Yet deprived of Joël Embiid but also of James Harden, the Sixers started the meeting well with a Tobias Harris who took matters into his own hands (10-10). But now, the Nuggets will start playing with Nikola Jokic as a control tower. Under his leadership, Mike Malone’s players will make a 10-0 run to create the first gap of the match (20-10). Without forcing, Denver leads by 7 points at the end of the 1st quarter (25-18).
Philadelphia reacted perfectly at the start of the 2nd quarter, returning to a tie (25-25). Reaction that will be short-lived, since under the leadership of Jamal Murray, the Nuggets resume 8 points ahead (38-30). Thanks to the pressure cooker Tyrese Maxey, author of 25 points, the Sixers remain in contact, and are only led 61-57 at the break.
Upon returning from the locker room, the Nuggets press the accelerator again to regain a 10-point lead (71-61). The Sixers are no longer there, and opposite, Denver activates the steamroller mode. Philadelphia’s defense is lost, and the Nuggets take a 20-point lead (81-61). At the start of the 4th quarter, Denver leads by 14 points (91-77).
On a long distance shot, Christian Braun allows his team to regain an 18-point lead (102-84). In the last minutes, the Nuggets relax, and Philadelphia takes the opportunity to make a run of 22-8. There are only 6 points left (112-106). Despite this late fright, Denver won 116-111.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Denver is better. After experiencing an air hole with 5 defeats in 6 games, Nikola Jokic and his band find their basketball, and the results follow with a 4th victory in a row. The Big Three of Jokic, Murray and Porter Jr. are ramping up as the playoffs approach, and the high-profile win over the Bucks on Saturday only confirmed Denver’s newfound form.
– Third straight loss for Philadelphia. Without its two All-Stars, the Sixers deluded for only half time, before the Nuggets decided to fold the game. A 3rd consecutive defeat which has an impact on the level of the classification, since the players of Doc Rivers now have three victories behind the Celtics, 2nd, but also only one success ahead of Cleveland, which benefits from a better calendar.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Nikola Jokic. A performance that once again speaks for itself with an XXL triple-double: 25 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists.
✅ Jamal Murray. Very good game on his part with 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and skill in shooting.
✅ Bruce Brown. Off the bench, he was again very valuable with 18 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds.
✅ Tyrese Maxey. Harden and Embiid absent, he took matters into his own hands by compiling 29 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals.
⛔️ PJ Tucker and Dewayne Dedmon. Both holders, they draw a blank in 33 minutes: no points!
THE FOLLOWING
Nuggets (51-24): reception of the Pelicans on the night of Thursday to Friday (4H).
Sixers (49-26): reception of the Mavericks on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (1:30).
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