Will Barton: The Last Jedi

As a preface to this recap, there was a lot of yelling at the tv tonight.  A lot..of yelling…at the tv.

A not so long time ago…in a stadium not so far away…..

Episode XXI: Chicago Bulls versus Denver Nuggets  (Star Wars night at Pepsi Center, if you’ve haven’t picked up on that theme….shut your eyes…but keep reading….and envision the scrolling up text of this recap a la the classic Star Wars intro)

We enter tonight’s game following arguably the worst loss of the season against the Utah Jazz this past Tuesday- game where the Nuggets only scored 77 points and their two star players, Jokic and Murray, were lost in hyperspace throughout the game.  This has, in fact, has been a reoccurring trend for those two players this season- playing fantastic at home and almost a non factor in away games.

This is a concerning figure considering that the Nuggets are about to have 10 road games this December.  Seven of those games were against teams with +.500 records.

The yelling at the tv started with curses under the breath.

The Bulls came out red-hot.  The three win bulls didn’t miss a shot and COULD NOT miss a shot. It was a very slow start for the Nuggets and the starters looked like their feet were stuck in the Sarlacc pit.  (No, the Star Wars references won’t stop)

Towards the end of the first with about two minutes left, the bench came in and the Nuggets were down about 18 points, potentially still in single digit scoring.  This is a truly embarrassing start for hosting the worst offensive team in basketball playing against one of the best.  These Ewoks were just throwing our Jedi around with no regard with how this saga should go.

When the bench came in, the opposite happened from what we have seen this season.  The bench actually came in HOT.  Lyles was the initial spark with a quick three and that was immediately followed by a defense steal, followed up by another three.  Personally, this blogger senses the Force is strong with Trey Lyles.  The Utah Jazz gave up on him far too early for being 22 years old.

This spark by Lyles and the bench steamrolled 24 points in the first half, which was incredible.  Lyles thunder was soon stolen by the one known as…Will Barton.

In Barton’s first 4 minutes, he put up a stellar 12 points. 9 of those points being three-point shots from as far as Tatooine.  Barton simply couldn’t be stopped in the first half and that would soon continue into the second but we will revisit that.

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What needs to be addressed here was the injury of Jokic with about a minute left in the first half.  Jokic came down under the rim with a face full of pain and nearly walked off the court into the locker room.  Nuggets nation and basketball fans alike held their breath as the future of the franchise rolled on the floor in pain, for the second time in the only matter of a few weeks.

Denver fans who watched the Bronco game Sunday equally saw their QB go down with an ankle injury, return to the sideline, put his head in his hands and weep.

Not Nikola.

The Nugget star center took a deep swallow, tucked in his shirt, and proceeded to the line to shoot his two free throws.  That is the new Denver tough.  That is what this city and market is looking for.  (Too bad only a percentage of that market watched the game tonight but surely millions will read this article, so we are safe) . Jokic went to take x-rays and never returned to action.  Nuggets twitter estimates him being out 7-10 games.  Hopefully that is it…

Coming out of half time and the deep depression that was the Jokic injury, with the Nuggets down 6, it appeared the altitude started to catch up with the Bulls.

Faried came out like a man possessed in the second half…almost Manimal like, if one would.  The Manimal was up with a double-double half way through the third and was making his presence known in the paint.  Water was finally finding it’s level under the rim in this game against one of the worst teams in the paint in the NBA in the Bulls.

Finally on Star Wars night, the Pepsi Center crowd was energized.  Lightsabers were being waved and the noise started to erupt, backing the Nuggets late rally.

Down 92-91 going into the fourth quarter, the Nuggets were carried on the backs of Barton and Harris’ second half effort.  Barton led the Nuggets scoring with 31 and Harris had 10 in the third.  Faried was up to 14 & 11.  Richard Jefferson played the most amount of minutes we have seen since he joined the team and Jamal Murray continued to be colder than a Hoth winter (cold…so, so..cold).  It is getting to the point this blogger is starting to get worried about Jamal Murray.  I’m going to give him until the start of the new year to get in gear before we get too worried.

The game ended up coming down to a buzzer beater shot by Will Barton to win the game.  T’was a career game for Will with 37 points.  The Nuggets certainly didn’t deserve to win this game on Star Wars night but the force was certainly with Barton from start to finish.

Will shared in his post game interview:

“Last couple minutes I told my teammates..give me the ball and get out of the way.” 

The Nuggets are now 9-2 at the Pepsi Center. One of the best home records in the league. The question begs to be asked….is the Pepsi Center back?

Post script – the Nuggets opening tip record continues! 0-21.  If we go to 0-30, this blogger promises to get the record tattooed somewhere.

-Miked Up

Twitter: @mwilsonco