When Nikola Jokic does not play the 4th quarter, it is that the evening went very well for him and the Nuggets. The proof that night with a large victory against the Magic (112-90) and a MVP 2024 which signs its 24th triple-double of the season. A way to respond to Shaï Gilgeous-Alexander, who had reached fifty points the day before.
After a balanced first quarter, marked by the big domination of Jokic (13 points already …), the Magic began to fold under the blows of Michael Porter Jr. The nugget winger is still in motion, that It is a question of creating his “fadeaway” after an offensive rebound, Dunker Bond line, or of planting a 3-point after a small side “stepback”. From 32-32, the score increases to 39-33. Aaron Gordon also gets 3-point, and Nikola Jokic imitates his teammates at the end, at the end, of the corner. At the break, Denver leads 59-50 with 42 points of the Jokic-Porter duo!
Jokic walks …
After the cut, Jokic resumes his festival. It is Caviar on Caviar for Christian Braun or Michael Porter Jr. and the gap quickly reaches 15 points. The Nuggets play at their own pace, and they alternate attack placed and fast game. Orlando is lost, and despite the efforts of Franz Wagner, the gap reached 20 points (82-62) with the inevitable Michael Porter Jr. Jokic follows suit with a basket “at the Westbrook”. He leads the game, takes advantage of a screen, and goes on a dunker on everyone! It is to give 25 points (92-67) and it will be his last basket in the match.
Without Jokic, Michael Malone notes that his players do not drop the foot of the accelerator. It is Deandre Jordan and Christian Braun who take over to offer 30 points ahead (102-72). Mass is said, and the Nuggets won a 5th victory in a row (112-90).
What to remember
Denver did not move. Nuggets are among the very rare training to have not moved this week. Calvin Booth, the GM, is very satisfied with this group, and the Nuggets have been playing their best basketball of the season since the return of Aaron Gordon.
A first for Julian Strawther. Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook absent, Mike Malone had decided to start Julian Strawther at the back, and it was his first in the starting five.
KCP celebrated. Leaving in the magic during the offseason, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope received a good ovation, and he was entitled to his tribute video. Champion in 2023 with Denver, KCP fails to regain his 3-point paw, in a training which signs an awful 5 out of 31 from afar.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; O = offensive rebound; D = defensive rebound; T = total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; +/- = Differential points when the player is on the field; Pts = points; EVAL: evaluation of the player calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
