In what was supposed to be their first scheduled loss of the season, the Nuggets refused to accept that label.

Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon were out due to injuries. Against an undefeated opponent. An undefeated opponent that already crushed Denver at Ball Arena two weeks earlier on opening night. Somehow, still, the short-handed Nuggets roared back from down 16 in the second half to hand Oklahoma City its first loss of the season, 124-122.

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Michael Porter Jr. overcame a 1-for-6 first half from the floor to score 22 of his 24 points after halftime. Nikola Jokic, who’s averaging a triple-double, went for 23 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists. Russell Westbrook sparked the comeback by growling at the crowd in the midst of his 29-point, 10-for-15 outing. Braun supplied 24 points and superb defense against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

And for the fourth time, the Nuggets (5-3) won a game that came down to the final possession in regulation when Peyton Watson blocked Gilgeous-Alexander’s game-tying layup attempt as time expired. SGA finished with 28 points but eight turnovers.

“We talked to the people at Altitude TV, and we just want to try to keep the fans glued to their seats, keep viewership up, and kind of just come back in the fourth quarter,” Michael Malone said pregame when asked about Denver’s tendency to fall behind early in games this season. “And let everybody go home with a smile on their face. We’re entertainers, after all.”

“We’re trying to get better in late-game situations; that’s why we’ve been missing free throws on purpose at the end,” Braun said. “And just keeping it close. So we can improve on those situations.”

He went on to remove the tongue from his cheek and say that Oklahoma City is a team Denver could not afford to fall behind against.

Then, for the fifth time in their first eight games, the Nuggets erased a deficit of 14 or more points to at least lead in the fourth quarter. The worst it got was 81-65 this time, at the 7:31 mark of the third, moments after Malone picked up a live-ball technical foul for confronting an official about a no-call. His team made up the gap in fewer than four minutes, a 22-6 run starting with consecutive 3-pointers from Westbrook and Braun and ending with consecutive 3s from Julian Strawther and Porter. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault called three timeouts during the quarter.

The comeback was propelled by a stretch of 15 consecutive points either scored or assisted by Westbrook.

“I think defensively he’s been a rockstar,” Malone said. “And what I love about Russell Westbrook: 17-year vet, leopards don’t change their spots, but he is trying so hard to be disciplined. He’s trying to do the things we’re asking him to do, and I appreciate that so much. Because a lot of times at 17 years in, you are who you are. But he cares, man. He is so invested in this team and what he’s bringing to this team, and he’s so hard on himself. I can coach a guy like Russell Westbrook any day.”

The Nuggets took Oklahoma City out of its rhythm throughout the game by trying a zone defense, blitzing screens occasionally and above all by sprinting after misses, desperate to avoid the Thunder’s half-court defense. They also sustained a refreshing early-season trend by getting to the free-throw line for 33 attempts, led by nine tries for Westbrook — though Watson missed a crucial pair at the end to give Oklahoma City a chance. Those foul shots had been set up by a reckless inbound pass from Jokic, over the top of multiple defenders.

“Not at all,” Malone said, feigning calmness, when asked if Jokic’s spur-of-the-moment decisions ever stress him out.

The only player who couldn’t seem to get a call was Jokic. Chet Holmgren waged a war against him in the paint. Help defenders scratched and clawed. Oklahoma City’s guards tried to slide into position to take a charge against him at every chance. During a critical sequence late in the first half, Jokic felt it was getting out of hand and bickered with officials the length of the floor while the Thunder took a 9-1 run into the break.

“I’d say 95% of my techs have a plan behind it,” Malone said. “I feel like Nikola’s getting beat up. And I’ve gotta fight. Everything Nikola’s done for this city, this team, this franchise, me, my family — I’m going to fight for that guy.”

Westbrook, who also picked up a technical earlier in the game, described Malone more succinctly: “We’re both a little psycho in the head.”

When OKC pulled away, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had a lot to do with it. Quality of defense didn’t matter. He twirled in mid-air for a crafty reverse layup and buried a 15-footer from behind the backboard over Braun in a matter of minutes.

But Braun gave him an outstanding battle with his defensive discipline as the night wore on. On a vital fourth-quarter possession, the 23-year-old refused to leave his feet for a barrage of ball-fakes until Gilgeous-Alexander gave up on his isolation attempt. By the time he passed it, Oklahoma City was late in the shot clock and didn’t get a clean look.

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Originally Published: November 6, 2024 at 9:49 PM MST

The Denver Nuggets have won two-straight games, and four of their last five. This stretch comes after the Nuggets dropped their first two games of the season, as they are playing much better of late.

Head coach Michael Malone is still searching for his best combinations off the bench, as the Nuggets have a couple different pieces they are integrating. One of the new players Denver added this offseason is 17-year veteran point guard Russell Westbrook. 

Starting the last two games due to the absence of Jamal Murray, who is currently in the NBA’s concussion protocol, Westbrook has been playing well. 

A recent report from NBA insider Marc Stein revealed that the Nuggets have interest in one of Westbrook’s former Lakers teammates, Lonnie Walker IV.

“Denver has emerged as a ‘team to watch’ alongside Boston for Lonnie Walker’s potential NBA return as the season unfolds, league sources tell @TheSteinLine,” Stein wrote on X.

Walker was in training camp with the Boston Celtics, but was waived before the regular season began. Now an NBA free agent, the former 18th overall pick is reportedly drawing some interest around the league.

In a new update, Stein revealed the latest on the possibility of Denver signing Walker.

“I was told that Denver is a team to watch,” Stein reiterated. “The Nuggets are monitoring this. All the Nuggets can do is offer him a minimum. They’d also have to create the roster space to do it. But the Nuggets were mentioned to me, along with the Celtics, at this point as the two teams most closely monitoring Walker and would like to bring him back.”

As Stein noted, the Nuggets will have to clear a roster spot in order to bring Walker in. The 25-year-old guard spent last season with the Brooklyn Nets, where he appeared in 58 contests and averaged 9.7 points in 17.4 minutes per game. 

Westbrook and Walker appeared in 35 games together during their time on the Lakers, so there is some chemistry there if the two become a backcourt pairing off Denver’s bench. 

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Another foot of snow could fall in Denver this week and more than 3 feet of fresh snow is forecast for Colorado’s mountains, according to the National Weather Service.

The first snow of the season stuck in Denver on Tuesday, totaling nearly 2 inches by 8:30 p.m., according to NWS snow totals. But forecasters say that the worst of the storm, which is expected to continue through Friday, is still on its way.

Between 5 a.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Friday, downtown Denver and Denver International Airport could see between 5 inches and 1 foot of fresh snow, according to NWS snow forecasts.

Aurora, Centennial and Highlands Ranch could all see between 7 inches and 2 feet of new snowfall by Friday morning and Parker could see between 9 and 17 inches, NWS forecasters said.

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for Boulder, Jefferson, Broomfield, Douglas, Denver, Adams, Arapahoe and Broomfield counties until 11 p.m. Wednesday, forecasters said.

The heaviest Denver-area snow will fall in the south and southwestern metro, according to the weather advisory.

“Travel could be difficult,” forecasters said in the advisory. “The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.”

According to a NWS Hazardous Weather Alert, the southern foothills, Palmer Divide and east-central plains could see “near-blizzard conditions” throughout the day.

Higher elevations, especially Colorado’s mountain passes, are forecast to get more than 3 feet of fresh snowfall by Friday morning. Forecasters said:

• Cordova Pass in southwestern Colorado’s Spanish Peaks could see between 27 and 44 inches of snow;
• Wolf Creek Pass and La Manga Pass in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains could see between 10 and 21 inches of snow;
• Cucharas Pass, North La Veta Pass and Pass Creek Pass in central Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains could see between 19 and 36 inches of snow;
• Raton Pass near the Colorado-New Mexico border could see between 27 and 36 inches of snow.

A Winter Storm Warning for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a Winter Weather Advisory for the San Juan Mountains remain in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday.

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Originally Published: November 6, 2024 at 7:01 AM MST