The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder have the NBA’s No. 1 protection. That did not cease Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets for hanging 140 factors on them Monday evening.
The Nuggets’ dynamic duo mixed for 69 factors as Denver avenged Sunday’s loss in Oklahoma Metropolis with a 140-127 win. With the Lakers’ loss in Brooklyn, the Nuggets moved again into second place, establishing a path to a convention finals battle with the Western Convention’s two most up-to-date high seeds.
It was a distinction in strategy from the Joker. Sunday, Jokic appeared to concentrate on being a facilitator, not in search of his personal shot. He might have been uncomfortable after hurting his elbow within the first quarter.
Not Monday evening. Jokic shot 15-of-20, scoring 35 factors with solely 5 free-throw makes an attempt to assist him. He completed with eight assists in opposition to just one turnover.
Murray turned it up at residence as properly. Sunday, he was 6-of-17 and scored 17 factors. Monday, he was 11-of-22 and 9-of-9 from the foul line. Murray additionally had zero turnovers, a formidable feat in opposition to a Thunder crew that forces 17.6 turnovers per recreation, most within the NBA.
The Nuggets have now break up the season sequence with the 53-12 Thunder. Denver is one in all three groups to beat the Thunder a number of occasions this season, together with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks, who defeated the Thunder 3 times this season. After beating them in final 12 months’s playoffs. Nevertheless, the Mavs’ roster has actually modified rather a lot since then.
Oklahoma Metropolis may be weak for groups with measurement within the frontcourt and by groups who’ve dynamic scoring guards. The Nuggets match the invoice, and now have an incredible residence court docket benefit at altitude in Denver. Getting a win to reply Sunday’s huge loss confirmed the Nuggets’ toughness and provides the Thunder one thing to fret about come Might.
