December 4th 2024.
The Nuggets' games have been following a tiring pattern lately. The team seems to lack engagement in the first half, especially when it comes to defense. And to make matters worse, Nikola Jokic's rest periods have been causing some concerns. It's not uncommon for them to fall behind by 12 points or more in the second or third quarter. But then, suddenly, they seem to come alive and rally back.
But with this team, you never know what the outcome will be. That was the case in their recent game against the Warriors at Ball Arena. The Nuggets ended up winning 119-115 in a thrilling finish. Steph Curry led the Warriors with 24 points, but his shooting was off, going 8 for 23 from the field and 4 for 15 from beyond the arc. On the other hand, Jokic was on fire, scoring 38 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out six assists. He also made a pair of clutch free throws to redeem himself and the team for their struggles at the line in previous games.
At one point, the Nuggets were trailing 109-98 with just over six minutes left in the game. But then, Michael Porter Jr. stepped up with a four-point play, and Jokic hit a lucky shot to tie the game at 115. From there, Aaron Gordon made two free throws to give the Nuggets the lead, and Russell Westbrook made a crucial defensive play after being subbed in.
Despite the court being decked out in an obnoxious shade of yellow to celebrate the NBA Cup, the Nuggets were officially eliminated from the group stage of the in-season tournament. This was due to other results around the league, and the Warriors had already secured their spot in the eight-team knockout stage before the game even started.
For the Nuggets, this game was more about boosting morale. They had lost two of their last three games and three of their last five, and they were struggling with inconsistent effort and execution. Their defense had been particularly weak, ranking as the worst in the league in their previous five games.
Coach Michael Malone addressed these issues in his pregame news conference, saying that he believes his team has always played for each other. However, lately, it seems like they're just playing with each other. He also pointed out that some players are too focused on personal stats and playing time, which can negatively affect the team dynamic.
Malone made some changes to the rotation, bringing in Aaron Gordon as the backup center. But after a rough first half for Zeke Nnaji, Gordon was back at the five position to start the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Nuggets still couldn't contain the Warriors, who went on a 10-2 run in just under three minutes, erasing a 90-85 Nuggets lead. One particularly disastrous sequence involved three Denver players fighting for a rebound and ultimately losing it. Jokic was immediately subbed back in after that play.
The Nuggets had a double-digit deficit in both the second and fourth quarters, but they managed to rally back each time. In the second quarter, they went on a 12-0 run, coinciding with an increase in defensive intensity. They forced four turnovers in the last 5:15 of the half, which was a significant improvement from their previous performance.
Overall, it was an exciting and much-needed win for the Nuggets. Want to stay updated on all things Nuggets? Be sure to sign up for the Nuggets Insider for all the latest NBA analysis.
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