Denver, CO
Recap: The Denver Nuggets overcome a 23-point deficit, drop the Atlanta Hawks 134-133 – Denver Stiffs
The Denver Nuggets looked terrible early, falling behind by as many as 23 points before rallying with an 80-point second half to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 134-133. Nikola Jokic was terrible in the first half, going 2-for-13 from the field but rallied to put up 40 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists on 50% shooting. Jamal Murray was clutch, leading much of a 20-0 rally with Jokic on the bench in the fourth quarter and putting up 23 points with 12 assists and 5 boards. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown combined for 30 points, and Cam Johnson had 16 as Denver put just enough on the scoreboard to get the win.
For the Hawks, Jalen Johnson had a triple-double in the first half and finished with a monster 21 point / 18 rebound / 16 assist night, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker let the team with 30 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 25 in 20 minutes. Even with 15 points on 5 threes from Vit Krejci, the Hawks just couldn’t stop Denver in the second half as the Nuggets paid back Atlanta’s hot first-half shooting with a half of their own and completed the third-largest comeback in Nuggets history.
Game Flow
Dyson Daniels opened the scoring at the rim for Atlanta and Onyeka Okongwu buried a triple, while Cam Johnson missed a pair of jumpers for Denver. Denver’s defense forced a 24-second violation and Jokic finished at the rim, then Cam got a steal and transition layup. Jokic got a rebound on a missed Cam three and turned it into a Peyton Watson dunk, but Atlanta hit a pair of threes in response. Jamal answered with one of his own, then traded layups with Nickeil Alexander-Walker and it was 13-11 Atlanta early. The Hawks added a pair of rim finishes to their early three point shooting and Denver had to regroup with a timeout. Jamal made a Jokic-assisted layup but Zaccharie Risacher had a layup of his own. Atlanta hit two more threes, on absolute fire from the field, while Nikola Jokic made a hot but missed three others. The Nuggets took another timeout down 29-15 to try to get it right on both ends. Tim Hardaway Jr. finally made Denver’s second deep shot of the night (against 6 early misses so far), but Vit Krejci hit yet another 3 for the Hawks. Atlanta went 16-for-21 in the first quarter, blowing the doors off while Denver went 10-for-28. Jokic had his shot blocked in the final seconds by Kristaps Porzingis and Denver trailed 41-23 at the end of a dismal quarter,
Hardaway made three free throws for Denver but Krejci had another deep make for Atlanta. Zeke Nnaji had a paint bucket, Krejci made another 3, and Bruce Brown answered with a transition finish. Okongwu and Jonas Valanciunas exchanged layups, Brown got a layup for Denver and Jalen Johnson traded buckets with Big Val. But unfortunately Krejci and NAW both made threes for the Hawks to put Atlanta up 21 at 57-38. Denver had a couple of bad turnovers under the basket, but Peyton Watson got a nice cut and finished a Jokic pass. Walker scored right back on them though as Denver just didn’t have the hustle or the shot-making to get close. Jamal got a steal then immediately turned it back over to give Atlanta a 23 point lead. Jokic was ice cold from everywhere, going 2-for-13 in the half and 0-for-6 from deep, and that caused big problems for the Nuggets. Spencer Jones had a paint finish, Watson hit a 3, and Jokic got himself to the line at least to make some from the charity stripe. At halftime Denver still trailed 73-54 though.
Jokic started the third quarter scoring inside which was nice to see, getting his third bucket of the game on a drive. The teams exchanged free throws, then Jokic finished a traditional 3-point play and Cam Johnson hit a 3 and the lead was cut to 11 after a 10-2 Denver run. The Nuggets came out of a Hawks timeout with a full court press, but Jalen Johnson got to the line anyway. Jokic had a great roll to the basket for a finish, then in transition Murray finished to cut it to single digits. Jamal buried an open three, Cam had a transition dunk and it was a 17-22 run and the Hawks lead was down to 77-73 just over 3 minutes into the 3rd. Jokic had another nice paint finish but Risacher had a couple of good buckets sandwiching a Watson dunk. Spencer Jones made free throws, Jalen Johnson had an Atlanta bucket, and Jokic traded paint buckets with Risacher. Jokic finally made a three-pointer for 14 points in the quarter so far, Jones hit a long two, but Daniels made a pair of buckets at the rim to keep Atlanta’s lead at 5. Jokic and Porzingis traded jumpers, then Jokic went at Porzingis to get to the line. Kristaps made a three, Watson airballed a floater, but both teams looked a little tired after that surge and exchanged missed and turnovers for a bit. Luke Kennard made a pair of free throws, Tim Hardaway Jr hit a Jokic-assisted three, but Vit Krejci answered with one in the final seconds to put Atlanta up 103-94 after 3.
Hardaway and Mouhamed Gueye traded threes to open the 4th. Cam Johnson added one of his own for Denver, but then missed a pullup the next time down. Jamal Murray and Cam Johnson hit two more threes to tie the game at 106 and force a timeout. Denver’s defense kept being stout early in the quarter as Big Val had a one-handed driving dunk and Jamal made a 15-foot pullup after a Hawks turnover and hit his free throw to boot. Bruce Brown hit a 3 to push the lead to 8, then THJ buried another on a 20-0 run for Denver. Porzingis finally stopped the run with a 3 of his own, but Cam hit another Denver three. NAW finished a layup through contact as Jokic came back in up 8 at 120-112. Murray buried a 3 off a Jokic handoff, but then both Watson and Jokic missed threes. Porzingis made free throws, Jokic finished at the rim and Porzingis came back at him from deep as did NAW to cut it to 5. Jokic banked in a shot over Kristaps, Jalen Johnson finished a drive down the lane then got a steal and finish on a bad Murray pass, but Jokic came right back with a reverse layup. NAW buried a 3 to cut it to a two-point deficit for Atlanta, Jokic hit another paint bucket, and Jalen Johnson hit a 16-footer to bring it back to just a one-bucket game with under a minute to go. Cam Johnson missed a 3, Kristaps turned the ball over as Jamal Murray got the steal and it led to two made Jokic free throws. Walker made a pair of free throws for Atlanta to cut it back to 2. The final possession had a near-Denver steal, a block by Jamal on Walker, NAW takes the 2 and Jokic got it to Jamal to run the clock out and rip this victory away 134-133 over Atlanta.
Final Thoughts
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. The first half was as ugly as anything Denver had put together all year. Jalen Johnson had a triple-double at halftime, as Denver provided no resistance whatsoever. The Hawks shot 59% from the field in the first half, 54% from three. Vit Krejci was 4-of-5 from deep in the first 2 frames. If you’re going to give up career-best shooting numbers from everywhere on the court you are going to lose – most nights.
But this was not most nights. Jamal Murray had 12 assists in the second half, made four huge threes in the game and finished with three great defensive plays on the final possession for Atlanta alone, then finished by getting open for the long Jokic pass to ice it. Nikola Jokic put up 30 second half points, and dominated that second half with vision and aggression. Jokic said after the game that this team never gives up, and you could see from the first possession out of the break that they were more serious. This team has to find ways to be serious on defense, to get the stops that allow their offense to flourish. It wasn’t a great defensive showing even after halftime, with Denver still giving up 30 points in both the third and fourth quarters. Their offense was otherworldy though, and they got enough stops in flurries in the second half to create two big runs, one at the beginning of each quarter, that let the offense pay off. Trading blows doesn’t create momentum. Finding those stops was crucial.
Coach David Adelman said at halftime they essentially only talked about how they had 3 total fouls in the first half, which was a symptom of not playing hard enough on defense. “We have to have these defensive segments where we flip the game,” he said in the post-game presser, and that’s really what this all-world offense needs. The Nuggets don’t have the personnel and depth right now to consistently get stops throughout the game without Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. But enough defense from either the bench or the starters can really jumpstart the offensive pieces, which they DO have. Jamal and Jokic were terrific as expected, but Cam Johnson took some nice Murray feeds and finished the play. Hardaway and Brown used the screens and got their scores. It’s not about getting every stop, it’s about getting the right stops and then taking advantage. Denver stopped turning the ball over in the second half (only 4 in the final two frames) and that combined with their defensive stints forced the difference and led to the giant comeback.
The heart of a champion still beats inside that Denver uniform – now they just need to harness that realization at home instead of just on the road. With a couple more road games still to go, though, hopefully the road winning streak can continue the rest of the week!
The Fourth of July weekend is one of the biggest celebrations of the summer, and Denver is delivering a packed lineup of events for every kind of adventurer. Whether you’re looking to watch fireworks light up the Colorado sky, catch a live concert at Red Rocks, enjoy rooftop parties, indulge in seasonal food and drinks or explore the city’s thriving arts and culture scene, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate Independence Day.
Here’s your guide to the best music, food, fireworks, nightlife, arts, and cultural events happening across Denver this Fourth of July weekend.
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Read: Best Rooftops to Watch 4th of July Fireworks + Sip Cocktails in Denver
Read: The Ultimate 4th of July Outdoor Colorado Music Guide
FASHION EVENTS
Denver Fashion Week Fall 2026 Second Model Auditions
Where: TBA
Cost: $10+
The Lowdown:
Following overwhelming demand from aspiring models across Colorado, Denver Fashion Week (DFW) has announced a second round of model auditions for its upcoming Fall/Winter 2026 runway season.
MUSIC EVENTS
Read: The Ultimate 4th of July Outdoor Colorado Music Guide
Gillian Grogan and EMMA ROSE
Where: Skylark Lounge – 140 S. Broadway
Cost: $18+
The Lowdown:
Zeds Dead with Sippy, Baauer, Holly, HYDRAULIX & LUMBERJVCK
Where: Red Rocks Amphitheatre – 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Cost: $205+
The Lowdown:
Flobots
Where: Levitt Pavilion Denver – 1380 W Florida Ave
Cost: $0+
The Lowdown:
Don Toliver with SahBabii, SoFaygo, Chase B
Where: Ball Arena – 1000 Chopper Cir
Cost: $105+
The Lowdown:
FOOD EVENTS
Read: Best Rooftops to Watch 4th of July Fireworks + Sip Cocktails in Denver
Dumpling Love: Dim Sum Party
Where: Stir Cooking School Highlands – 3215 Zuni St.
Cost: $120 per person
The Lowdown:
Join the dumpling party and learn how to make pork bao buns, shrimp shumai, pan-fried gyoza, and crab cheese rangoons. All classes include a full bar with beer, wine, and house-curated cocktails for purchase.
Stars, Stripes, and Deck Nights
Where: Woodie Fisher Kitchen & Bar – 1999 Chestnut Pl.
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Celebrate America’s 250th with our festive Bomb Pop Drinks, featuring real Bomb Pops and High Noon buckets!
4th of July Rooftop Fiesta at Cimera
Where: The Source Hotel – 3330 Brighton Blvd.
Cost: $60+
The Lowdown:
The experience is an open rooftop gathering featuring live-fire cooking, craft cocktails, and skyline views throughout the evening. Guests will enjoy Peruvian street skewers, duck & chorizo paella, and ceviche prepared live on-site.
Farmers Market Central Park
Where: Central Park – 29th Ave & Roslyn
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Local vendors provide Colorado-grown produce, tasty baked goods, specialty meats, gourmet food items and more!
LIFESTYLE EVENTS
Mystic Magnolias; A Southern Gothic Cabaret
Where: Colorado Sake Co – 3559 Larimer St
Cost: $25+
The Lowdown:
Saunter yourself out to The Mystic Magnolias, a Burlesque AND Drag Show with chilling charm and dripping in Southern Gothic atmosphere.
America 250 | Colorado 150 Drone Show presented by Visit Denver
Where: DPAC/Denver Performing Arts Complex – 1400 Curtis St.
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Following Sunset Cinema’s showing of National Treasure on July 3rd at Sculpture Park, stay to enjoy the 4th of July Drone Show! This special event will be brought to you by Visit Denver, celebrating American 250 | Colorado 150, including an appearance by Mayor Mike Johnston.
Beat The Bomb Summer Mission: America250 Edition
Where: Beat The Bomb – 3863 Steele St, Unit 1273
Cost: $39+
The Lowdown:
Beat The Bomb announces the limited-time-only Summer Mission: America250 Edition – celebrating America’s 250th with five new games, a collectible beach towel, and a red, white, and blue Paint Blast!
Independence Day Concert with Denver Municipal Band (Cheesman Park)
Where: Cheesman Park – 1900 E. 11th Ave.
Cost: Free
The Lowdown:
Price:Free
Join the Denver Municipal Band’s Concert Band for an Independence Day concert at Cheesman Park Pavilion with special guest Denver District 10 City Councilmember Chris Hinds narrating Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait.
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Whether you’re dancing at a concert, enjoying a garden dinner, cheering on your favorite soccer team or exploring a new exhibition, Denver offers plenty of ways to fill your 4th of July weekend calendar. Gather your friends, support local businesses, and discover something new around the city.
After an extended wait of no activity from the Denver Nuggets in this year’s free agency period, the team has finally made its first new signing.
That signing just so happens to be the No. 2 pick from the 2018 NBA Draft, Marvin Bagley III.
According to ESPN‘s Shams Charania, the Nuggets and Bagley have agreed to a one-year, veteran minimum deal for the 2026-27 season, effectively providing some solid depth in the frontcourt.
Free agent center Marvin Bagley III has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. A critical frontcourt addition for the Nuggets. pic.twitter.com/enHBVxgfYl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 2, 2026
With Denver’s first free agency signing now officially in the books, here’s what the move to bring in Bagley might mean for the Nuggets moving forward into free agency and this offseason, as well as entering next season.
Marvin Bagley Brings Frontcourt Depth to Denver’s Lineup
Bagley split his time between the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks this past season to put together one of his better years of production in recent memory.
In the 60 combined games he played, Watson averaged 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while shooting a career-high 61.8% from the field and 46.2% from three on a little less than one attempt per game.
Bagley’s a big who’s game centers more around his offensive skillset. He spent most of his time shooting last season at the rim or in the mid-range, shooting a stout 64.1% on two-pointers last season that can bring a bit of an interior presence into Denver’s frontcourt.
Defensively, he leaves a little bit more to be desired. And he’s still not quite the most impressive three-point shooter, even coming off his most efficient season from deep.
But for the cost of a veteran minimum contract, he acts as a nice budget-friendly addition who can shoulder some of the load offensively, and has shown value as an offensive rebounder as well. It’s tough to find much better for the price Denver’s paying.
While entering the league slotted in primarily as a power forward, it’s been in the past few seasons that Bagley’s settled in more as a full-time five; having spent 95% of his minutes during the 2025-26 campaign playing at the five.
That might give you a bit of a hint as to how the Nuggets plan to use him this next season, though they might also have some stretches where he’s placed alongside Nikola Jokic at the four for a bit of a larger frontcourt lineup.
The Writing’s On the Wall for Jonas Valanciunas
Looking at what Bagley’s addition might mean for the Nuggets’ current roster, no one in the picture gets more impacted by Jonas Valanciunas.
Valanciunas was Denver’s primary backup behind Jokic at the five last season following his trade from the Sacramento Kings, and entered this offseason with an uncertain future because of his contract situation.
The veteran big man has an expiring $10 million contract heading into the 2026-27 season, but one that’s not fully guaranteed, giving the Nuggets the opportunity to release him and save $8 million, while incurring a dead cap hit of $2 million that can be stretched over multiple years.
Such a move can give the Nuggets further cap flexibility that they’ll need this offseason to re-sign key pieces like Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, which to this point haven’t been done, but becomes a bit easier now that Denver can take that next step in pivoting off of Valanciunas.
Perhaps Denver might also look deeper into a trade involving Zeke Nnaji, now that they’ve got a cheaper option in Bagley that might even sit ahead of him on the initial depth chart. However, it remains to be seen if the Nuggets have any takers on the two years remaining on his contract. To this point, they haven’t found anyone to bite.
When factoring in Valanciunas and Nnaji though, Bagley’s addition now brings the Nuggets to a total of 10 players signed onto traditional contracts for the 2026-27 season.
That leaves them with four open spots left to utilize in the days and weeks ahead. How they decide to use that space remains to be seen, but at the very least, the Nuggets’ long-awaited first offseason signing has now officially come to light.
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See social media react to LeBron James leaving the Lakers
After eight seasons in Los Angeles, LeBron James will return for his 24th season, but not with the Lakers.
The King and the Joker together?
Is it possible that LeBron James could join the Denver Nuggets?
The 41-year-old James plans to play in 2026-27 for his 24th NBA season, but he’s informed the Lakers it will be with another team.
It seems like the Nuggets may be at least somewhat interested in pairing James with star Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets have reached out to James, the Denver Post reported on July 1.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN said he has “long believed” the Nuggets could be an “outlier” team in part because of James’ admiration for Jokic.
The Nuggets recruited James when he was a free agent in 2018 before he signed with the Lakers.
LeBron James next team betting odds
Where do the sports books think James is going? Sports betting company DraftKings Sports does not have the Nuggets high on the list.
There are 10 teams that DraftKings believes are most likely to land James in free agency after he turned down the Lakers.
DraftKings believes James will choose to sign with one of the following teams at some point this summer: Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers.
DraftKings Sports odds: LeBron James landing spots
Here are the full odds for the top 10 landing spots this free agency period for James, a four-time champion, Finals MVP and league MVP:
- Golden State Warriors: -250
- Cleveland Cavaliers: +170
- Miami Heat: +800
- San Antonio Spurs: +3000
- Detroit Pistons: +3000
- Dallas Mavericks: +3000
- Milwaukee Bucks: +4000
- Brooklyn Nets: +4000
- Washington Wizards: +5000
- Philadelphia 76ers: +5000
Sports reporter Kevin Lytle can be found on social media on X, Instagram and Threads @Kevin_Lytle and on Bluesky.
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