A win is a win is a win. Home court protected. The Nuggets held on for a 105-102 victory at Pepsi Center.
There’s a quality to the Nuggets that transcends ownership, coaches and players. They are a thrill ride. They’ve always been a thrill ride. One never really knows, game over game, what they are going to get.
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Last night’s contest with the Dallas Mavericks was no exception. After a traditionally slow start, the Nuggets built a big lead in the 3rd and hung on, barely, for the win. Any longtime Nuggets aficionado will tell you, that was a consummate Nuggets game.
Beyond the soul of this Nuggets team, though, the fellas look tired. It’s curious that Coach Malone is sticking to a 9-man rotation, while watching his team struggle, nightly to cross the finish line. Last night, he started Will Barton at the Small Forward, then moved him to Point when substitutions came. He ran Barton for a team high 42 minutes, while Emmanuel Mudiay posted yet another DNP-CD. Will seems ready and willing to handle the minute load but it’s going to take a toll. With only Millsap injured, there’s no reason for our rotation to be so eclectic. Jokic-Plumlee at 5, Lyles-Faried at 4, Chandler-Jefferson at 3, Harris-Barton at 2 and Murray-Mudiay at point. Should this team make the playoffs, unsettled rotations are going to wreak havoc on this team.
The aforementioned Barton was electric, scoring inside and outside. He put up 22, 5 and 6 and threw in a couple of steals and a great block. Wilson Chandler had a nice game, he only put up 6 points, but 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals signaled a far more involved performance for Ill Will. Joker was a monster, particularly around the basket. It’s very nice to see him banging and mixing it up with opposing players. He has a knack for getting under the skin of opponents without resorting to questionable or floppy play (looking at you, Dwight Powell). The Nuggets Center managed 29 points, 18 rebounds and 7 assists on a night where he fully looked like the Joker. Gary Harris showed, once again that he deserves an All-Star nod. The kid is simply our best player and one of the best 2-way guards in the NBA. It’s getting harder and harder to question that. Jamal Murray looks worn out. His will keeps him going but gone is the smooth simplicity of his game. Everything looks like effort. He, as much as anyone needs Mudiay to receive minutes.
Lyles, Beasley, Craig and Plumlee each contributed in limited minutes, Craig particular standing out on defense and owner of a nasty put-back dunk.
Next: Nuggets vs. Mavericks: Player grades
The Nuggets needed a win and they got it, 5 through 8 remains a tossup in the playoff race, keeping pace while waiting out Millsap is always a good result. The LA Clippers are right there in the mix with us, here’s hoping the Nuggets can pull out another heart-stopper!