Despite the return to action of the reigning double MVP, Nikola Jokic, plus Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets lost to the brave Pistons who put an end to their nasty series of seven consecutive losses (110- 108).
Several times tempted to go on a breakaway, including a try in the first quarter, countered by a 16-6 from the Nuggets to return to height, or this other 13-1 at the start of the last quarter, the Pistons were the aggressors all evening.
Carried by their bench, including an excellent Alec Burks (21 points in 21 minutes) visibly in shape for his return to his university lands in Colorado and Kevin Knox (17 points, 8 rebounds), Detroit had a 12-point lead in beginning of the last quarter but it was written that their first away success of the season would be complicated until the end…
Returned to -2 on a hook shot from Nikola Jokic, back after three games away due to Covid, the Nuggets finally had to give in after a final (voluntary) miss from Jamal Murray on throws, which Aaron Gordon n was able to get back into the circle after the offensive rebound.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— The Pistons’ first away win. If it took a long time to take shape, and difficult to give birth to after ten consecutive failures, the Pistons finally won a game away this season! They owe it in large part to Bogdanovic and Burks (7 of his 21 points in the last quarter), their two cold-blooded veterans who returned clutch shots late in the game. But they also owe it to their bench which largely dominated that of the Nuggets (53 to 22)!
— Nuggets without dynamics. While Denver’s starting five finished with 10 or more points, including a very effective 17 and 18 points from Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. respectively, plus 31 units for Jokic, it was on the back lines that it stuck with a 7/22 combined on shots for the duo Murray – Caldwell-Pope. That plus the rather disappointing performance from the bench (discussed above), and you have a frustrating loss for the Nuggets who are struggling to find their rhythm this season, stuck in the soft underbelly of the Western Conference with 10 wins for 7 losses…
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Alec Burks. Injured at the start of the season, the veteran Burks had only played five games before that night. But, passed by the university of Colorado, Burks wanted to mark the blow. It’s done with 21 points, including 7 decisive in the last quarter, plus his first win of the season and his team’s first away.
✅ Kevin Knox. At 2 points, 1 rebound on average this season, Knox does not have much opportunity to see the boards. But last night, the former Knicks and Hawks broke through, with an excellent performance on 17 points and 8 rebounds, all at a very good 8/11 on shots. It’s his second straight game at 20 minutes or more (and his second at 10 or more points).
✅ Nikola Jokic. The reigning double MVP does not have much to blame himself for this defeat for his return to competition. The Serbian pivot actually came close to the triple-double with 31 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds, with a very good 12/17 on shots. The only downside? His 7/11 in throws… Four precious points lost on the way!
⛔ Jamal Murray. Returning to action after two missed games, Murray looked a little rusty offensively with just 10 points (plus 8 assists) at a mere 3/12 on shots and no shots from 3-point range (0/2).
THE FOLLOWING
Denver (10-7) : traveling to Oklahoma City tonight.
Detroit (4-15) : continuation of the “road trip” in Utah this night.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
