Of their first sport on the model new Intuit Dome, the Nuggets misplaced 126-122 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday, falling to 10-8 on the season with the Golden State Warriors coming to Denver on Tuesday to wrap up the NBA Cup.
Aaron Gordon returns as backup middle
Cleared to play for the primary time since Nov. 4, when he left the sector with a strained proper calf, Aaron Gordon performed 23 minutes off the bench. Extra fascinating than his participation, nevertheless, was how the Nuggets used him. They switched to an eight-man rotation of their first sport after a three-day vacation weekend, and as ordinary, that meant Gordon was Michael Malone’s backup middle.
And as ordinary when Gordon is at backup middle, Jokic’s relaxation minutes had been rather more beneath management. Defensive rebounding and perimeter protection turned a difficulty within the fourth quarter, however total Denver was plus-three when the three-time MVP was on the bench.
The second unit struggled with Dario Saric at middle. He struggled with Zeke Nnaji at middle. He struggled with DeAndre Jordan at middle. He confirmed indicators of life with Vlatko Cancar, just for Cancar to injure his knee. Gordon apparently stays one of the best answer, however he’s additionally the least sustainable choice for an 82-game common season.
Spherical quantity milestones galore
The Nuggets have gotten the Forrest Gump of the NBA, made up of highlight-reel moments and particular events. Over the previous 9 months, they’ve seen LeBron James grow to be the primary participant to attain 40,000 profession factors, Russell Westbrook grow to be the primary participant with 200 triple-doubles and now James Harden grow to be the second participant with 3,000 3-pointers . To not point out different coincidences like the revealing of a Kobe Bryant statue similar to a go to from Denver.
Harden joined Steph Curry within the unique 3,000 membership with 2:29 left within the first half, giving the Clippers a 54-53 lead. He completed the evening at 3,004 after main all scorers with 39 factors, 9 rebounds and 11 assists. He and Norm Powell had been a duo for lengthy stretches, combining for 25 of their staff’s 33 factors within the third quarter to erase a 10-point lead that Denver had briefly constructed. They each dedicated essential three-shot fouls in opposition to Denver’s younger guards within the fourth.
In different Los Angeles-themed NBA historical past notes, Nikola Jokic tied Lakers nice Magic Johnson for third on the all-time triple-doubles listing with the 138th of his profession. Jokic closed this one out late within the third quarter, despite the fact that he did not document any assists within the opening body. His scoring was desperately wanted to hold the Nuggets early as they went practically 5 minutes with simply two factors to begin the sport. Jokic made 15 of Denver’s 23 within the quarter whereas his teammates shot 3 of 12.
Fundamentals sting Denver in clutch time
The Nuggets shot a brutal 10 of 19 from the foul line, together with six misses within the fourth quarter. Additionally they allowed 13 offensive rebounds that all the time appeared to come back on the worst occasions. Down 120-116, that they had an opportunity to overlook Harden with 1:20 left. However Terance Mann, sandwiched between two Nuggets together with Jokic, as an alternative gained the battle for the rebound. He ended up dropping a second probability three 10 seconds later. (The Nuggets had been outscored by 24 from the perimeter.)
That gave the Clippers a seven-point lead that proved barely sufficient to face up to a fast 5-0 surge by Denver. Because of a missed pleasant free throw from Ivica Zubac, the Nuggets had another probability in a one-score sport. However Los Angeles made the good play, deliberately placing Jokic on the court docket with a three-point lead and eight seconds left. Jokic missed the primary, ending the match earlier than he even had the possibility to deliberately miss the second.
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