The Nuggets found a formula for success in their Game 4 victory
Apr 25, 2022, 6:00 AM
The Nuggets are still alive. They forced a fifth game in the best-of-seven series with the Warriors, avoiding the sweep with a 126-121 victory on Sunday afternoon.
But are they back in it? Or did they simply delay the inevitable?
Most observers will choose the latter option. Almost everyone will pick Golden State to close things out in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Few will give Denver much of a chance to extend the series.
There is a formula for doing that, however. There is a way to do more than settle for the gentlemen’s sweep.
The Nuggets found the recipe in Game 4. And it’s something that will translate to the road.
It’s not Monte Morris pouring in 24 points again. The point guard was great, especially in the third quarter when he hit five three-points, but that’s going to be difficult to duplicate.
It’s not Bones Hyland chipping in 15 off the bench. The rookie was sensational, particularly in the first half when he hit a three-pointer on three-straight possessions, but that’s going to be tough to do again.
And it’s not Aaron Gordon adding 21 points. The power forward was terrific, getting to the free throw 13 times and only needing 11 field goal attempts, but he might not get the same whistle on the road.
It’d be great if all three matched those performances. But that’ll be tough.
What they can do, however, is match the mentality they brought to the floor on Sunday. That was the key to Game 4. It’ll also be the key in Game 5.
From the outset, Gordon was aggressive. He got into a shoving match with Draymond Green in the opening moments of the game, showing that he wasn’t going to back down from the Warriors instigator.
Hyland was fearless. He was pulling up for threes, taking the ball to the basket and making things happen. He played like a scorer, not just a shooter, which made him tough for Golden State to guard.
And Morris played with swagger. While he was setting an NBA playoff record for three-pointers in a quarter, he was staring down the Warriors bench, talking trash to a group that loves to celebrate every time they splash one from downtown.
But it wasn’t just them. Three other Nuggets stood out in the victory.
Nikola Jokic was sensational. The MVP frontrunner finished with 37 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
But that’s to be expected. The performance of two of his teammates was not.
DeMarcus Cousins had 10 very effective minutes off the bench. The backup center poured in 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out two assists. He also brought some toughness to the floor.
Much like Gordon early in the game, Boogie getting into an altercation with Draymond Green was pivotal. He didn’t back down from the bully, something that the Nuggets have been doing far too much in the series.
Cousins needs to play more. He should get some of the 30 minutes that the Greens (Jeff and JaMychal) combined to play in Game 4. He and Jokic can be on the floor together.
Austin Rivers was perhaps the biggest hero on Sunday, however. His stat line wasn’t great – just three points, three assists and zero rebounds – but anyone who watched the game knows that he was a pivotal player in the win.
He had five steals on the day, none bigger than the one he recorded in the final minute with the Nuggets clinging to a two-point lead. That’s because he was tenacious on the defensive end during all 36 of his minutes.
Steph Curry finished with 33 points, but Rivers made him earn them. The Warriors superstar shot just 10-of-23 from the field, in large part due to the constant harassment from the Nuggets backup point guard.
What do these performances all have in common? They were about being aggressive. They were about being physical.
No team plays a prettier brand of basketball than Golden State. Denver has no chance beating them in a game that unfolds that way.
But if they’re willing to get down in the mud, make things messy and play a little ugly, the Nuggets can hang with the Warriors. Even on the road.
A few hard fouls, like the one Morris delivered on Draymond in the second half, are in order. Some in-your-face staredowns would be ideal. Heck, even a couple technical fouls wouldn’t hurt.
Denver doesn’t have to be dirty, but they have to be right on the edge. They have to live just short of that line.
Outside of Draymond, the Warriors don’t have anyone who likes to get physical. They have a bunch of shooters who like to fire up threes. Make them do it while enduring few blows.
Curry needs to hit the floor. Klay Thompson should feel a hard foul or two. And Jordan Poole once again has to deal with Gordon bodying him up from the opening tap.
There’s only one thing the Nuggets do better than the Warriors. They can be more physical.
They dialed it up on Sunday and got a W. It’s time to turn it up even more on Wednesday.
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