The Denver Nuggets outscored the New Orleans Pelicans by 25 points in the second half, winning 144-119 in blowout fashion.

Michael Porter Jr. led the charge with 39 efficient points, a fantastic all-around game that saw Porter tie his career-high in points. This was a game after Porter set a new season-high with 36 points on Monday night against these same Pelicans. Maybe he just really likes playing New Orleans?

“We know what Michael gives up from an offensive lens, the shooting, the efficiency,” Michael Malone shared postgame about Porter’s all-around efforts. “Obviously, two games in a row where he’s just put up amazing numbers and doing so in an efficient manner.”

“It’s just great to see him playing at such a high level.”

Porter had 39, but he didn’t just score. He also had 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals, shooting 16-of-23 from the field and 5-of-9 from three. Porter attempted just two free throws all evening, so this game was effectively straight buckets from him. The Nuggets attempted (halfheartedly) to get him a career high in the final minutes, but a missed three led to the starters exiting with about two minutes left to go.

“I just think I came into the game with a good approach these last couple games,” Porter shared postgame. “I got going on the glass…just trying to be active on the glass, active in transition, and those points started to pile up a little bit.”

In addition to Porter’s night, Nikola Jokic had another impressive outing with 38 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists. Jokic was extremely aggressive from behind the three-point line tonight, shooting 5-of-13 from distance. At one point, he was 2-of-9, then he made three of the next four from the perimeter and effectively closed the door on the Pelicans in the fourth quarter.

“I was open,” Jokic shared on why he may have been more aggressive tonight than usual from distance. “I thought like four more at least should have gone in. I just felt good, [the ball] coming out of my hands, so I just kept shooting.”

It’s rare for Jokic to miss the triple-double because of rebounds, but that was because the Nuggets rebounded extremely well as a team. They won the battle on the boards 51-38, and with Porter logging 12 and Christian Braun logging nine in the starting unit, there just weren’t as many rebounds to go around for Jokic as usual.

The aforementioned Braun had 23 points and three steals to go with his nine boards. he was dynamic in transition as usual, and he made several plays on the defensive end to force turnovers in the second half. The Nuggets only forced 11 as a team, but eight came in the second half with Braun being in the mix for several. He was the primary defender on Trey Murphy, and though the Pelicans wing still got 25 points and nine assists, it was a far cry from the 41-point outing he had on Monday night.

Aaron Gordon didn’t score efficiently at the outset but turned in 12 assists to compensate, setting the table for teammates over and over again. Jamal Murray was perfectly comfortable setting up teammates as well. He had just 10 points and six assists but took just seven shots and got off the ball frequently, allowing others to operate the offense. It was an unselfish move.

Overall, the Nuggets have now won four in a row. It’s an incredibly easy strength of schedule they’ve faced lately (injured 76ers, Charlotte, New Orleans twice) but they’ve taken care of business and gotten back on track.

Trade Deadline chaos

Around the NBA, the trade deadline has gone pretty crazy. Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Zach LaVine, and De’Aaron Fox have already been moved. Jimmy Butler and Brandon Ingram trades were leaked tonight. Other role players are constantly getting shuffled. Kevin Durant and others could still be moved.

This trade deadline has been the most outrageous that I can remember, and the Western Conference continues to get better as a result.

Asked if he believes the Nuggets have enough to accomplish their championship goals this season, Malone deferred a bit.

“It’s been so hard to tell this year, because how often have we been fully healthy? How many games has Aaron Gordon missed? Then he gets back and now Peyton [Watson’s] out, and then [Russell Westbrook] is out. So, it’s hard to really know who we are.”

“I like how we’re playing. We’ve shown we can compete with and beat anybody in this league as currently constructed, and obviously, [Calvin Booth] I’m sure is taking and making whatever calls he has to make.”

It’s interesting that Malone didn’t outright say that he thinks the Nuggets are good enough. Perhaps he would if asked more directly. Perhaps he also believes that there are some holes the Nuggets can fill on the edges of their roster.

On Monday, when Jokic was asked a similar question about if the Nuggets have enough to compete for a title, the answer was simple:

“Yes.”

So, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the trade deadline unfolds. At this point, my expectation is that the Nuggets will explore cost cutting moves to get under the first luxury tax apron and go get Bruce Brown on a buyout. If that plan doesn’t seem viable, expect the Nuggets to still look at cost cutting moves and upgrades on the edges of the bench heading into tomorrow.

Whatever happens tomorrow, expect some strong reactions either way.

Final Rotations