NUGGETS START SLOW, BLAST CAVALIERS 11091
Nuggets improve to 71; 197677 team started season 80
The Nuggets didn’t have close to their full arsenal working, but against a sputtering team like the Cavaliers, it didn’t matter.
With Thursday night’s 11091 victory over Cleveland, the Nuggets improved to 71 — their best start since 197677, when they began that season 80.
“It doesn’t mean a whole lot to me, to be very honest,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I’m not trying to be coy. The minute we start thinking we’ve done something is when we’re going to set ourselves up for failure.”
The Cavs momentarily held the lead early, but the Nuggets’ biggest obstacle was overcoming tired legs and a lack of energy. Wednesday’s overtime thriller in Chicago zapped them of much bounce.
“Wherever we go, whether it’s on the second night of a backtoback (set), regardless of the environment you’re playing in, we have to bring our own energy,” Malone said. “But that’s what good teams do, whether it’s in a packed house against the world champions or whether it’s a team that is going through what Cleveland is going through right now with the coaching change and the distractions.”
Heading into Quicken Loans Arena, the Nuggets had the NBA’s secondlowest 3point rate at 29 percent. But the rims began to thaw, and they finished 10of26 from deep, including five 3pointers from
reserve Juan Hernangomez.
“I just try to do my job,” Hernangomez said. “Try to help the team with energy.”
Paul Millsap, who hit the gamewinner on Wednesday night, finished with 16 points on six of nine shooting.
The backtoback afforded Malone a chance to lean heavily on his bench, specifically Hernangomez, who was the only rotation player who didn’t see action against the Bulls. On Thursday, he infused their offense with movement and their defense with hustle. He finished with a gamehigh 23 points in 29 minutes. The Nuggets’ bench outscored the Cavs’ 5944, and owned a 4435 edge overall on the boards.
“If he doesn’t play, he’s the guy on the bench that’s rooting for everybody,” Millsap said of Hernangomez. “For him to get in the game, not playing last night, and contribute says a lot.”
As Malone likes to say, especially in games where the Nuggets are more talented, “it’s about us” and not outside circumstances.
The Cavs are a team in turmoil. Larry Drew took over after Cleveland fired former coach Ty Lue, who began the season 06. Drew, serving as the acting coach, is still searching for contract clarity and security. Meanwhile, veteran J.R. Smith, a key player in the Cavs’ 2016 NBA title, told reporters he wanted to be traded on Thursday. It’s the latest sobering transition following four years of feasting with LeBron James.
As a team on the ascent facing a team in disarray, it was a game the Nuggets couldn’t afford to lose.
But the Nuggets looked lifeless and rudderless in the first quarter, falling behind 2715 on poor shot selection and ball protection. Their six turnovers underscored a team searching for its offensive rhythm. Too many se quences resulted in late shotclock situations, which was a result of little offensive movement or harmony.
The Nuggets’ second unit spearheaded the comeback effort in the second quarter and quickly erased the deficit. Hernangomez brought his usual energy off the bench and drained three secondquarter 3pointers to help the Nuggets crawl out of their shooting slump. Gary Harris (14 points) and Jamal Murray (10 points) attacked the lane with their typical assertiveness to shake their early lull.
The Nuggets outscored the Cavs 3515 in the second quarter, building a 5042 halftime lead. Though their offense found a semblance of identity, their defense was noticeably more active as well. There were better defensive rotations and more active hands as the Nuggets converted six turnovers into 10 easy points.