January 2nd 2025.
The Denver Nuggets had a rough Christmas, but they were determined to start the new year off on a positive note. And that's exactly what they did in their first game of 2025, picking up their third consecutive win against the Hawks. The final score of 139-120 was a testament to the Nuggets' impressive performance, especially in the third quarter when they pulled away with a 41-24 lead. It was a much-needed boost for the team, who had been struggling with their defense.
In the third quarter, Michael Porter Jr. stepped up with some tough shot-making, leading the way for his team. "I think as the year goes on, we're getting better and better," Porter said, showing his confidence in the team's progress. But the real star of the game was Nikola Jokic, who amassed an impressive 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists in just 29 minutes. If the game had been closer, Jokic may have had the chance to join the ranks of Wilt Chamberlain and his teammate Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to achieve a 20-20-20 game. However, the MVP would likely choose the outcome where he gets to rest in the fourth quarter, considering his heavy workload and the upcoming back-to-back games against the talented Victor Wembanyama.
The last time the Nuggets faced the Hawks earlier in the season, they bounced back from a low point to end a six-game win streak for their opponents. This time, they built on their recent impressive performance to end the Hawks' four-game streak. This win was their eighth in the last eleven games, bringing them to six games above .500 for the first time this season.
Porter continued to impress from beyond the arc, scoring 5 out of 9 three-pointers and improving his season average to 41.9%. He also scored more than 20 points for the 14th time in 32 games, a significant improvement from last season. Jamal Murray also had a solid game, contributing 21 points on just 14 shots.
The Nuggets had a close call in December when they ran out of timeouts while trying to mount a comeback. This time, head coach Michael Malone was able to avoid a similar situation by using his timeouts strategically. However, the game was not without its challenges. The second quarter saw some defensive lapses and rebounding breakdowns, which Malone had to address in a timeout with 5:31 remaining. His team was struggling against the Hawks' second unit, who had scored 27 points in just over five minutes.
The offense without Jokic tried their best to keep up, with DeAndre Jordan even scoring 8 points off the bench. But the team was still at a minus-12 when the second unit left the floor, giving up an easy transition layup for the Hawks. As Malone called a timeout, Jordan stood with his hands on his head, visibly frustrated with his team's performance. He gestured towards the basket they were defending, showing that the Nuggets were not doing enough to prevent the Hawks from scoring.
Despite the challenges on defense, the Nuggets' offensive synergy was on point, thanks to their impressive passing. They had 14 assists and zero turnovers in the first quarter, and their ratio over a five-quarter stretch was an impressive 52 to 7. They also dominated in the paint, scoring 44 points in that area alone. However, Malone's face did not show a team that was ahead, as he knew they needed to improve on defense if they wanted to win at a high level and make it to the playoffs.
Jokic had a triple-double just one minute into the second half, while Westbrook joined him with 10 assists later in the third quarter. The Nuggets have an impressive record of 9-2 when Westbrook starts, showing how important he is to the team's success. Malone had expressed his disappointment after a recent win, where the team let a 25-point lead dwindle down to just 7 points, forcing him to put the starters back on the floor. But this time, with a comfortable 20-point lead entering the fourth quarter, the second unit led by Murray was able to give Jokic and the other starters the rest they needed. "Those guys did a much better job, where we didn't have to go back to our starters," Malone said, pleased with how the game ended.
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