October 30th 2024.
The Nuggets were determined to secure their first win of the season, even if it meant pushing their starters to the limit. Coach Michael Malone was well aware of the risk involved, but it ultimately paid off with a hard-fought victory in Toronto the previous night. However, the physical toll on his players was evident as they struggled to defend against the Brooklyn Nets, a team that many predicted to be the weakest in the NBA.
The game started off rough for the Nuggets, as they allowed the Nets to score 40 points in the first quarter and fell behind by as much as 17 in the second. But thanks to another impressive performance by Nikola Jokic, with 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists, the Nuggets were able to fight back and force an overtime period. It was a similar situation to the previous night, where they had to rely on Jokic to lead them to victory.
In a crucial moment towards the end of regulation, the Nuggets chose to go for a two-point shot instead of a three-pointer, just like they did in their previous game. Jokic, as always, executed it flawlessly, and the Nets missed a free throw, giving the Nuggets a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Once again, they turned to Jokic, and he delivered with a beautiful baby hook shot.
Jokic's ability to handle double-teams is truly remarkable, and it was on display once again as the Nets tried to slow him down. Malone was grateful to have Jokic on his team, as he could not imagine what it would be like to game-plan against him. The only difference between the two nail-biting wins was that this time, the Nuggets left enough time for the Nets to attempt a game-tying three-pointer, which thankfully did not go in.
The starting lineup had to log extra minutes once again, as Malone had already shortened his rotation in the previous game. But he knew that this was not sustainable, and he was proven right as the Nets took advantage of their tired defenders and scored 47 points in the first half. It was clear that the Nuggets needed to redeem themselves in the second half.
And redeem themselves they did, thanks to a determined Russell Westbrook, who was on fire with his passing and scoring. He led the team back from a 16-point deficit and hit a crucial three-pointer at the end of the third quarter to tie the game. His hot streak continued into the fourth quarter, where he scored 13 points, including another three-pointer that gave the Nuggets a five-point lead.
But Westbrook's performance was not perfect, as he missed an easy dunk and allowed the Nets to go on a 5-0 run. This set the stage for another thrilling finish, but the Nuggets were determined to come out on top once again. As the backup point guard, Facundo Campazzo, pointed out, it is not easy to win in the NBA, especially when you are a team that is always in contention for the championship.
But the Nuggets were up for the challenge, and they got contributions from all their key players, including Michael Porter Jr., who bounced back from a slow start to the season. With Jokic leading the way, the Nuggets quickly pulled away in overtime and secured their second consecutive win. It was a hard-fought victory, but as Jokic said, they found ways to score when they needed to, and that is what matters in the end.
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