Game Results
Denver Nuggets 140, Indiana Pacers 112
Power Rankings
ESPN (Marc Stein)
Current: 19
Lasts week: 21
I agree with Mike Malone. The Nuggets should move to London … and take me with them. The trouble, of course, is what's been happening everywhere else they play; Denver awoke Sunday ranked No. 1 in rebounding (grabbing 54 percent of available boards) but No. 29 in defensive efficiency. According to ESPN research ace Micah Adams, no NBA team has managed to lead the league in rebounding and rank outside the top 20 in both DE and PPG allowed since the (gulp) 1983-84 San Diego Clippers. All those transition points they surrender off turnovers are a killer. It also doesn't help that the Nuggets are tied for last in a prime stat that reflects activity (only 13.3 deflections per game) and sit in the bottom 10 defending the 3-point line.
NBA (John Schuhmann)
Current: 21
Last week: 23
The Nuggets needed to go to London to end their five-game losing streak, but they did it in impressive fashion. Nikola Jokic looked at home on the other side of the pond and has averaged 20.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists over his last seven games. His passing provides most of the highlights, but his scoring has been remarkably efficient for a 21 year old who leads his team in usage rate over the last 15 games. Among 219 players who have taken at least 200 shots this season, Jokic ranks seventh in effective field goal percentage and fifth in true shooting percentage. The Nuggets now pay the price for their travel abroad, with a five-game week and five back-to-backs between now and the All-Star break.
Sport’s Illustrated (Jeremy Woo)
Current: 22
Last week: 25
In the NBA’s other international swing, Denver hung a season-high 140 points on the Pacers in London, snapping a five-game losing streak. The Nuggets hold the belt as the NBA’s only undefeated team in England. I am pushing for a quip about all their European players, or at least a Brexit joke, but I got nothing.
CBS Sports (Matt Moore)
Current: 24
Last week: 26
The coded comments from Denver after its dominant win in London were kind of hilarious. "See what happens when our home crowd is made up of living beings who do this thing called 'cheering?'" is basically the gist.
Podcasts
Locked on Nuggets: Basketball analytics with author Andy Glockner
Locked on Nuggets: #MagicJokic in London
Locked on Nuggets: Around the team in 30 minutes
Colorado Sports Guys: Where will London send the Nuggets?
Articles
George Karl Q&A: ‘This isn’t what I wanted’
After a wave of backlash, George Karl says he has some regrets about his new book, Furious George. "I'm sorry this has happened in some ways," he says.
Nikola Jokic went to England and played like Giannis
The Ringer’s daily look at the NBA’s best players of the night sees Denver drop 140 in London, and their young star blossom into the team’s offensive engine
The NBA’s most efficient passers
NBA Math’s look at passing efficiency, and a certain Nugget ranks very high on the list
Nikola Jokic goes from Serbia to the Denver Nuggets – with love
Jokic and his family are making the most of their situation in Denver
Nikola Jokic is trending up
Even before a stellar game on Monday, Jokic’s game has been trending up
Why Nikola Jokic is the best passing center in the NBA
Basketball Breakdown examines Jokic’s passing ability
Did New Orleans pick the right shooting guard?
Jamal Murray and Buddy Hield are examples of why it’s so hard to judge players coming into the NBA draft, and why we shouldn’t jump to conclusions during rookie seasons
