The Nuggets offense started almost flawlessly, scoring on nearly every possession in the first four minutes of the game. Jamal Murray started things off with a smooth midrange jumper and KCP pitched in with his 3-pointer and and-1. Michael Porter Jr. also went downhill from his handoff dribbling with Nikolajokic to score the first points of the night with a dunk. The defense didn’t get the same start, as the Suns scored pretty well at the rim, scoring 5 of their first 8 shots. Phoenix took a timeout after the KCP and -1, giving the Nuggets an early break.
After a timeout, the Nuggets starters entered the passing lane and began to find some separation after scoring a point in transition and taking the lead to 11. from his first stint. Nikola Jokic also found Aaron Gordon on a crazy no-look pass. However, the Suns had a shot and found a way back within 3 before the Nuggets called a timeout.
The Nuggets stopped doing rotations as crisp as they started the game and had to lock in when the bench came in after timeouts. I supported an offense that scored 5 points on 3 shots in the quarter. The defense got a little better, but still needed improvement as the Suns were getting a lot of offense from Josh Okogee, who scored 9 points on 4 shots.
The Nuggets started the second quarter off the bench with plenty of time. Jamal Murray was particularly impressive. He forced his 8-second violation to start the quarter and scored his 3-pointer on the other side. His playmaking was also on display by him hooking Zeke Nnaji on a dunk dime. The bench kept the train moving, and on Phoenix’s final possession before a timeout, the offensive grabbed two of his rebounds, and eventually Bones he saw the ball drop at Highland 3.
The starters, with the exception of Jamal Murray, who came out after the stagger, went back to Sabu and continued to put it on the Suns. Bones Hyland and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both crossed the arc as he won 4-4 and all the points scored could be felt on the ball in his arena. The Suns struggled to find anything on offense and the Nuggets’ lead continued to balloon. At one point he was up to 22 after Bones hit another 3 of his and over the first half arc he went 5-5.
The Nuggets finished the first half with 16 points, going 6-8 from the field with 17 points and the lead to Bones Hyland. Jamal Murray and he anchored them and the bench unit of three competitors well.The Nuggets have found a way to do well on the bench. Nikolajokic tallied his 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Kentavias Caldwell-Pope scored his 15 points.
The Nuggets got out of the half and continued scoring. AG, Joker, and his MPJ all scored dunks in his three buckets in the first of the Nuggets half before the Suns called his timeout early. The Nuggets kept rolling and MPJ hit his pair of 3s. He kept looking for his shot, but after that he had no success finding it. Still, Nikola Jokic moved on and the Nuggets continued scoring. MPJ was defending his Mikal Bridges well and making an impact in other areas of the game.
The bench checked in the Suns Joker and Murray and kept things moving until the Nuggets went 31, 100-69 and the Suns called a timeout. Joker had 21 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists. He destroyed Suns in every aspect of the game. The Nuggets finished the quarter with his 100-75 to take a 25-point lead going into the final frame.
The 4th quarter was a big blow. The only notable thing is that Jamal Murray sprained his ankle. The Nuggets are on track with his 126-97 win.
