MIAMI — If Denver residents are jealous of their NBA workforce for a superbly timed journey to South Florida, fear not: The Nuggets and Warmth have been simply as chilly in Miami as everyone seems to be about to be in snowy Colorado.
In one other NBA Finals rematch outlined by stout protection and low capturing percentages, solely the unlikeliest supply may present a decisive warmth verify second: backup level guard Reggie Jackson, whose seven consecutive factors in a 75-second span handed Denver a 94-84 lead in what turned out to be a 100-88 win Wednesday evening at Kaseya Heart. Nikola Jokic tallied solely 12 factors — however his workforce has received all seven video games this season on events when Jokic is energetic however scores fewer than 15.
“It’s vital. You’ve gotta win video games when Nikola doesn’t rating 40,” Christian Braun instructed The Denver Submit. “There’s not many instances when he doesn’t try this, however in these video games, we’ve guys who can step up.”
With their tenth win in 11 video games because the All-Star break, the Nuggets (46-20) moved previous Oklahoma Metropolis and into first place alone within the Western Convention with 16 regular-season video games to go.
“It was nice to us final 12 months,” coach Michael Malone mentioned of the potential No. 1 seed, which Denver now controls with no tie for the primary time since Nov. 16. “For Jamal (Murray) to solely play 31 minutes tonight, solely, that’s nice. For KCP to solely play 24 minutes tonight, that’s nice. Someway, someway, I’ve gotta get Nikola’s minutes down, however that’s in all probability not gonna occur till the season’s over.”
Michael Porter Jr. led the best way with 25 factors on 9-of-16 capturing — he’s averaging greater than 20 per recreation because the break — however bench function gamers saved Denver this time when it mattered most. Jokic was in a position to keep on the bench till the 6:29 mark of the fourth quarter because of a powerful stint from the second unit, which featured Aaron Gordon on the 5 and Justin Vacation serving to Jamal Murray within the backcourt moderately than Jackson.
Braun scored seven factors throughout that stretch, together with a nook 3-pointer and a contested floater that he celebrated with the “too small” gesture. A robust Peyton Watson dunk compelled an Erik Spoelstra timeout as Jokic and firm ready to verify again in. Then Braun handed the baton to Jackson, whose rotations not too long ago have corresponded extra with Jokic’s to keep away from lineups with each Jackson and Murray.
After Jackson buried three consecutive jumpers, the Nuggets by no means relinquished a double-digit lead within the final three minutes. That they had trailed 71-67 late within the third quarter.
“Everyone is aware of that Reggie has been struggling to make pictures, by no means for an absence of effort,” Malone mentioned. “The man is within the health club on a regular basis.”
Denver used an early 15-0 run to construct a 13-point lead that it narrowly held onto the rest of the primary half, even after Miami answered with its personal 12-2 punch. The Finals rematch then settled into one other rock battle, just like the one two weeks in the past when the Nuggets prevailed 103-97.
Jumpers weren’t falling, regardless of a very good pregame omen. A Nuggets participant improvement coach exclaimed that “it’s gonna be a very good evening” after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope drilled a catch-and-shoot nook 3-pointer to complete his warm-up routine. Not fairly. The three-and-D guard needed to rely extra on his protection, producing two simple dunks for himself off steals whereas capturing 1 of 5 from three.
Murray’s 14 factors required 14 pictures. Denver was 33% from three. Miami was 24%. Scoring got here simple for no person besides Porter, and even he cooled off a bit after an ideal first half past the arc. Jimmy Butler was contained to fifteen factors on 16 makes an attempt with Gordon mirroring his minutes. Bam Adebayo had 9 factors within the third quarter because the Warmth rallied for a short lead, however he amassed solely eight factors within the different three quarters mixed.
“Your fourth quarter’s gotta be your finest quarter; it’s closing time,” Malone mentioned. “… When the sport is hanging within the steadiness, we’ve nice confidence that we will get well timed stops, well timed rebounds.”
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