NUGGETS OUTLAST DEFENDING CHAMPS

Nuggets are for real, folks

What in the name of Dikembe Mutombo is going on here? Not only are the Nuggets 30, they’ve held all three victims under 100 points. We haven’t seen defense like this since Denver’s home arena was known as the House of Mutombo.

These Nuggets are for real, folks. Their arrival as a team to be respected in the Western Conference was announced loudly Sunday night, with Juancho Hernangomez’s big, bad block at the rim in the final seconds of a 10098 victory against the Golden State Warriors.

In the Denver locker room, I asked Hernangomez, born in Spain 23 years ago, if he remembered Mutombo.

“Do I remember Dikembe? Of course,” replied Hernangomez, breaking immediately into a convincing imitation of the fingerwagging Mutombo by bellowing: “No, no, no!”

Nothing is given in the NBA. This was nothing more than Game 3 of a long season. But maybe it was important, because the Nuggets have been victorious in four of their most recent six meetings against Golden State. In this league, respect is hard won.

Prior to tipoff, I asked Nuggets coach Mike Malone: Does Nikola Jokic get the same respect on the court as Steph Curry and Kevin Durant?

“Right now, no,” Malone replied. “Why? The Warriors have banners and rings to back up their greatness.”

Malone recalls Durant saying Jokic is among his favorite players to watch.

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post Denver’s Juancho Hernangomez, back, blocks the attempted gametying layup by Golden State’s Damian Jones at the final buzzer Sunday night at the Pepsi Center.