Michael Porter Jr. made his return to Denver looking to play spoiler for the second time this season. Just before the game, the Nuggets received word that Aaron Gordon would be out another 4-6 weeks after reinjuring the hamstring that has plagued him the last two seasons. Still waiting on Jokic, Johnson, and Braun to return, as well, the short-handed Nuggets were vulnerable to a rebuilding Nets team dealing with their own rash of injuries. In typical late January fashion, the game started clean but devolved into a slugfest that went down to the wire where MPJ had his chances to win it.
1st Quarter
As predicted, Mike came out shooting, outscoring the Nuggets 5-0 early. Murray answered with five of his own, giving the Nuggets a lead after three minutes. Following a timeout, Mal drained his second three, which was immediately answered by a pair of free throws by Mike—and the duel seemed to be on. Val and Watson then got involved, and after THJ’s three at the 5-minute mark, the Nuggets lead 19-15. Hardaway and Watson traded threes, but after a couple of offensive rebounds and putbacks, the Nets trailed by only two with two to go in the first. THJ finished off the quarter with four more as the Denver led by four.
2nd Quarter
Brooklyn opened the quarter with a burst, grabbing a one-point lead after a Sharpe jump hook and Wilson three. The Nuggets exploded in response, though, beginning with Tim’s 13th point on a middy followed by Bruce and Val scoring in the lane. After Brown’s second driving layup and another Hardaway jumper and a running triple—his 5th in 6 attempts—the Nuggets’ lead had shot up to 13 with Murray and Watson on the bench. Strawther then got into the action with a three before MPJ finally stopped the hemorrhaging with two buckets in a row, cutting the Nuggets lead to 52-41. Nnaji and Brown added back-to-back dunks with three minutes left, then Watson’s jumper and Murray finger roll gave the good guys their largest lead of the game at 17 with 1:30 left. MPJ’s 20th point of the first half was bookended by four Mal free throws. After a cheap layin right before the buzzer, the Nuggets went to the locker room with a 64-49 lead.
3rd Quarter
The Nuggets came out two steps slow. MPJ started the third the way he started the first with five quick points, putting him on pace for a career night. Murray responded with a stepback, but a Mann three and a pair of free throws for Claxton cut the Nuggets’ lead to six after just three minutes. MPJ’s 5th trey and 28th point prompted Coach Adelman to call a timeout as the Nets extended their run to 16-4. The offense continued to struggle, though, as Watson, Jones, Murray, Val, and Pickett all missed makeable shots during a three-minute dry spell (2-10 in the quarter). Jamal finally ended the dust bowl with a driving dunk, securing a five-point lead.
A Jalen Wilson three and turnover leading to a dunk in transition tied the game for the Nets. Who else but THJ answered with his sixth three, but Mike matched it with a three on an overturned kick-out offensive foul. The play seemed to infuse the Nuggets with some life as Watson scored twice and blocked Wilson. The Nets forward paid it back with a three on the following possession, though. At the buzzer, Strawther converted on a lazy turnover, protecting a three-point Nuggets’ lead.
4th Quarter
Bruce got the scoring started in the fourth with a three and 1-2 from the line. After Powell drained a three, Brown scored his 12th on a hard drive and finger roll, growing the lead to 6. Porter and Hardaway then traded threes, making seven for both of them. A tough shot by Traore and an open-court steal and lay-in for MPJ tied the game at 90 with six minutes left. A Murray miss and Nets layup capped an 8-0 run and gave Brooklyn their first lead of the game. Watson quickly tied it then found Jones in the corner for a three, but it bricked out. After another offensive rebound and put back by Mann, the Nuggets called timeout, trailing 94-92 with 3:15 left.
Checking back in was Big Val, who made his presence felt immediately with an and-1 in the lane. Mal added a turnaround floater followed by MPJ’s second missed three in as many attempts. Murray then took it into the lane again, scoring despite being fouled (1-1). MPJ responded by drawing a shooting foul and converting for his 37th and 38th points—one shy of his career high. Murray hit for his 25th point, giving the Nuggets a six-point lead with one minute left. Claxton responded, but MPJ fouled Mal, where he converted both. Mike’s desperation three for a career high rimmed off, but Wolf got the put back. PWat only made 1-2 and then fouled Mann on a three-point attempt with four seconds left, and he made all three. On the ensuing play, the Nuggets got the in-bound pass into Jonas, and the big man hit two free throws in the Pressure Cooker™ to seal a Nuggets’ win.
FINAL SCORE: Brooklyn Nets 103, Denver Nuggets 107
GAME NOTES:
- Michael Porter Jr.’s 38 points was one away from a career high (13-28, 10 rebounds, +12)
- The Nuggets next game is tomorrow night against the Clippers who have won 9 of their last 10
