Grit… that’s the best way to describe how the Denver Nuggets played last night.
Facing a 19 point deficit at one point and coming back from 9 points in the final two and a half minutes is not a common theme in the NBA. As Vic Lombardi said on Altitude Sports, “Being down 19 points in the second game of a back-to-back, the Nuggets could have just folded.” Nonetheless, the team pulled together, and almost pulled off one of the best comebacks I’ve seen in awhile. Many players stepped up in the comeback, here are a few key player grades from last night’s contest.
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The Starters
The starters played relatively well last night. If a few plays would have gone differently, they could have easily kept the game closer prior to the comeback.
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic played a normal Joker game. He was quite efficient on the offensive end by staying aggressive. He continued to attack Minnesota, but also made a key effort to keep his teammates involved. However, he was eaten up by Taj Gibson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the offensive glass. Those second-chance opportunities led to numerous points, which made the Nugget’s comeback even more difficult.
Overall Grade – B+
Mason Plumlee
Mason Plumlee showed true grit in last night’s contest. After dislocating his finger not once, but TWICE in the win against the Jazz, he still suited up. It was visible that Plumlee was in pain, but he continued to embrace the challenge of Minnesota’s front line, and he held his own.
Overall Grade – B
Gary Harris
Gary Harris struggled from the field last night. He didn’t score his first basket until the second half. However, he filled the stat sheet in other ways with assists and deflections followed by sound defense. Everyone is entitled to an off shooting night, so expect Gary to come back hungry next time Denver faces off against Minnesota.
Overall Grade – B
Jamal Murray
Jamal Murray played an amazing game. Following a rough shooting first quarter, Murray found his confidence and was a big part of the Nugget’s come back. He found himself in full force attack mode and did something that the Nugget’s had been struggling with since the first meeting against Minnesota. He drove directly into Taj Gibson and finished strong despite Gibson’s shot blocking abilities.
Overall Grade – B+
Wilson Chandler
Wilson Chandler continued riding his offensive hot streak into last night’s game. Besides a few “weak” offensive fouls via Taj Gibson flops, he was one of the most efficient guys out there. Ever since Chandler returned from his back injury, he has been playing with a new found confidence that is exciting to watch for us Nugget’s fans.
Overall Grade – B+
Key Bench Players
The Nugget’s bench played a pivotal role in the Nugget’s comeback. Thanks to them, this game remained close and did not get out of control early.
Will Barton
Will Barton finally shot himself out of his slump. Shooting a horrendous 4 – 26 from deep over his previous three games, Thrill finally found his shot. Barton took over the second half and willed the Nugget’s back into striking distance with his play making.
Overall Grade – B+
Trey Lyles
Trey Lyles continues to impress me. I had always been a fan of Big Blue Nation (the University of Kentucky for those unfamiliar) but never thought Lyles could be this impactful. As many people have already stated, Lyles has been the lone bright spot coming out of the Paul Millsap injury. Lyles continued to be our most effective 3pt shooter and was a big part of our comeback.
Overall Grade – B+
Next: Denver at Minnesota: Takeaways
Final Takeaway
Last night’s game proved a lot. Given, the Nugget’s did not end up victorious, they showed the NBA that they aren’t going to be a doormat anymore. Over the past three seasons, 15+ point deficits for Denver usually lead to a blowout that resulted in me turning off the TV somewhere into the 3rd quarter. Well, that might be a thing of the past with this team. The team showed grit and the fought their way back to take one of the best Western Conference teams into overtime in their own building. If not for Jimmy Butler, the Nugget’s could have very well run away from Minnesota in overtime. This was a fun game to watch, and the Nuggets are on the verge of taking that next step.