DENVER (AP) – Denver’s Nuggets haven’t been the identical because you blown up an opportunity to beat their sworn enemy in two phases on April 2.
They’ve dropped three video games for one 140-139 Heartbreaker The truth that the Minnesota Timberwolves stole them after Russell Westbrook missed an undisputed layup to seal it, then stole Nickeil Alexander-Walker on a 3-point pointer with a tenth of a second on the left and Denver held on an advance of a degree.
Commercial
Alexander-Walker sank two free throws to guide the Minnesota victories sequence on Denver six video games and destroy the very best efficiency of 61 factors from Nikola Jokic that night.
The Nuggets misplaced in opposition to San Antonio the next evening with the 5 seated leaves, then dropped a match to Golden State regardless of a primary quarter of 44 factors. Sunday night, they blew up an advance of 13 factors within the first half and dedicated three essential reversals within the part of their 125-120 defeat in opposition to the Indiana pacers within the quick time period This salted the Nuggets with their first skid of 4 video games of the season.
“I have no idea if I’d say that there was a hangover,” mentioned coach Michael Malone. “We have been standing tonight. We acquired up at 13. We could not stand.
They are going to most likely need to do it with no playmaker Jamal MurrayWho missed his fifth consecutive match with an ischio-leg drawn on Sunday night.
Commercial
Requested earlier than a tip on Sunday if he expects Murray to be again in motion by the playoffs, Malone mentioned: “I hope he could be again by then.”
However the place will the Nuggets be?
Ball Area in every single place has a sport sport.
Denver remains to be in fourth place within the western convention qualifiers race, however simply half a sport in eighth place with three video games to play.
“We’ve got misplaced 4 in a row, in a foul time, so I feel we’re a bit of lowered,” mentioned Jokic. “However a victory can all the time cheer us up or make us really feel higher about our pores and skin.”
Christian Braun, who scored a report of 30 profession factors in opposition to the Pacers however acquired tangled with Jokic on a vital turnover with 15 seconds to do and the nuggets declining two, mentioned that he had confidence that the Nuggets can all the time straighten issues in time to do a race within the playoff sequence.
Commercial
“We arrive on the playoffs, I do know that this crew can compete with anybody,” mentioned Braun. “We’ve got to go together with a momentum. We’ve got to go there by enjoying in the correct path. We should discover a strategy to discover some tenacity.
“We’ve got to come back again to whom we’re and we now have to seek out ourselves in these final three video games. As I mentioned, it isn’t over or one thing like that. However we now have to take momentum.”
The Nuggets go to Sacramento on Wednesday night, then manage Memphis’ grizzles on Friday night earlier than ending issues on Sunday in Houston.
Westbrook saga
Earlier than the match, Malone mentioned the rationale he was caught with Westbrook regardless of his lately errors is that he seems to be in any respect his work this season, not final week’s weaknesses.
Commercial
“We’d not be the place we’re presently, in fourth place with 4 video games to do, if it was not for Russell this 12 months,” mentioned Malone.
After the match, the Nuggets mentioned that Westbrook had been reprimanded by the League for a drop in post-match interviews and that it was out there within the locker room.
However the feedback of Westbrook recalled that “I am proper right here by Marshawn Lynch, so I cannot be condemned to a high quality”.
Q: Is there a sense of urgency on this locker room to keep away from the sport?
“I do not know, man, you already know, unsure.”
Q: Malone talked about your worth as a veteran. What are you able to shoot to assist this crew?
“I do not know. I haven’t got the reply for you, man. I’d have appreciated to do it. However sadly, I do not do it. ”
Commercial
Q: What’s the most pissed off proper now?
“UM, most likely simply shedding.”
Q: The place is the arrogance that this group can perceive one thing these subsequent three video games?
“I hope it is excessive. I can’t communicate for everybody within the locker room. However my head stays excessive, prepare for Wednesday. ”
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
