It was Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone’s 49th birthday on Tuesday, and before Game 7 against the LA Clippers, center Nikola Jokic told his coach he had the perfect gift in mind.

With a 104-89 win, making NBA history in the process as the first team to come back twice in one postseason from a 3-1 series deficit, Malone was happy to get the latter.

“So proud. All the guys, never got down, believed in each other. Believed in themselves,” Malone said. “In light of all the noise outside this series that we had no chance. We have people guaranteeing it. We found a way to beat a really good team three times. I’ve run out of things to say.”

After coming back from 3-1 down in the opening round against the Utah Jazz, the Nuggets had to overcome three consecutive double-digit deficits against the Clippers to win three straight games and advance to the Western Conference finals. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, the Nuggets are the first team in postseason history with three straight double-digit comeback wins when facing elimination.

As the Clippers’ stars struggled, 23-year-old guard Jamal Murray shined again in a Game 7, scoring 40 points on 15-of-26 shooting in 45 minutes. Jokic was dominant, posting a triple-double (16 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists), the second Game 7 triple-double of his career, tying Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo as the only players to do it.

The Nuggets move on to their first Western Conference finals appearance since 2009, when Carmelo Anthony led them into a matchup with … the Lakers. For now, though, they’re going to enjoy their upset of the Clippers before preparing for Game 1 against the Lakers on Friday.