Hawks ousted by duplicitous Nuggets

If Cam Johnson is Denver’s most active player at the start of the match, he perfectly symbolizes the performance Nuggets in the first minutes: interesting in defense, tortured in attack. Nikola Jokic misses all 3-pointers, even with big margins, while the Hawks are cocky behind the arc. The first quarter was then one-sided (41-23), and it didn’t really change in the second quarter. Especially with a Live and hot, cheerful Krejci, who scored three prize baskets in five minutes.

Jaylen Johnson plays conductor, grabbing rebounds and setting the pace to find his teammates. Nickeil Alexander-Walker takes advantage in transition or on 3-pointers, and everything is easy for Atlanta, which leads by twenty points. The Nuggets are very soft, even if a few small steals show that they are not completely surrendering. But these 24 minutes were clearly dominated by the home team (73-54).

Decisive 20-0

When we came back from the locker room, it wasn’t the same Denver team anymore. In 90 seconds, Nikola Jokić and his teammates show a different face and add 10-2. Which in four minutes turns into 19-4. The Hawks, after a minute without a basket, turn to Zachary Rizacher, but the three-time MVP of the Nuggets puts pressure on the Frenchman and his group (103-94). The game is not the same anymore. Neither are the 2023 NBA champions.

They unraveled in the final act, game-winning baskets by Cam Johnson and Jamal Murray, which made the tie possible. In the process, Jonas Valanciunas dunks, Murray hits mid-range with a foul. It happens and, without Jokić, David Adelman’s troops score 20-0! The main thing is done, we have to manage now. Nickeil Alexander-Walker he finds the target twice on 3-pointers, but “Joker” makes three baskets which gives some air. Jamal Murray shines in defense, with a stolen ball, then a counter on “NAV” in the last seconds, to confirm the success of Denver (133-134).

WHAT TO REMEMBER

– Denver’s reaction. Tired, not too worried? The Nuggets were next in the first half. It was slow, sluggish and nothing seemed to work, with eight turnovers and 23% 3-point success. Then in the second half we saw again the offensive machine that works so well. 12/20 on 3-pointers after the break and the feeling of the waves breaking, the baskets coming in all the time. Champion reaction, even if we have to underline the strength of the Hawks, who did not sink mentally in front of this and played their card until the last seconds.

– Nikola Jokić was no longer the same player. The Serb missed his first act. His three-point attempts were too short, and even then, when they hit the circle… Then he was more aggressive in the third quarter, with 19 points on 7/7 shooting. The three-time MVP added another layer in the final quarter with 11 points. The calculation is simple: 30 points (with 84% shooting success) in the second period, a total of 40, with 9 rebounds and 8 assists.

– Huge game by Jaylen Johnson. The Hawks winger had another very big game. The driving force behind the Hawks offense when everything was going well in the first half, he returned to the locker room with a triple-double, the first in franchise history: 11 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. He will finish with 21 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists. He has never bid so much in a match before and only defeat can spoil his performance.

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How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.