The Nuggets are finding color again. After a defeat in Portland, then an overtime victory against the Pelicans, the gang of Nikola Jokic struck a big blow by exploding the Suns (117-90), despite the absence of Jamal Murray, while Devin Booker was also on the sidelines.
A final gap that was not predictable given a very competitive first period between the two teams (55-51). The change in atmosphere was spectacular in the third quarter when the game turned upside down. Like the calm action of Nikola Jokic (13 points in this quarter), at 3-points or below, being well “helped” by the four fouls of Jusuf Nurkic, the Nuggets scored at will .
The Spark Russell Westbrook
Author of a big start to the match, Michael Porter Jr. continued to make his size speak for himself. While Russell Westbrook brought the spark with an interception then a dunk on the counterattack, a tap dunk or even his passes, sometimes at high risk, which always pierced a Suns defense that was too porous.
In addition to having difficulty containing the pace imposed on them, the Suns struggled to find good shots. Embarrassed by Aaron Gordon, Kevin Durant was further behind, so Bradley Beal took over. Apart from these two men, we wondered who could provide “scoring” on the Phoenix side.
Only the points differential over this period (45-28) and the score at the end of it (100-79) were such that the visitors started too far away to hope to come back.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– No Nikola Jokic in the fourth quarter. To the great pleasure of Mike Malone, the Serbian did not have to play the last period. When you know about “Jokic dependence”, it’s not nothing. For the third time this season, the pivot sees his playing time limited to 30 minutes. Kevin Durant imitated him to his face. The two men had no real reason to come back as the substitutes did not call the gap into question, during a last period which was seriously poor offensively (17-11!).
– The size of the Nuggets. Listed as the tallest team in the leaguethe Nuggets really made this size advantage speak for themselves in this game. With extra centimeters in the majority of duels, the locals dominated in rebounds (46-39) and especially in the paint (50 points scored against 24 for the Suns). Michael Porter Jr.'s big start to the match is another illustration of this.
– The Suns in the tough. Since their failed “road trip” in early December, the Arizona men have struggled to get back on track. As evidenced by this 3rd defeat in a row (after Pacers and Pistons) and the 6th in 8 meetings. The dynamic is such that they have a barely balanced record (14v-14l) after having been in the positive since their 3rd match of the year. Worse, they are currently 11th in the West, outside of the “play-in” therefore.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
