The regular season showdown has entered the final stage, and the Denver Nuggets, who currently have a 43-31 record in the West, are in an awkward state in the final critical stage. So far, they've only been able to maintain sixth place in the West, just qualifying for the playoffs early. Behind them, however, are the Timberwolves, who have achieved this season's rise, staring at them. So, if they want to consolidate sixth or even further in the West, they have to stay in better shape in the few remaining regular season games.
And this game, the Denver Nuggets, who returned to play at home, once again ushered in the challenge of the Russian City Thunder. Although there are no proud superstar players, the team is still in the stage of rotting and rebuilding, but how dare the Nuggets take it lightly? The Thunder not only have Alexander, who is gradually playing a leadership temperament, but also young players with extraordinary talents such as Dort, Beziley, Gidy and Treman. Therefore, if the Nuggets want to win easily in front of the Thunder, I am afraid it is not so easy.
Jokic quickly got into shape in the first quarter, shooting 4-of-5 in a single quarter, sending a comprehensive stat of 11 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, and helping the team play 32-25 to take a 7-point lead. Taking the lead in the opening game, the Nuggets, who entered the second quarter, were able to follow the trend and continue to widen the point difference between the two teams. Jokic continued to play with his team leader's momentum, and in the second quarter he handed over a comprehensive stat of 6 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block to lead the team to a 26-24 score. At the end of the first half, the Nuggets have led the Thunder by nine points at 58-49.
The Nuggets, who are in a leading position, still have not given up their desire to expand the point difference. In the third quarter of the competition, Jokic with a single quarter shooting rate of 100%, sent a comprehensive data of 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 2 blocks, and Barton also had 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal, which helped the team play a 29-27 score and get a 2-point lead. By the time it got to the crucial final quarter of the showdown, the point difference between the two sides had widened to 11 points, and the Thunder refused to give up.
Alexander, the team's star, is absent, but the other players in the Thunder team can continue to show themselves. Maleton delivered eight points and one assist in the final quarter, and Aaron Wiggins also contributed a key eight points to lead the team to a 31-26 score. Unfortunately, after the regular time of the fourth quarter, the Nuggets still rejected the Thunder's reversal with a score of 113-107 and won the game. Looking back at the game, the Nuggets' starting players were amazing enough. Although only three players on the team scored in double digits, Jokic delivered a quasi-triple-double of 35 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists in the 35 minutes of playing.
Not only that, but also Barton, who handed over 18 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists, and Aaron Gordon, who had 20 points and 9 rebounds. Of course, in addition to the starters, a closely watched Cousins, in the course of 13 minutes off the bench, also handed over 7 points and 8 rebounds, performing well. I have to admit that with only three players scoring in double figures, they beat the Thunder team with 6 players scoring double figures, the Nuggets are still remarkable, they do have the capital to get playoff tickets.
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