The Denver Nuggets are now 5-1 after a 116-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday evening. New Orleans went into the game dinged up as they were without point guard Elfrid Payton or All-Star big Anthony Davis, but that did not stop the Pelicans from competing and fighting to stay in the game without two of their best players.
Monday was a game of runs and Denver outlasted the Pelicans fourth quarter surge. With that I give you the good, the bad, and the ugly from Denver’s very close win.
The Good – Harris closes Pelicans out
The game ball goes to Gary Harris as his play — particularly down the stretch — was the difference and a key reason why Denver won the game. With the game in the balance, due to a huge run in the fourth quarter by the Pelicans, in came Harris and he changed the outcome of the game not only with his offense, but his defense as well.
Gary came through with some huge plays late! https://t.co/dA4Ra3xl5W
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 30, 2018
Harris finished with 23 points, six assists, and six rebounds while making his biggest impact down the stretch. He recorded two steals which all led to crucial Denver baskets to close the door on New Orleans’ late-game run to try and spoil things on the road in the Pepsi Center. In the past few games with Will Barton out due to injury, it has been Harris that has led the way for the Nuggets. He has been Denver’s most consistent player and his play received high praises from his head coach.
“He comes up with a few key strips, deflections, steals, and loose balls,” Malone said before speaking on what has stood out for his shooting guard. “His confidence — he is a gamer and obviously he is our key two-way player.”
Harris is off to a career year. Through six games he is at 20 points, 3.8 assists and rebounds on the year and is also shooting 50 percent from the field. He has stepped up as a leader and, on Monday night, he was a big part of the reason as to why Denver won the game.
The Bad – Another Bad Start
With the Pelicans playing without Davis and Payton, it was expected that Denver would use this game to fine-tune their offense while also playing solid team defense and continuing their strong play to start the season.
What they got was a dog fight.
Denver started out the game with signs of last year’s team. The Nuggets were turning the ball over and could not get much going on the offensive end due to them not playing with energy. The Nuggets shot 7-18 from the field including going 3-10 from beyond the arc and trailed 24-20 after the first quarter. Denver got things going and turned things around at the half as they went into the half with a 58-45 lead. At the half Denver shot 47 percent from the field and started playing with more energy thanks in part to the second unit play of Trey Lyles, Malik Beasley and Monte Morris. Denver got out and ran the floor and showed up on the defensive end as well. While Denver got out to a very slow start in the first quarter, the second quarter was different. The Nuggets scored 38 points in the quarter and ended on a 22-9 run.
Luckily for Denver the Pelicans were without two of their best players and the Nuggets were able to overcome their slow start, but it is an area of concern that Malone has addressed several times if they plan on being a playoff team.
The Ugly – Not a good ending
“It’s a win. Obviously being 5-1 and winning NBA games is hard. I don’t care who’s in or who’s out,” Malone started his post-game presser with right before getting into the statistics. “We will definitely take the win but also understand that there is a lot to clean up offensively, defensively, all those things. You’re up 18 points in the third quarter and we just lose our mind.”
Monday’s contest was a game of runs. Denver started slow, but turned it around with a huge second quarter. That made things comfortable for the Nuggets in the third quarter, but the team almost lost it all in the fourth.
With only 5:20 left in the game, Denver was up by only two points due to New Orleans going on a 7-0 run before Harris had to save the day with late game defensive heroics. The Nuggets largest lead in the game was 18 points, but similar to last season, Denver allowed a team to stick around and almost come away with the win. Denver will truly have to find ways to execute and finish games off. The way that the Nuggets start and end games is an area of concern that Malone spoke about after the win.
“When you’re up 18, it is a game of runs,” Malone said. “I understand that, but make them have to make plays. Don’t allow them to get back in the game because of our mistakes.”
Denver found a way to win the game which shows their maturation as a team. Monday’s game is a game that they would have lost a season ago. As the Nuggets know all too well, losing winnable games early in the season could be the difference in ending their postseason drought or missing the playoffs again. Luckily for Denver, there are two golden opportunities this week when they hit the road on a two-game road trip to face off against the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. Those are two winnable games that Denver will be favored in. It is up to them to put together a complete game and possibly improve to 7-1 to start the season.