First quarter:
The Nuggets came out as if they were in the fourth game of a six-day trip, without power and turning the ball. Zeke Nnaji finally opened the scoring for Denver with a three point jump. The Hawks started out cold too, going 2/8 to start the game. About 3 minutes later, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. started exchanging baskets and the ring seemed to get bigger for both teams. Hawks took the first half at 6:58 from the end of the quarter; Nuggets took 12-9.
Out of time, the pace started to accelerate and both teams struggled to stop. Finally, Michael Porter Jr. of all people stopped the bleeding with a beautiful weak lateral block in Trae Young’s layup attempt; this led to a transition three for Will Barton. The next possession was a quick steal from Denver leading to an MPJ layup that saw the Nuggets’ advantage grow to 7.
Substitutions began to enter the field and in the first few minutes of rotation, Bol Bol immediately hit an easy tray with a simple cut in the basket and sweet from Campazzo. A few minutes later, he also hit a corner three. Jokić struggled to score throughout the quarter and this continued when he finally made it to the free throw line, missing the first and scoring the second. Atlanta caused most of the damage to the hoop, and if more of its jumpers start to fall, they can recover the lead quickly. For now, the Nuggets take 33-27 to finish the first.
Second bedroom:
Our old friend Danilo Gallinari hit a three from a late defensive rotation on the Hawks’ first ball possession and Malone gave an angry timeout of 16 seconds in the fourth. The bank started giving up the rest of the leadership when Atlanta started the quarter with a 10-0 streak.
The Nuggets’ offense turned into a lot of standing still, as we often see when Jokić leaves the court. The Hawks started to run a defense zone and Denver couldn’t find out. On the defensive end, 52% of three-point shooter Tony Snell was repeatedly left open on the three-point line and predictably made Denver call.
Then Monte Morris got hot and scored six straight to put the Nuggets back in 2. Jokic came back, but remained in shape from the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Hawks were reaching the basket at will and went on an 8-0 run to go up 51-47 again.
Jamal hit a tough three, but the Hawks’ race continued to a point where he had the biggest advantage of the game with 10 points. This prolonged 21-9 run seemed to be largely fueled by tired legs and lazy maneuvering by the Nuggets. The Hawks outnumbered them on both ends. Denver scored the last bucket of the range and went to the 56-64 range.
Third quarter:
Trae Young must still be excited about the technique that was called up at the end of time because it went up in flames. The Nuggets started well halfway, but as soon as Trae really started, Atlanta started to build that advantage. Nikola did not recover from his drop at halftime and dropped to 3/12 on the field. No one else came close to take some of Nikola’s scoring load, so the Hawks won 17. Timeout Nuggets with 4:37 left in the room.
The Hawks continued to pull Denver out of pick and roll, dribbling penetration and Trae Young’s heroism. Their lead skyrocketed to 23 before Campazzo three and Hampton dunk set off a 5-0 mini run to Denver. The deficit was reduced to 17 at the end of a difficult second consecutive quarter. 93-76 Hawks.
It will take tremendous effort to return to this game and you have to ask yourself if the fatigue of the trip can be overcome. Maybe Jokic was just saving his marks for the final quarter.
Fourth trimester:
The jumpers were still missing to start the quarter, but Denver’s aggressiveness and energy at least increased at both ends. This did not yield any immediate results, as they bet too much on defense and Atlanta made them pay. Even so, you had the feeling that the Nuggets would not allow the lack of effort in the fourth game to be the reason for the defeat. Three behind Jamal and Monte and the advantage was reduced to 13, Hawks’ time limit.
When we got back, the two teams started exchanging baskets and the Nuggets were unable to increase their run. With 4:07 left in the game, the Hawks were now 15 years old and time was starting to run out with the Nuggets’ hopes of returning.
With just under two minutes left, Facundo hit a pair of three to take the deficit to 8 with a chance of the miraculous. However, that was the best result that the Nuggets got, as they put a few more points, but failed to force the turnaround. Instead, they sent Atlanta players to the free throw line, where they put Denver out.
In the end, Denver dug a hole too deep in the second and third quarters to get out of it. Trae Young’s 35 points and 15 assists and Clint Capela’s defense and the ultra-efficient 22 points and 10 rebounds led the Hawks to overtake the Nuggets in a somewhat competitive game. The Nuggets have no major contributors and have every right to be tired, but a team of the caliber of Atlanta is still vulnerable enough to be defeated.