Nuggets 11th consecutive home win
Denver Nuggets another good game pulled out last night, guard Monte Morris passes from the floor against the Los Angeles Clippers during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in Denver.
The last time Nikola Jokic faced the Clippers, his emotions got the best of him and his frustration spiraled into an ejection. Jokic got his revenge on Thursday night.
Jokic dictated the pace with his fifth triple-double of the season, and the Nuggets throttled the Clippers 121-100 for their 11th consecutive win at the Pepsi Center. His 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists drew another chorus of MVP chants as the first-place Nuggets improved to 28-12 on the season.
The Clippers were led by 19 points from Lou Williams, but the Nuggets’ defense was vastly improved and held Los Angeles to just 43 percent from the field. Unlike in their last meeting, the Nuggets matched the Clippers’ physicality and pounded them on the glass 53-38 while winning the battle in the paint, 66-50.
Jokic seized control of the game in the third quarter as the Nuggets pulled away. He feasted around the rim with nine points, snatched nine rebounds, and provided the highlight of the night with a seamless assist to Jamal Murray to give the Nuggets a comfortable 73-60 lead. Jokic hauled in a missed 3-pointer from Clippers guard Avery Bradley, wheeled and rocketed a fullcourt, one-handed heave that hit Murray in stride for an easy dunk.
With Gary Harris missing his second consecutive game due to hamstring tightness, the Nuggets got significant contributions from nearly all areas.
Mason Plumlee had a season-high 17, Malik Beasley buried 15 points and Monte Morris chipped in 14.
Thursday marked the return of Danilo Gallinari, playing in his first game back in Denver since he was dealt in a sign-and-trade to the Clippers two summers ago. His first season with the Clippers was largely lost to various injuries, but he’s in the midst of a career year this season with averages of 19.5 points and 6.2 rebounds. An All-Star selection isn’t out of the question as he ranks fifth in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage at 44 percent and is second in free throw percentage at 92 percent.
“Whatever the fans have for me, hopefully it will be love,” Gallinari said. “Hopefully they had good memories about me.”
Gallinari was welcomed back with a warm reception during player introductions and proceeded to blitz the Nuggets from the 3-point line in the first half.
“I think the biggest thing for Gallo, he’s having a hell of a year, is that he’s healthy,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “That’s always been the question. Can Gallo stay healthy? … I root for him. I root for guys that were here and helped me as a young head coach kind of get this thing off and running.”
Though he’s a borderline All-Star in the loaded Western Conference, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said that’s not what drives him.
“Gallo wants to play basketball, go home and watch golf,” Rivers said. “And then some day hopefully he can learn how to play golf. That’s what he really wants to do. He loves basketball, but he’s never wanted the fanfare with it. That’s unique in this world.”
Malone seemed like he opened old wounds when discussing their last meeting against the Clippers, an embarrassing 132-111 pounding on Dec. 22.
“They had their way with us,” Malone said. “They were more physical, they pushed us around. They were laughing and joking at our expense. Have to have a hit first mentality tonight. We’ve done a really good job on the season of being a very good rebounding team.”
The Nuggets built a 16-point lead only to see it dwindle as the second quarter wore on. They stopped making the extra pass on offense and got lackadaisical on defense as the Clippers reeled off an 18-7 run before the Nuggets salvaged the half. Murray led all scorers with 14 and was one of four Nuggets players in double figures along with Beasley, Plumlee and Torrey Craig.
The Nuggets had 50 points with 7:56 left in the second quarter, which was fueled by blistering outside shooting and strong bench play.
Craig, in particular, has been a revelation from the 3-point line on top of his stout defense. Over the past month he’s shot 37 percent from 3-point range after connecting at just an 18 percent clip through early December.
