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Wednesday, October 30

Denver Nuggets fall behind early but recover and defeat Brooklyn Nets 144-139 in overtime track meet

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Denver Nuggets fall behind early but recover and defeat Brooklyn Nets 144-139 in overtime track meet

The Denver Nuggets came off an overtime victory on the east coast and found themselves in the exact same scenario the next day. After beating the Toronto Raptors with a late game comeback yesterday, Denver used a similar approach tonight and found themselves on the right side again with a 144-139 overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets. In a game where defense came optional, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray led an all around effort that saw the Nuggets overcome big nights from Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas and Dennis Schroder.

Murray got the Nuggets off to a good start with a couple of shots which helped them get an early lead. Sadly, it would not last. The effects of the back to back were evident because the Nuggets energy was mid at best. Still, Murray kept them in it with some support from the other starters. Schroder started heating up and quickly pushed the Nets lead near double digits. Denver continued to play tired and the lead continued to grow with the bench checking in. The Nets took full advantage. By the time the first quarter ended the Nuggets had given up forty points and trailed 40-27.

It wasn’t much better for Denver starting the second, Brooklyn pushed the lead up to seventeen before Denver finally started to play some defense. They were able to get it back down to eleven and Jordi Fernandez called a timeout. Denver started playing a bit better but the Nets still hit some threes, including a very tough one from Johnson, and kept the lead right around ten. Jamal continued to be the catalyst for the Nuggets offense. If he wasn’t getting shots he found his way to the line and converted his attempts. The defense continued to be poor though and that prevented the Nuggets from closing the gap. Johnson inexplicably was left to his own devices at the three point line all half and was 5-5 from deep. At the half Denver trailed 73(!!!)-62.

The Nuggets had a good start to the third quarter. They got a pair of stops and then a Christian Braun layup and another Murray three to cut the lead to four and made Jordi Fernandez take a timeout. The Nets needed a total of three minutes before they finally got a bucket. The Nuggets got as close as two points behind before the Nets finally started hitting their shots again and kept in front of Denver by a couple of possessions. The intensity was noticeably higher for the road team though. Both clubs went back and forth with scoring from their stars through the middle of the quarter. With the quarter winding down Denver brought in their bench but stayed within a bucket or two from taking the lead, and the Nets continued to repel the Nuggets advances with three pointers. Brooklyn closed the third quarter leading 99-96.

Peyton Watson opened the fourth with a three from the corner and then a Russell Westbrook drive to the bucket gave the Nuggets the lead. He led the offensive attack for the Nuggets bench and showed how he can be a positive as a spark plug off the bench. Eventually the reserve group started to stall out on offense while Ziaire Williams was giving Brooklyn great minutes. Halfway through the quarter the Nets clung to a one point lead. Denver had some chances but kept making silly fouls (Braun had a particularly bad one) and that prevented them from grabbing the lead. With three minutes left they still trailed by two points. An Aaron Gordon three finally put the Nuggets in front with two minutes left. Thomas got back to back baskets, including an incredibly tough fadeaway over Braun, to put the Nets up three with thirty-three seconds to play. Just like last night, the Nuggets played the possession and free throw game and earned themselves a final shot down by two. Jokic hit an easy hook with eight seconds left though and that gave the Nets a chance to win at the buzzer. Dorian Finney-Smith had a good look from the corner but only caught iron and with the game tied at 125, the Nuggets once again headed to overtime.

Jokic maestro’d the start of OT for Denver. First he drew a shooting foul, then he bullied his way to an easy basket, then he hit a cutting Michael Porter Jr. for an easy layup. On the Nets side Thomas went cold and the Nuggets had the opportunity to steal another road game. They had some opportunities but Schroder hit a three to pull Brooklyn back within three. Braun responded with one of his own and the Nets were running out of time. They refused to give up and started to play the possession and free throw game themselves. Gordon shut the door with two clutch free throws in the final fifteen seconds and the Nuggets win the battle of who can score the most 144-139.

Best matchup: Jamal Murray vs Dennis Schroder

Oct 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (27) dribbles the ball against Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The battle at the point guard position tonight was a tough one. Schroder led the Nets in scoring with 28 points and Murray put in 24 of his own. Murray didn’t have the best night from three but he still had his finishing game going and that made him a very effective weapon on offense. It wasn’t what I’d call a beautiful Murray game but it was plenty effective. Schroder on the other hand fired away from three and did most of his damage from beyond the arc like most of the Nets. He still showcased some of that speed though and had a couple easy baskets on layups himself.

Main thing I noticed: team effort

Everybody on Denver played their role tonight. Jokic and Murray were stars, Gordon fed off of them, Michael Porter Jr. knocked down his shots. On top of that the role players were also played great. Braun scored in double figures again and was a consistent hound on defense, Russ went full Russ while carrying the bench and led a big run in the second half behind his energy, Dario Saric made a shot and Watson hit a big three! Great all around effort from a group of guys who had excuses to let this one get away (and almost did early on) but didn’t.

Jokic cashes the Thing to Bet with ease

There’s really nothing left to be said about Jokic. He’s simply the most dominant basketball player on the planet. As predicted he had no trouble dishing out assists tonight and hit the double digit assists (+250) mark before the end of the third quarter. With OT it ends up being another absolute monster of a stat line for him as he ends with 29 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists.

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