The Denver Nuggets once again came out with a clutch win to remain just one game behind the top spot, sealing the deal with their play in the fourth quarter.
The Denver Nuggets continue to provide evidence of their will to win and ability to dominate on both sides of the basketball. After Denver’s clutch performances in their last two games, it’s easy to see why the NBA’s advanced stats show Denver has the most clutch wins (and best overall record in games that go to clutch situations) in the NBA.
A big part of Denver’s ability to put away games is Nikola Jokic, who currently ranks as having experienced the 7th most clutch situations in the NBA of all players. That experience should prove valuable in general but particularly in the playoffs.
Moreover, Denver actually has 4 players (Murray 18th, Paul Millsap 83rd and Monté Morris 91st) ranking in the NBA’s top 100 of clutch minutes experience.
However, as always, due to Denver’s depth you never quite know who will seal the deal.
Denver’s Scoring
On Wednesday night, with just a 1:21 left in the fourth quarter, Jokic would score two reverse layups to help put the game away. Jokic continued to add to his triple-double total with a stat line of 20 points, 10 assists and 13 rebounds.
Monté Morris, who started in place of Jamal Murray would also put up 20 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Shooting an exceptional 66% from the field and 75% from the 3-point line.
Whilst Malik Beasley would add 22 points off the bench on 9 of 14 shooting from the field and 4 of 6 shooting from beyond the arc.
Finally, adding to the efficient scoring would be Paul Millsap, who scored 13 points on 5 of 10 shooting from the field, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks.
The four players named above would combine to score no less than 75 of Denver’s 105 points (efficiently).
3-Point Defense
With approximately 70 percent of the Nuggets’ point scored efficiently and Wednesday night’s game being so close, it’s easy to see that Denver’s defense could have been better. However, as anybody who watched the game knows, Denver did play good defense apart from on the 3-point line.
On Wednesday night, the New Orleans Pelicans actually shot better from 3 point land (41.7 percent) than they did from the field (41.6 percent).
Apart from Solomon Hill and Tim Frazier, no Pelican would shoot less than 40 percent from 3, which is exactly why Wednesday night’s game was so close, despite the efficiency of the majority of the Nuggets’ baskets.
Whilst Gregg Popovich may hate the 3, Pop’s team is ironically the best at shooting them. Nevertheless, ultimately Pop is right, no NBA team can be ignorant of the 3-point line.
However, arguably more important than how you shoot them is how you guard them.
New Orleans is 13th (35.3 percent) in 3-point percentage in the NBA. Against Denver, they shot better than their average. With many of the NBA’s best teams being proficient at shooting the 3 ball, the Nuggets have to do a better job of guarding the three.