Nuggets once again allow an easy win to get tough in the final quarter

Michael Malone will take the win over the visiting 76ers on Tuesday, of course, but the Nuggets’ head coach was none too happy about the way his team finished it. Denver allowed a 17-point lead after three periods to dwindle down to six points before Denver finished things off.

“To get the win is terrific. But I’m getting tired of watching us build big leads, play the right way, and then just for some reason, relax, come up for air, and allow that game to become a lot more interesting than it should’ve,” a visibly irritated Malone explained after the game. “We have to somehow develop a killer instinct.”

Despite the Nuggets’ 104-95 win over the 76ers — the Eastern Conference leaders — Denver knew that MVP candidate Joel Embiid would miss the game with injury, and that would make the matchup more favorable. Too favorable, according to fellow MVP candidate Nikola Jokic.

“We didn’t have focus to finish the game,” Jokic said. “We thought it was gonna be easy.”

It was easy for most of the game, as the Nuggets shot 55 percent from the field on their way to a 68-45 lead. Then came the second half; Denver has struggled through third periods all season long, and the Nuggets were outscored 50-36 the rest of the way.

Fortunately, the Nuggets’ rapidly evolving offense was up to the task on Tuesday, but as Malone explained, for a team that has its eyes on more than just a playoff berth, they’d be wise to keep them focused on what they need to do in every quarter of every game going forward.

***

NEXT UP: Nuggets (29-18) at Clippers (32-17) | Thursday, Apr. 1 at 8:00 p.m. | TV: TNT

***

TEAM NOTES

• The Nuggets’ fearsome new foursome of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and newly acquired Aaron Gordon looked in sync once again, with alley-oops, dunks and long passes flying all around Ball Arena. The quartet shot 34-for-58 (.586) on the night, racking up 84 of the Nuggets’ 104 points on the night.

• In their last 15 games, the Nuggets are tied for the NBA’s best record at 12-3 (.800).

• With local healthcare workers and first responders in attendance for Tuesday’s win, the Nuggets heard something that they hadn’t in a year: hometown cheers. And they missed them. “It’s amazing to have fans back; the energy they bring,” Jamal Murray said. “Before, when there was no one in the arena, I swear to you guys, it’s just like a practice.” The Nuggets will be allowed to have roughly 4,500 fans attend games going forward as the city and county of Denver eases some of its COVID-19 restrictions.

***

PLAYER NOTES

• Michael Porter Jr. continued his scorching play on Tuesday, scoring 27 points on another efficient, 11-for-16 (.688) shooting night that included 5-for-7 from three. Porter, who led the team in rebounds with 12 and also handed out a season-high four assists, averaged 20.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in March while shooting 59.4 percent from the field and 53.2 percent from beyond the arc.

• Aaron Gordon may have only scored six points on Tuesday night, but it was his defense on Philly’s Ben Simmons that stood out. Simmons was limited to only 11 points, three assists and two rebounds on the night as Gordon harassed him up and down the court.

• Jamal Murray led the Nuggets in scoring with 30 points and three steals. It was his ninth game this season with 30 or more points — including a season-high 50 points against Cleveland in February — and the 11th time this season that’s he’s led the team in points. The Nuggets are now 6-5 in those games.

• Monte Morris is getting closer to a return after missing more than two weeks with a leg injury, but when he does — likely next week — head coach Michael Malone won’t push him. “Right now, we’re playing fairly well, 11-3 in our last 14 games,” Malone told The Denver Post. “In all likelihood, initially, probably bring him in off the bench and get him back acclimated to playing at a high level for us.” When Morris was starting, the Nuggets were also playing very well, but given the need for a reliable ball handler off the bench, it’s possible that Morris could remain in that role.

***

THE FINAL WORD

“The fact that we are inviting front-line workers is a tremendous gesture. These frontline workers have been doing (extraordinary work) on a daily basis to help fight COVID and all the damage it has inflected upon us as a city, a state, a country and all across the world.” — Head coach Michael Malone, on the Nuggets’ fans in attendance for Tuesday’s win.

***

INJURY WATCH

• Greg Whittington (knee) last played on Mar. 15 and is considered week-to-week.
• Monte Morris (quadriceps) missed the Mar. 13 game and is considered day-to-day.

***

ROTATION (MINUTES)

Starters:
G Jamal Murray (38)
F-G Will Barton (33)
F Michael Porter Jr. (36)
F Aaron Gordon (25)
C Nikola Jokic (34)

Bench:
G Facundo Campazzo (25)
G-F P.J. Dozier (20)
F Paul Millsap (15)
F JaMychal Green (14)
F Bol Bol (DNP-CD)
F Vlatko Cancar (DNP-CD)
G-F Gary Clark (DNP-CD)
G Markus Howard (DNP-CD)
C JaVale McGee (DNP-CD)
F Zeke Nnaji (DNP-CD)

Related

Shedeur Sanders won’t be the Week 1 starter for the BrownsBroncos star CB Pat Surtain II again voted a top-10 player in the NFLThe illusion that the Nuggets are a contender won’t survive the playoffsESPN gives Nuggets solid grade for DeMar DeRozan signingRockies lose ninth-straight at home, conclude 0-6 homestandJoe Sakic ‘confident’ Avs will reach deal with Cale Makar, ‘not really worried about it’