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Recap: Denver Nuggets fall behind early but storm to victory late over the Sacramento Kings 116-110
The Denver Nuggets didn’t look like they had it early, giving up 42 points to the Sacramento Kings in the first quarter, but fought all the way back to defeat the Kings 116-110 in Ball Arena. Nikola Jokic was defended by 2 and 3 Kings all night but still finished with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists. Denver lost the Nikola Jokic minutes by 7 and still won the game by 6, thanks to a mix of bench players and starters. Jamal Murray had 24 points and 8 assists, Westbrook had a team-high 25 points, but it was Zeke Nnaji playing backup center who had 10 points and some critical defensive plays to help swing momentum with Jokic off the floor in both stints. DeMar DeRozan had a game-high 35 including 4 made 3s, and Jonas Valanciunas combined with Zack LaVine for another 39 points, but Sacramento only scored 17 in the final frame as Denver ripped away the victory late.
Russell Westbrook missed his first shot and the Kings had a couple of putback from Jonas Valanciunas and DeMar DeRozan, but Christian Braun made a corner 3 for Denver and Nikola Jokic answered a Keegan Murray drive with a tip-in off his own mishandled rebound. Ellis and Jamal Murray traded free throws, then Ellis and Jokic swapped paint buckets. When the Kings made a pair of threes for the 16-8 lead though, Malone had to take a timeout. Russ and Jamal made a pair of free throws of their own after a Jonas traditional 3-point play. Ellis and Michael Porter Jr. exchanged earned buckets, Jonas made a 10 foot push shot and Zeke Nnaji had a Jokic-assisted dunk. Denver missed a few threes, Porter had a nice finish in the lane then make a pump fake at the three and drove the hoop again. A Jalen Pickett turnaround cut it to 27-25 Sacramento in the waning minutes. Jake LaRavia made a pair of threes, Jokic had a breakaway dunk, but the Kings kept attacking and winning at the end of the period and wound up leading 42-29.
Watson had an incredible drive from half-court under pressure for a basket to start Denver’s scoring in the second quarter, followed by a Nnaji block and then a Russ-assisted finish. Nnaji at the 5 had another block and some great energy, he and Murray both got to the line to cut the lead to a couple of buckets. Sacramento attacked back in both the half-court and transition and Christian Braun had some poor turnovers. DeRozan’s bucket put Sac back up by 11, Braun missed a three, but Russ drove through the zone for a finish to force a timeout. Nikola Jokic returned but Westbrook had some poor offensive possessions that resulted in no points and an 11-2 run for the Kings made it a 53-39 lead. MPJ got free throws, Jalen Pickett hit a corner 3, and Braun made a 3 as well after a challenge on a foul committed against Jokic reversed that call. Jamal Murray got called for his third foul of the half but it was reversed also after a challenge, MPJ missed a 3 but Keegan Murray made a deep fadeaway. Jokic got free throws for the first time in the game and made both, Jamal missed a three, DeRozan hit a two like he always does, and Braun canned a 3, his third of the night. The Nuggets couldn’t make up ground on the Kings though until Jamal got fouled in the final second and made three free throws, cutting the deficit to 65-55 at the half despite a missed 3 from Pickett.
Jonas Valanciunas scored a wide open bucket to start the third quarter, but MPJ answered with a corner 3. DeRozan answered with a three of his own, then Russ and DeRozan also traded threes and a fastbreak Kings dunk forced an early rage timeout from coach Michael Malone. Braun finished a left-handed layup, Jokic missed a 3 but made a paint finish over Jonas, then Porter had a block to force a turnover. Westbrook used Jokic and some screens to get a driving finish and cut it to single digits, then MPJ’s dunk was blocked but Braun was there to get free throws. MPJ missed a long 3, DeRozan kept up his hot scoring, and MPJ put back a missed Russ 3. LaVine had a too-easy paint finish, Murray answered with a banked layup, and Jonas exchanged buckets with Jokic. MPJ airballed a 3, DeRozan somehow made another one, and Jokic missed a deep attempt to leave it at 84-75 Sacramento. Sacramento kept swarming Jokic but he did get a paint finish after getting hit in the face. Jamal hit an incredibly tough buzzer-beater to cut it to 5, but DeRozan scored back. Keegan Murray finished, Jokic responded, and then Russ made a corner 3 to get it to 88-84. DeRozan hit another 3 to answer though, and then a foul call was reversed on challenge that would have gotten LaRavia to the line. DeRozan got a rebound and finish, a whistle was called on Jokic on the offensive end, and Denver finished down 93-84 after 3.
Russ finished a Jamal Murray assist at the rim as Denver tried to claw back into the game in the fourth. Russ then scored in transition and finished a 3 point play, and had another finish on the next Denver possession. Zeke Nnaji missed a shot but put back his own rebound and a Zeke Nnaji three capped a 12-2 run and put Denver up 96-95. Jokic came back in and turned the ball over, DeRozan made another bucket, and Braun had a great finish at the rim. Sacramento kept making tough shots and another foul call went against Joker, while Peyton Watson missed an oop finish and a corner three. Russ had a finish due to goaltending, Jamal kept defending hard, and Jokic could not buy a whistle with multiple Kings bear-wrestling him at every opportunity. Jamal Murray got fouled again on a three-point attempt and made all 3 to put Denver up 104-102 with four minutes to go. Jokic got free throws, then a CB steal and feed to Jokic for a transition finish put Denver up 5. Russ missed a corner 3 but Jamal Murray buried a deep shot off a Jokic assist. LaVine answered with his own 3, then Westbrook made that corner 3. LaVine hit a fadeaway 3 over Braun, Russ and LaVine both missed two-pointers, and Jokic got to the line again to make one of 2. Denver turned the screws on defense in the final minutes, clamping the Kings while Murray hit a couple of free throws to ice the game and Denver won 116-110.
Did Malone find a bench lineup that works?
Zeke Nnaji was playing the 5 against a small-ball Kings bench and it looked great. He was active, made shots, had blocks and great defensive plays. Denver was positive in both bench stints, but it was the couple of minutes Zeke played against true center Jonas Valanciunas that made it truly impressive. Normally in his past bench minutes, Nnaji has been overwhelmed by actual centers who can move him and both shoot and rebound over him. Not tonight. Russ and Jamal played well with that unit, and Watson and Nnaji found some great complementary defense out there both with and without Christian Braun. Denver showed the potential for some switchable defense instead of just allowing a layup line, and that alone for the bench is incredibly helpful.
Nuggets need to solve this defensive focus on Jokic
Denver got blitzed early in the game because they were once again caught off-guard by a team willing to front and double-team Jokic at every opportunity and the Nuggets had no answer. They were crushed on the boards in the first half 26-17, including giving up 8 offensive rebounds in those 2 quarters. They were mangled 40-24 in points in the paint over that stretch, and limited to just 4 fastbreak points. Denver wound up winning both the rebounding battle (by 1) and the points in the paint (by 4) but they can’t be spotting teams these kinds of leads. They cannot refuse to either screen for Jokic or for someone else to get open but instead throw the ball to the block and let him get triple-teamed over and over. Denver made some strides in the second half in that regard but not consistently. Too often Denver’s other 4 players were standing around while Jokic got beat up. Especially when the whistle is not coming they need to make themselves available. Aaron Gordon in the dunker spot was greatly missed tonight, but that can’t be the only adjustment Denver makes. They’re going to see this approach until they prove they have a solution, and tonight the solution was to make headway in the non-Jokic minutes. That can’t be the gameplan going forward.
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Preview up
Brendon Vogt sums it up: “A heavy dosage of Westbrook’s jumper is not a viable path to contention. “
Vogt telling us and the NBA what was already known.
Right! Hope we didn’t pay for that piece of genius info
I mean, Westbrook and the team haven’t seemed very aware of this lately.
Yep. All I see are Westbricks
Can we all agree that he is better shooting from that one corner than PsWAT or CB?😏
Plea’s Picks: Suns bring their sad story to Mile Hi. DEN-8/238 Boy the Nugs have hit the under a lot lately. Neither of these teams is known for D, so maybe it’s a game for the over again. Here’s a thought. Maybe a fewer number of points with Strawther being out and non-scorer better defender Watson in. Jokic is listed as questionable, which of course means he’ll play. Durant and Booker are still getting buckets. Trend lines PHX is 22-39 ATS on the season, and 12-19 ATS on the road.… Read more »
I want the Lakers to bring that winning streak into Denver so we can repay them and smash their fucking faces.
They’ll use the SEGABABA excuse to sit LBJ for sure . Be cool if they decide to rest for the Bucks and bring the full package for our game. Then we can set them straight. Although, fake show is going so hard right now, someone’s getting hurt soon. I don’t wish it on them, but they’re putting it out there .
It’s possible. A Western conference game would be more important than an Eastern conference game.
They might be legit but they’ve also had an extremely favorable schedule since the trade. Last night and the Nugs game really the only two good wins. Rest of the month should tell us more.
HAVE to get HCA over the Lakers. Refs and league will starfuck them into the finals otherwise.
No doubt. I haven’t seen this much hype for a laker team since Kobe ?
B…B…But its good for the league. Fuck you NBA.
Unfortunate that the Knicks could have won and Brunson avoided injury if Josh Hart would have just taken the open 10 footer instead of taking another dribble for a worse shot after the buzzer
THe Avs just made a couple of moves that leave them in the top tier. I hope the Nuggets have those folks already. I think we can do it, but man would I like someone that can get their own shot when MPJ is out to lunch.
Maybe we should replace “Porter Quarter” with “HE’S BACK FROM LUNCH!”
Duno about the new guy Nelson but Makar and Mack are absolutely flying. Necas looks good but mikko going to dallas is gona sting
They are all in but the deal for Nelson is pretty garbage. Traded your best prospect AND your 1st round pick for a aging player. I don’t like it at all.
Just wanted to say as we wait for the next preview. Another strong recap by Mr. Gordon Gross. He and Zach are an excellent team. They even seem to like one another.
Who’s more disappointed in LA winning, Stiffs or Chuck?
ME!!! I am the most disappointed with LA winning. There is nothing more evil than the Lakers organization. Well, there’s a few things, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!!
all the Knicks’ fans in the national media. There are quite a few of them
The Knicks shot 32 FTs to the Lakers’ 28 FTs. I know people want to claim the refs “fix” games for the Lakers, but, just looking at the Box score (I didn’t see the game), that doesn’t appear to be the case last night. I’m sure Luka & LeBron got some iffy calls, but I’m betting Brunson (who is one of the bigger floppers in the NBA) probably did as well. I looked at the box score and the Lakers had ZERO free throw attempts in the 4th quarter. They… Read more »
This just illustrates one of the major issues in the NBA, who wants to watch 60 FTAs in a game?
Is the goal of the referees to call fouls as they happen, or to call fouls in order to produce equal foul/FT numbers between the two teams?
I don’t think most people think individual games are “rigged” in their favor, just that they’re officiated differently than other teams.
The Lakers are the most favored/protected organization by the league office/refs of any team in any sport ever. Other than that, the calls are all fair.
In my opinion, It is individual star players the refs favor. Not teams as a whole. Last night, LeBron & Luka took 20 of the Lakers’ 28 total FTs. The refs weren’t favoring Rui Hachimura or DFS. Likewise, Jalen Brunson is the guy on the Knicks who gets protected by the refs. Not only did he take 13 FTAs last night, refs constantly allow him to flop and jump into defenders. Anunoby or McBride wouldn’t get those same calls. So the question shouldn’t be why doesn’t Denver get as many… Read more »
“Not teams as a whole” so you think Austin Reaves would get the same whistle if he was in Denver?
Rui didn’t play last night
No one cares. Any narrative that is AGAINST the Lakers is one im fine with. Fuck the Lakers and fuck the NBA for making Luka to the Lakers happen so that they could “magically” win the draft rights to Cooper Flagg.
Question: how did the Nuggets lose to the Knicks, not once, but twice, this season? That team is. Fraud. They are now 0-10 vs Boston, Cleveland, OKC, Golden Stare & the Lakers.
The Sixers, who legit may be the worst team in the NBA right now, are 4-8 against those same teams.
So what’s the answer?
How did the Cavs lose twice to the Hawks
This would only be an equivalent question if the Hawks lost all their games vs the other top teams. Which they haven’t — in FACT, the Hawks have a winning combined record vs those teams this season.
Our resident 76ers fan doesn’t like the Knicks? I am shocked!
Oh did not know it was common knowledge he was a sixers fan, just noticed a trend of sixers opinion lol
The Nuggets connection is Kansas/CB. He’s been around under other names for a while.
Only a matter of time before he’s banned again
Or the Lakers or the Celtics. 😀
Our defense stinks. By any chance are you a sixers fan Kenneth?
oh, i forgot to say on the simmons podcast joe house took jamal in the worst contract draft.
Screw you, basketball gawds
Lakers will get their lickings soon enough. Luka can only do so much but it’s the shiny new toy effect right now
Sad to say but I think this Lakers team is legit. 2 elite table setters plus refs is hard to contain.
The whistle in the PO is not the same. LAL will always get few calls extra even w/o Luka or LBJ. That being said, with how LBJ is playing, they are dangerous and legit. With half a decent center, they would be in top 4 contenders in the league, probably before the Nuggets atm. Cavs and OKC do not get enough of credit so far, even Knicks are mentioned more, but those 2 teams, Boston and LAL and the Nuggets are there for the 4/5th place, I would say tied.… Read more »
Lebrick?? There is one elite table setter and an overrated one
LeBron didn’t reach the Finals multiple times by accident—he’s a master of the game, both on the court and mentally. He knows how to maximize his teammates and exploit every edge. That’s exactly why the Nuggets’ dominance over him has been so satisfying. Sweeping him 4-0 in the 2023 Western Conference Finals and then eliminating him again with a 4-1 win in the 2024 first round wasn’t just about beating a great player—it was about outplaying one of the smartest, most adaptable stars in NBA history at his own game.
LBJ knew his recent teams were flawed against the Nuggets, particularly the massively overrated AD. Luka has given him a new hope, so much so that he’s actually playing defense for the first time in years instead of chasing empty stats.
No, this Laker team is good and they changed on the fly. They’ll be better when they add more pieces.
hey that’s our weather in Denver today
Absolute fucking flop by LBJ gets rewarded to seal the game
And then about 15 actual fouls on the other end go uncalled.
The Lebricks still persist if he doesn’t get the foul call
The Knicks shot more FTs in the game — including in OT — than the Lakers did. In fact, the Lakers had ZERO free throw attempts in the 4th quarter. New York lost because they couldn’t make any shots (1-11 from behind the arc in 4th qtr & OT, compared to LA making 7 threes in 4th qtr/OT). Not because of the refs. I hate the Lakers (TBF, I also hate the Knicks & Celtics), but at some point people have to give them credit for the way they’ve been… Read more »
See my question to you upthread.
You think there’s still a point in being all-invested in the playoffs if you face the Lakers? Fucking rigged
Said that until we swept them and beat them in 5.
We are fine against them
was wondering if you were still on the Nuggets Lakers daddy thing after the Luka trade. To me the Lakers have too many weak defensive starters, despite their recent success on D, and their front line is not stellar. They do have the refs on their side, which helps their “defense.”
We WERE fine. Luke makes them a completely different team now…
LeFlop right back at it smh
What a Le flop!
Did Jaxson Hayes do something like Miles Bridges and assault someone?
Not on that level, but yes
There’s clear camera footage on what he did, the outside of the house footage and when the police arrived. He left some bruises on her arm and leg but as Karlboss said, it’s definitely not on the Miles Bridges level.
Knicks are cooked without Brunson
in the longer term. for tonight, so little time that they could easily swing it.
i did not like the looks of that
Def not.
Could be the worst I’ve ever seen.
Will you guys stop talking about the Lakers already. I wanna talk about bringing AG off the bench for the rest of the regular season and playing 18-20 minutes max. He said earlier in the year he would come off the bench if it helped the team. Would it right now? Who starts, Watson or Russ? I wanna talk about who would you rather play in the playoffs, round one: -The upstarts with talent and no playoff experience(Rockets or Grizzlies) or -The revenge tour of the 2 last teams to… Read more »
AG has to start when he plays period. Lakers are the Luka lakers and LeBron is their hinderance. It’s ok to talk about them. I hope they get to the 4 seed but the way Memphis is playing I don’t think that happens
amen more talk here about them then their own site
Oof, totally looked like a charge by LeBron on that last play. And conveniently, no replay.
He Lebricked it for good measure the next play. No one understands as long as LeBron is still there they are a joke. It’s the Luka shiny new toy effect right now (Luka is the one doing the heavy lifting though).
And on queue another Lebrick for that farce of a “GOAT”
It’s all Luka and he can’t do it himself when the playoffs come around
FTL
That Mikal steal/save was insane
Knicks falling apart
Go New York, go New York, go New York, go!
You know what, don’t feel sorry for Doncic getting his ass traded. His whining c*nt act fits the Lakers to a T. Fugg’em, all. Wish the basketball gods would hurry up and smite this team. Take Silver with ’em on the way out. Hey, Laker Nation, Silver, and ESPN…
Knicks are better than people think it’s not just the Cavs and Boston out East
They aren’t as good, but I could see them coming out of the East with some luck.
Cleveland would have to lose to Mil but I can see NY beating Boston. Boston can’t handle adversity
Yeesh, that “screen” would have gotten an unnecessary roughness penalty in football.
Reaves laying bricks. Lakers are small
He doesn’t look great. Wonder if he came back too soon from the calf injury.
Oh darn
As long as LeBron is there they aren’t serious
Hart getting the Russ treatment from Lakers D
Barkley is relentlessly shitting on Perkins.
Beautiful
Let’s go Knicks! FTL
LAL truly does just get an unbelievable whistle.
Makes me
Their last like 4 possessions before half were just flail and get rewarded FTs.
Knicks off to a good start.
Chuck knows ball lol
I kinda want to face and sweep the Lakers in the first round again.
I’ve started to think the same. They are getting way too cocky. I think I’d prefer that they beat OKC in second round and think they are waltzing to a ring and then we can sweep them in the WCF again
I’d like to start with beating them next week.
That should be easy. They’re on SEGABABA. I doubt LBJ even plays on the 14th .
I think we finally found how to save All-Star weekend: Chuck vs Perk 1-on-1
Is this English?
Perkins makes Shaq sound like Obama.
unfortunate that chuck is 20 years older.
I’m not sure that matters in this case
Motherf*cka es cookin!
The best part is that it’s truly one of the most stupid NBA takes of all-time
Chuck 2028.
Guess we’re all Knicks fans tonight. And maybe Rockets? Warriors?
Go Knicks for sure
The Warriors must have forgotten they had a game tonight. They are losing by 20 pts to the awful Brooklyn Nets
My hatred for the Lakers could fuel a thousand suns. Go Knicks tonight
Not going to lie… this is not what I pictured Medias Res to look like!
Well, let’s see what Kim gets for a game-worn autographed Westbrook jersey on e-bay.
Kim won’t do that, right?
cool moment. Happy for him. Westbrook is a good guy just sometimes really bad decisions on the basketball court.
If LBL and dhuman were still active I’d be expecting a post how they shared a Uber with Kim after the game.
In this comparison we also forget the starters got better and have more counters than they used to. Worse at defending small guards but better against bigger guards and CB doesn’t smoke layups like KCP did
Two interesting articles in the Denver Post today about the way teams are “defending” Jokic. Some interesting quotes by Malone and Westbrook.
https://www.denverpost.com/sports/
Have a look at Kiz’s article in the gazette on the new way the NBA is guarding Jok. I’ll take my lap now.
make it two
It’s worth mentioning that the success of fronting and banging Jokic with smaller defenders depends in part on the willingness of NBA referees – and NBA management – to let those defenders foul Jokic to a degree that they would allow for very few other players.
With all of the ups and downs this year, I haven’t said enough about the amazing leveling up that Braun has achieved this year in his driving and finishing. It was quickly obvious that he had speed and hops sufficient to challenge at the rim more effectively than you might think from a glance at him. He depended on that speed and vertical burst to beat defenders to the rim. Always had a pretty good knack for getting the ball to drop once he got there. This year he showed… Read more »
Absolutely. His awareness near the rim is greatly improved. Every aspect of his game is on an upward trend, but his scoring near the rim is the most dramatic example.
We would have 2 for sure upgrades in Zeke over JG and PWat over rookie CB.
Russ and BB are different impact and a wash.
I don’t see current PWat as a clear upgrade over rookie Braun at all. Just so much more erratic.
Defensive upside is higher and the ability to hit a back breaking 3. He was trending well until he got injured. He is more mistake prone than rookie CB but ceiling is higher
We’re still waiting…😏
I would argue PWat has higher ceiling than CB.
I agree he has higher upside, just not that that’s the same thing as a clear upgrade. For me, if you’re looking at average contribution, rookie CB is probably better overall.
Russ and Bruce are certainly not a wash. I can see Russ legit play himself off the court in a series. Brown’s ceiling is lower but he was so much more versatile and reliable
