Denver, CO
Jamal Murray scores in clutch again as Nuggets pull off 17-point comeback to beat Pelicans in overtime
![Jamal Murray scores in clutch again as Nuggets pull off 17-point comeback to beat Pelicans in overtime Jamal Murray scores in clutch again as Nuggets pull off 17-point comeback to beat Pelicans in overtime](https://www.denverpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/AP24358117809407.jpg?w=1024&h=683)
Every Nuggets comeback needs a stroke of inspiration, and this one fittingly occurred without Nikola Jokic on the floor. With 9:18 remaining in a game Denver trailed 100-90, Julian Strawther was barreled over away from the ball while Jamal Murray buried a corner 3-pointer.
A flagrant foul. A free throw for Strawther. A lob from Russell Westbrook to DeAndre Jordan. A six-point possession.
And eventually, an improbable and unnecessarily strenuous 132-129 overtime win over the Pelicans on Sunday night.
The Nuggets (15-11) have won five games this season after trailing by double digits in the fourth quarter. They were down 17 in this one, late in the third frame. But Jokic finally came alive late, and Murray punctuated his 27-point, eight-rebound game with another clutch shot, on one leg with eight seconds remaining to force overtime.
Closing lineup change
Michael Malone learned from last time. On Thursday in Portland, the Trail Blazers took a timeout to set up their last shot after Jokic tied it with 15 seconds to go. Denver’s lineup for the defensive possession: Murray, Westbrook, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Jokic. The result: Anfernee Simons blew by Westbrook and a notable lack of help defense for a layup at the buzzer.
With eight seconds to go in New Orleans, Murray’s 20-footer deadlocked the Nuggets and Pelicans at 119. Timeout, New Orleans.
Denver’s lineup for the defensive possession: Westbrook, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Gordon and Jokic.
Porter had already been excised from the closing lineup after a poor performance at both ends. But Malone made room for both Watson and Braun by trading out Murray as well — in no way an indictment on the star guard’s play, but rather a sensible deployment of two impressive young perimeter defenders. Braun and Watson joined forces, with vital help from Westbrook, to get C.J. McCollum into a tough shot at the buzzer.
Malone stuck with Westbrook and Braun in overtime, while Porter remained on the bench. Braun played just shy of 39 minutes (the second-most on the team). Murray also contributed three steals, including a crucial one in the last minute of overtime.
Jokic largely to blame this time
There’s a valid school of thought that to depend on Jokic too much is dangerous for the long-term prosperity of the Nuggets. That too many minutes, too many touches and too many stats in December are cause for wariness, not celebration.
Even if that interpretation is accurate, there’s a baseline standard of aggressiveness for any team’s best player that Jokic didn’t come close to meeting on Sunday.
Especially against the centers New Orleans was throwing at him.
Until it was almost too late.
Jokic finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, after not imposing himself on Yves Missi and Daniel Theis in a way that should’ve seemed obvious for most of the night. He missed a couple of chances at the rim in a scoreless first quarter. Then in the second and third combined, only two of his seven field goal attempts were inside of 10 feet. The other five were all jumpers from 13 or more feet out. He only attempted five free throws.
At the defensive end — where Jokic is intuitive and often impactful, despite the general perception of him — he was a major part of the problem as the Pelicans won the paint 14-6 in the third quarter. They stretched their lead to 91-74 at the 1:32 mark, blowing by perimeter players and never feeling Jokic’s presence at the level of screens or near the rim.
As appropriate as it was that Denver found its spark without him, Jokic still turned out to be essential to the completion of the comeback. Once he committed to posting up, it was a one-sided game. He put up seven points in a two-minute stretch as Denver took the lead, then he added six easy points to get the Pelicans on their heels at the beginning of overtime.
Getting back on defense
The Nuggets had no excuse for appearing fatigued in New Orleans after their recent schedule, which included only three games in the last 13 days. But running the floor after live-ball changes of possession continued to be a bewildering topic.
They entered the game averaging 18.2 fast-break points allowed, the fourth-worst number in the NBA. They allowed 15 to the Pelicans by halftime. It wasn’t all turnovers this time, though Denver did commit 22 throughout the night. Players got caught in-between on 50-50 balls. Porter had an opportunity to rebound his own missed 3-pointer at one point in the second quarter, but as the long rebound bounced toward him, he turned and half-heartedly made his way toward the defensive end instead. An opponent seized the ball and sprinted past him for a layup.
The Pelicans finished the night with 23 transition points and a 56% clip from 2-point range. The Nuggets might have escaped with another win, but their flaws aren’t going away.
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Denver, CO
Denver visits Eaglestaff and North Dakota
![Denver visits Eaglestaff and North Dakota Denver visits Eaglestaff and North Dakota](https://s.yimg.com/cv/apiv2/social/images/yahoo_default_logo-1200x1200.png)
Denver Pioneers (8-18, 2-9 Summit League) at North Dakota Fightin’ Hawks (9-17, 3-8 Summit League)
Grand Forks, North Dakota; Thursday, 8 p.m. EST
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fightin’ Hawks -8.5; over/under is 152.5
BOTTOM LINE: North Dakota takes on Denver after Treysen Eaglestaff scored 24 points in North Dakota’s 80-69 loss to the UMKC Kangaroos.
The Fightin’ Hawks are 6-5 on their home court. North Dakota ranks second in the Summit League in rebounding with 34.7 rebounds. Amar Kuljuhovic paces the Fightin’ Hawks with 6.8 boards.
The Pioneers are 2-9 in conference games. Denver is 2-12 against opponents with a winning record.
North Dakota averages 77.5 points per game, 1.9 fewer points than the 79.4 Denver gives up. Denver averages 7.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 fewer made shots on average than the 8.9 per game North Dakota gives up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Eaglestaff averages 2.4 made 3-pointers per game for the Fightin’ Hawks, scoring 18.3 points while shooting 34.1% from beyond the arc. Mier Panoam is shooting 52.0% and averaging 16.7 points over the past 10 games.
DeAndre Craig is scoring 13.5 points per game and averaging 3.7 rebounds for the Pioneers. Sebastian Akins is averaging 11.2 points and 1.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Fightin’ Hawks: 3-7, averaging 80.4 points, 31.1 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 5.7 steals and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.6 points per game.
Pioneers: 2-8, averaging 69.1 points, 26.7 rebounds, 11.0 assists, 5.5 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.8 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Denver, CO
Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets: Game preview, prediction, time, TV channel
The Portland Trail Blazers, when healthy, don’t match up well with the Denver Nuggets.
On Monday, the Blazers lost 146-117 at Denver while playing without Robert Williams III and Jerami Grant. Both are questionable for Wednesday night’s rematch.
Scoot Henderson (ankle) and Deandre Ayton (calf) are out.
Should all four miss the game, the Blazers would have virtually zero chance to win.
Denver destroyed the Blazers in virtually every statistical category on Monday. Losing Ayton and Henderson dramatically impacts the team’s ability to score in the paint, where the Nuggets held an 88-46 advantage in the first game.
The Blazers’ best shot to win would be to get hot from three-point range. Anfernee Simons, Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe have the ability to do so, but it’s unlikely all three will get going enough on the same night to give Denver much trouble.
Prediction: The Nuggets could take the Blazers lightly, resulting in a relatively close game, if they put forth a better overall effort than they did on Monday.
But it would be reasonable for the Blazers to be cautious and not play Grant or Williams, with this being the final game before the All-Star break.
If just one sits out, along with Henderson and Ayton, the Blazers will absolutely leave Denver with another loss.
• • •
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS AT DENVER NUGGETS
What: Trail Blazers (23-31) at Nuggets (35-19), 6 p.m., Wednesday.
Where: Ball Arena, Denver.
Radio: Rip City Radio (KPOJ 620 AM).
TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Xfinity: 302 and 1170. DirecTV: 688-1. KUNP (Antenna: 47.1. Xfinity: 16, 302, 1170. DirecTV: 47. Spectrum: 184).
How to Watch: Rip City TV Network. If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with the help of an HDTV antenna on your local ABC affiliate (Charge 2.2 in Portland). These antennas are very easy to install and cost around $20. You can purchase one at your local Bi-Mart or Fred Meyer, or buy one online at Walmart or from Amazon and have it shipped quickly to your home. Here are some instructions on how to set up an HDTV antenna on your television or other display. You can find out more about which channel Rip City TV Network is on in your area by using the channel finder here.
• • •
ODDS (Oregon Lottery/DraftKings)
Moneyline: POR +295 | DEN -375
Spread: POR +8.5 | Over/Under: 233
INJURIES
Blazers: Robert Williams III (right knee soreness), Jerami Grant (right knee soreness) and Kris Murray (left quad contusion) are questionable. Deandre Ayton (left calf strain), Scoot Henderson (right ankle sprain) and Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain) are out.
Nuggets: Jamal Murray (left knee inflammation) and Aaron Gordon (right calf injury management) are probable. Michael Porter Jr. (left hamstring tightness) is questionable. Russell Westbrook (left hamstring strain), Peyton Watson (right knee sprain). Vlatko Cancar and (left knee surgery), DaRon Holmes (right Achilles tendon repair) are out.
NEXT UP
All-Star break. The Blazers host the Los Angeles Lakers at 7 p.m. Feb. 20.
— Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)
Denver, CO
Broncos Reacts Survey: Should Denver try to trade for Deebo Samuel?
![Broncos Reacts Survey: Should Denver try to trade for Deebo Samuel? Broncos Reacts Survey: Should Denver try to trade for Deebo Samuel?](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-wy-LZ0YW6gGUKlksvUapHukqe4=/871x322:3713x1810/fit-in/1200x630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25869675/usa_today_25088219.jpg)
The San Francisco 49ers have decided to put wide receiver Deebo Samuel on the trade block. He joined Los Angeles Rams standout Cooper Kupp as two veteran wide receivers now on the market. For the Denver Broncos, I think of the two only Samuel could make sense and that’s where our SB Nation Reacts survey is going this week.
Denver is among teams listed as best destinations for Deebo. With Courtland Sutton turning 30 this year, Deebo Samuel isn’t that far behind having just turned 29. Sutton is also entering the final year of his contract. Deebo could be a short-term rental that could enhance the weapons available to Bo Nix next season.
The only question is compensation. Here’s the hypothetical: if the compensation lands in a range that you think is in the value range, should the Broncos pull the trigger on a trade? Vote below and I’ll share the results later this week!
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Denver Broncos fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
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