Nuggets Topple Thunder, 119-101
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 119-101, at Pepsi Center on Tuesday night.
The Nuggets (7-7) came into the contest looking to get back to an elusive .500 mark, but an upstart Thunder (6-7) team stood in their way. Denver looked like it was headed for a wire-to-wire battle early, as both teams played to a 31-31 tie through the first 12 minutes. However, the hosts changed the dynamic during the middle quarters, building a 13-point lead by halftime and extending that advantage to 23 going into the final period. The comfortable edge, combined with a sizable 58-41 rebounding advantage, was enough for a lopsided win.
Luguentz Dort paced the Thunder with 20 points, complementing them with five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 14 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one block. Darius Bazley supplied 12 points, two rebounds and two blocks. Isaiah Roby compiled 10 points, nine boards, three assists and four steals.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included six assists, one steal and one block. Monte Morris finished with 15 points, five assists and four rebounds. Paul Millsap and Will Barton produced matching 13-point tallies, with Millsap adding 12 rebounds and Barton dishing out six assists. Gary Harris and P.J. Dozier poured in 11 points each, and JaMychal Green tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block.
The Thunder remains on the road and tangles with the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, while the Nuggets visits the Phoenix Suns on Friday night as well.
The Nuggets (7-7) came into the contest looking to get back to an elusive .500 mark, but an upstart Thunder (6-7) team stood in their way. Denver looked like it was headed for a wire-to-wire battle early, as both teams played to a 31-31 tie through the first 12 minutes. However, the hosts changed the dynamic during the middle quarters, building a 13-point lead by halftime and extending that advantage to 23 going into the final period. The comfortable edge, combined with a sizable 58-41 rebounding advantage, was enough for a lopsided win.
Luguentz Dort paced the Thunder with 20 points, complementing them with five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 14 points, seven assists, five rebounds and one block. Darius Bazley supplied 12 points, two rebounds and two blocks. Isaiah Roby compiled 10 points, nine boards, three assists and four steals.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with a 27-point, 12-rebound double-double that also included six assists, one steal and one block. Monte Morris finished with 15 points, five assists and four rebounds. Paul Millsap and Will Barton produced matching 13-point tallies, with Millsap adding 12 rebounds and Barton dishing out six assists. Gary Harris and P.J. Dozier poured in 11 points each, and JaMychal Green tallied 10 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one block.
The Thunder remains on the road and tangles with the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, while the Nuggets visits the Phoenix Suns on Friday night as well.
Jazz Notch Sixth Straight Win
By Dan Bruno
The Utah Jazz defeated the visiting New Orleans Pelicans, 118-102, at Vivint Arena on Tuesday evening.
The Jazz got out to a good start at home as they held a five-point lead after one quarter. The Pelicans kept it close through the second, but the Jazz closed the quarter on a, 9-2, run to take a six-point lead into halftime. The Jazz carried the momentum into the third quarter, where they outscored the visitors, 36-20, to take a 22-point lead into the final frame. They pushed their lead to 25, early in the quarter, and while the Pelicans put up a fight, the Jazz stayed in control to earn their sixth straight win.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists, in 33 minutes. Rudy Gobert had a good game, with 13 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 18 points, six rebounds and six assists, off the bench. The Jazz shot 51 percent from the field, including 21-of-47 from long range.
Meanwhile, Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 32 points on 14-of-19 shooting, in 35 minutes. Brandon Ingram was the only other player to score in double digits, as he added 17 points on 8-of-18 shooting, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker totaled nine points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, in 30 minutes of action. The Pelicans shot 45 percent from the field, including 6-of-26 from deep.
The Pelicans (5-8) and Jazz (10-4) will face off again in Utah on Thursday.
The Jazz got out to a good start at home as they held a five-point lead after one quarter. The Pelicans kept it close through the second, but the Jazz closed the quarter on a, 9-2, run to take a six-point lead into halftime. The Jazz carried the momentum into the third quarter, where they outscored the visitors, 36-20, to take a 22-point lead into the final frame. They pushed their lead to 25, early in the quarter, and while the Pelicans put up a fight, the Jazz stayed in control to earn their sixth straight win.
Donovan Mitchell led the Jazz with 28 points, seven rebounds and four assists, in 33 minutes. Rudy Gobert had a good game, with 13 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks, while Jordan Clarkson chipped in 18 points, six rebounds and six assists, off the bench. The Jazz shot 51 percent from the field, including 21-of-47 from long range.
Meanwhile, Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 32 points on 14-of-19 shooting, in 35 minutes. Brandon Ingram was the only other player to score in double digits, as he added 17 points on 8-of-18 shooting, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker totaled nine points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, in 30 minutes of action. The Pelicans shot 45 percent from the field, including 6-of-26 from deep.
The Pelicans (5-8) and Jazz (10-4) will face off again in Utah on Thursday.