the kind of weekend that earns it. Winning a series over the Dodgers is not filler. That is a real Colorado sports result.
Then there was the biggest stage of the weekend. The Rapids lost 3-2 to Inter Miami, but the result was only part of the story. Colorado hosted Messi and Miami in front of 75,824 fans at Empower Field at Mile High, the second-highest single-game attendance in MLS history. Even in defeat, that match felt major because the atmosphere, the scale, and the moment were undeniable. Rafael Navarro and Darren Yapi scored for Colorado, and the event itself showed what a big-stage soccer moment can look like in this market.
You must be logged in to post a comment.