The Denver Nuggets picked up their first seeding game win in Orlando on Monday, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in OT.
Denver Nuggets rookie forward Michael Porter Jr. was the catalyst for the team’s bounceback game, as he was hot right out of the gate and scored 8 of the teams’ first 14 points as teammates found him time and time again.
By the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets led by one (23-22). Porter remained hot in the second period, scoring 8 points in the quarter but Denver entered the second half trailing by one (50-51).
As an aside, beloved rookie Bol Bol also made an appearance in the second quarter, as he drilled a three-pointer off a Monte Morris inbound for his only points of the game.
Bol can do it all!
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 3, 2020
(But you already knew that...) https://t.co/cQzoGDh60g
In the second half, the Nuggets’ matchup against the Thunder was starting to resemble their loss to the Miami Heat in their first seeding game as neither team took more than a five-point lead during the third quarter. Denver entered the final period down three (78-81).
Denver’s chances of losing their first two seeding games looked ever more likely after Oklahoma City took a seven-point lead (96-103) with 3:38 remaining in the fourth. However, out of a Nuggets’ timeout, Porter quickly nailed a two-point attempt and made a pair of free throws two possessions later that brought the team within three (100-103).
The Nuggets finally took the lead with 27 seconds remaining (107-106) following a 6-foot jumper from Morris. On the ensuing possession, Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari (a former Nuggets player) was fouled by veteran forward Paul Millsap and his free-throws put the Thunder up one (107-108) with 23 seconds remaining.
With 6 seconds remaining, Morris drew a foul off a beautiful bounce pass from star center Nikola Jokic and converted both of his free throws, putting the Nuggets up one (109-108).
Now with just 2.9 seconds left in what had become a nail-biter, a questionable foul was placed on Millsap and Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul was sent to the line. Paul missed the first free-throw and made the second, leaving the game tied at 109. With Denver unable to get the ball to Porter or Jokic, Troy Daniels ended up taking the potential game-winner but missed a long floater and the contest went into overtime.
Led by an unstoppable Jokic, the Nuggets came out firing in the overtime period. Denver scored eight of the first ten points and were stout defensively, allowing just one made field goal during the extra time. Porter iced the game with a pair of free throws and the Nuggets added another tally to the win column, winning 121-113.
Nikola is TOO CLUTCH. https://t.co/C5tcW8sVBE
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 3, 2020
Porter led the way for Denver with a career-high 37 points and 12 rebounds, while Jokic recorded his 41st career triple-double (30 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists).
Millsap and Morris both added 17 points, but the Nuggets got no help from their bench, as they totaled just 14 points in the game.
Monday’s win ranks as one of the most impressive of the season. Still without starters Jamal Murray, Will Barton and Gary Harris, Denver prevailed against a competitive Oklahoma City team whose coach was just named Coach of the Year along with Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.
After a sloppy game against the Miami Heat, Denver now has a 1.5-game lead over the red-hot, fourth-seeded Houston Rockets.
The Nuggets’ next game is Wednesday, Aug. 5 at 4 p.m. EST against the San Antonio Spurs.