On January 27, Beijing time, the Nuggets played against the Nets, the big three were absent at the same time, and Harden was also absent due to injury. Without so many main players, the Nets can still take the lead in the game, even leading by 12 points at one point. Unfortunately, the Nets were overtaken in the second half, no one could stand up and score at key moments, and finally the Nets lost 118-124 and got three consecutive losses. Jokic had 26 points, 10 boards and 8 assists, Rivers Jr. 25 points, hit 7 three-pointers, and the team scored 20+ by 3 people. Mills on the Nets side had 21 points and six assists, Ade had 18 points and eight boards, and Thomas had 25 points.
Without Harden, I thought the Nets would blow up. However, Ade and Mills stepped up to score, the Nuggets started the game with consecutive scores, and after Jokic hit a three-pointer + dunk, the Nuggets led 15-4. Ade hit 2 free throws and quickly chased the points. Bemburi also scored, and Johnson scored equally. And Huazi also fought back 2+1 and chased back. Cousins hit a three-point shot and Carter responded with a three-pointer. The Nets scored a lot of points, and Griffin scored under the basket in the end, trailing by only one point. It's interesting, the Nets are still working in the second quarter, Thomas broke through the throw, Mills hit a three-pointer. Cousins and Forbes went head-to-head for three points, and Carter continued to hit three-pointers. Thomas was hit by three consecutive points behind him, the Nets shot away, and after Ader played 2+1, he led by 6 points. Ader didn't take long to go 2+1, Bemburi also completed the dunk, and Hanako finally broke through to score, and the Nets led by 11 points.
The absence of the Big Three, who did not expect the Nets to lead by 11 points, was a surprise in the first half. Mills hit three free throws in the third quarter, and Ade also made it. But Barton scored consecutive points, and Jokic also hit three-pointers. Johnson was 2+1, Barton responded with three points, the Nuggets continued to power, and Jeff Green dunked, only 3 points away. Ader and others scored to stop the bleeding, but Jokic scored consecutive points, and even played 2+1, and Jeff Green scored + free throws to reverse the score. Thomas scored to stop the bleeding, Rivers Jr. hit a three-pointer, Jokic also scored a free throw, and then Rivers Jr. hit a three-pointer in a row, and the hand felt hot. Thomas jumped 2+1 and Cousins scored on free throws, but also ate a technical offense. Rivers broke through to a layup and Thomas hit a three-pointer to trail by five points.
The Nets conceded 42 points in a single quarter, and in the fourth quarter, both sides were fouled, Cousins was blown away, and finally the technician was expelled. Thomas hit a three-pointer and Rivers Jr. hit a three-pointer. Johnson scored, Mills hit a three-pointer, and managed to tie. Jokic scored on a throw, and Rivers Jr. scored three points. Griffin scored to stop the bleeding, Jokic grabbed the board 2+1, and Bemburi stepped up to score. The Nuggets scored consecutive free throws and Mills hit three-pointers. The two teams played against each other, Rivers Jr. had three points, Mills scored three points, and Johnson scored only 3 points. The two teams then hit each other, and Ade also missed 2 free throws. Gordon scored on a jumper to lead by five points. The Nets were still in a stunt, Jokic scored consecutive free throws and the Nuggets won the game.
Without Irving and Durant, and without Harden, everyone thought the Nets were going to lose miserably and couldn't imagine that they could play like this. The Nets played the game well, with Ade facing Jokic and continuing to hit multiple mid-range hits, who was the MVP and much younger. As a result, there is not much advantage against Ade, and the Nets have done a good job defending this time. Without the Big Three, the Nets need to defend if they want to win. Especially in the first half, he played an excellent defensive performance, and the team also led by double digits at one point.
However, it is a pity that the gap between the strength of the two teams is still obvious, and after the Nuggets launched their power in the second half, the Nets seemed to be a little weak. Ade is old after all, can't play for too long, and although Thomas is eye-catching, his defense is not very good. Mills also stepped up, and all three of them had good stats. But the key moment still needs to be super giant on the court, and the Nets are still a little worse. After all, the Nuggets have Jokic in the seat, although his shots are not many, but the threat is still there, the Nuggets can score 20 points in many people, and even the substitute Rivers Jr. also got a high score, hitting three points many times.