- 6 months ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Yesterday, the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat were battling for the NBA title.
00:05In the end, the Mile High crew raised the championship trophy
00:09and celebrated like it was 1999.
00:14Tonight, these two teams, hoping to get back to the mountaintop, meet once again.
00:20Denver, Miami, next on Altitude.
00:30Welcome to Miami, and welcome to Magic City, known for its vibrant culture.
00:47I'm just around the corner from the Kaseya Center, where the Denver Nuggets have their second stop of the seven-game road trip.
00:52They're facing a Miami Heat team that is well-hot.
00:56120 points per game, playing at the fastest pace in the entire NBA.
01:01However, no team has been better at beating the Heat than the Denver Nuggets.
01:05They have won 11 straight.
01:07So for more on tonight's matchup, let's go inside the arena now.
01:10Here's from Chris Marlowe.
01:10Scott Hayes.
01:13Well, thank you very much, Katie Winchie.
01:15One matchup, an individual one that we are totally looking forward to,
01:18the offensive genius that is Nikola Jokic, and the defensive guy, the tough guy, Bam Adebayo.
01:25How do you see that?
01:26Well, listen, Joker's kind of won that thing over the last handful of years.
01:30And if you go into the international stuff, he gives Bam everything he can handle when Serbia plays the United States.
01:38But listen, it's two guys both probably going to make the Hall of Fame.
01:42I think Bam's probably a Hall of Famer with all the stuff that he's done in his career.
01:46But listen, Joker's playing at a whole different level.
01:48Bam's going to beat you free throw line in.
01:51And I think when he's more aggressive, not only defensively on Joker, but also making Joker play a lot of defense,
01:58it's a better matchup for Bam.
01:59But listen, he gives up a whole lot of size to the Joker.
02:03Yeah, he plays them one-on-one.
02:04I admire the courage there.
02:06Let's talk about the Denver Nuggets bench.
02:08Since the three starters went out, the defense has dipped.
02:11How do they get back on track?
02:12Well, to get the three starters back, that would really help.
02:15Yeah, but Katie said this on the plane flight over here.
02:18He said, listen, the problem is right now the bench's bench is playing, right?
02:22And it misses up all sorts of timing.
02:24It misses up rotations.
02:25David Adaman talked about in the last couple games about we've got to figure that out when these guys do come back.
02:30How are the rotations going to work?
02:32It's affected the chemistry with that second unit like it had all season long.
02:37All right, should be a good one.
02:39Offense versus defense, the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat.
02:43When we come back, take a look at Julian Strother.
02:46Came off the bench the other night, scored 13 points.
02:48Strother rounding into form.
02:50Stay tuned for that.
02:51Toyota tip-off is next.
02:56Denver Nuggets basketball on Altitude Sports is brought to you by the Colorado Honda Dealers.
03:01Visit your local Colorado Honda Dealers today.
03:03By Intermountain Health, helping people live the healthiest lives possible.
03:08By Red Hawk Roofing, tired of replacing your roof every couple of years?
03:13Get your roof for a lifetime from Red Hawk Roofing.
03:16And by Ball Corporation, reminding you to choose aluminum.
03:25Jokic, three games that have never been done before in NBA annals.
03:29The three games he's produced, the CP can make it four in a row.
03:33That's how good he's been.
03:34Meanwhile, the Nuggets bench unit is limited because the bench players are starting now.
03:39And that puts a lot of pressure, Bill Henson, Chris Dempsey, on guys like Julian Strother,
03:43who's coming off an injury.
03:44He scored the ball well against Orlando.
03:45Yeah, he do something, so he did.
03:47He scored it well, but he's got to be better defensible.
03:50This has to.
03:51Yeah, and I think for Julian, it's build on, you know, it's start with a good foundation
03:56and then build upon that, right?
03:58So, in this particular game, it was his scoring.
04:01He got downhill, he made some threes, he played with confidence.
04:04Okay, so now start at that point today and build from that,
04:08whether that's offensively or defensively or both.
04:11And so, I think for Julian, it was really big for him to have that performance.
04:15And to Hans' point, now you can stack these things on top of each other
04:18to have a better body of work.
04:20I don't know if it's just Miami, if they like South Beach,
04:23but the Denver Nuggets have won 11 straight against that team.
04:2611 straight, you're right, regular season games against the Miami Heat.
04:31Trying to make it an even dozen tonight in Miami.
04:35The Nuggets and Heat coming right up on Altitude Sports.
04:40We'll talk to you again at halftime.
04:42The Nuggets and Heat coming right up on Altitude Sports.
05:12Center jam-packed.
05:13They're expecting an overflow crowd.
05:16Getting ready for a marquee matchup in the NBA.
05:18The Denver Nuggets taking on the Miami Heat.
05:21Here are tonight's starting lineups presented by Intermountain Health.
05:25The Nuggets still shorthanded without Aaron Gordon, Christian Brown, and Cam Johnson.
05:30So, Jamal Murray with Tim Hardaway,
05:31Nikola Jokic with Peyton Watson,
05:33and the youngster Spencer Jones.
05:35Meanwhile, for Miami, they're without Tyler Hero.
05:40He's got a toe.
05:41Terry Rozier is on a definite lead.
05:43So, Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell are in the backcourt.
05:46Kalil Ware, Bam Adebayo, and Andrew Wiggins.
05:51David Adelman, he mentioned that missing three starters,
05:58he's able to make some adjustments.
06:00They're trying to find ways to win.
06:02But he said, right, just hold on.
06:05However you get a win right now, take the wins.
06:08So, the second game on the trip for the Denver Nuggets.
06:14Lost a heartbreaker the other night at Orlando,
06:17and there is Eric Spolstra, 18th NBA season,
06:21the longest active tenured head coach in the NBA.
06:25Got a couple of NBA titles.
06:2814 playoffs, Scott, in 17 seasons.
06:30So, he's doing something right.
06:32Doing something right.
06:33Pretty good, right?
06:34Came home for a road trip this year.
06:36His house burnt down.
06:37I mean, he's had a heck of a year.
06:39But this Miami Heat team is on fire right now.
06:42Pretty sure Spolstra, if I remember right,
06:44is going to be coach of the 2020 USA Men's Olympic Basketball Team.
06:49So, set and ready to go.
06:54Here at the Kaseya Center.
06:57Kalil Ware, the second-year man, will jump it up with Nikola Jokic.
07:03And Jokic has it.
07:04So, the Nuggets will have the ball to start the fourth quarter.
07:07Our officiating crew, Carl Lane, Jason Goble, and Daniel Scott.
07:13Turnovers going to be important tonight, not to have too many,
07:15because this is a run-and-gun, fast-paced Miami Heat team.
07:21Murray's going to take the first shot.
07:22No, it goes to Jokic.
07:23He'll shoot a three.
07:24Three is on the way.
07:25No good.
07:26And it's out-of-bounds.
07:27Last touch by Ware.
07:34So, the Nuggets, 22-9 overall.
07:38They're third in the West.
07:3912-4 on the road.
07:42And trying to even it up here.
07:44Pass is stolen.
07:46Looked like a jump shot or some kind of a shot was coming there.
07:50But Miami, the good hands people.
07:53And now that ball is lost.
07:55Nuggets have it.
07:55Same play on both ends.
07:58Now Murray stops and pops.
08:02Trying to keep it in bounds.
08:05Peyton had a shot at that.
08:06Miami Heat, number one in pace in the NBA.
08:14Jump shot over the top and it rolls home.
08:18Miami breaks first, 2-0.
08:23Miami playing real physical right now.
08:26Give it to Jokic.
08:27Jokic inside.
08:28Lay it up.
08:29No.
08:29But he'll draw a foul.
08:31You know, Nikola Jokic, who's made 34 of 36 free throws in the last two games.
08:38And he draws a foul on Adebayo saying, that wasn't me.
08:42I thought that was going to be on Ware unless Adebayo kind of reached down late.
08:46They gave it to Adebayo.
08:48He doesn't want it.
08:50You look at the 30-20-10 games in the last 50 years.
08:55Jokic against the rest of the world as he drops it in.
08:58Jokic's last three games, 119 points, 44 rebounds, 40 assists.
09:06First player in the history of the NBA with 110, 40, 40 in a three-game span.
09:11But somehow the Nuggets just went 1-2.
09:15So the Nuggets tie it up at 2.
09:19And here comes Miami, 17-15 overall.
09:23They're 7th in the East.
09:25Pretty good home record at 11-5.
09:27They've won two straight games at Atlanta.
09:30And then the Pacers crushed the Pacers the other night, 142-116.
09:36Now a long-range three is no good off the bat of Wiggins.
09:40And Murray's got it.
09:43Murray averaging 25 points per year.
09:46Now Hardaway got a good look.
09:48And he rattles out.
09:51Davion Mitchell at the point.
09:53That's a good shot for Bam.
09:59Usually he makes that.
10:00Jokic has the rebound.
10:01Jokic, the leading rebounder in the NBA.
10:03Also the leading assist man.
10:05And it's fumbled away by Watson.
10:07And dunked.
10:12And those are the kind of turnovers David Adler was talking about in the pre-game presser.
10:16It was unnecessary.
10:17He just kind of took his head off the easy pass.
10:20What's difficult.
10:22Now the handoff to Murray.
10:24Murray's got a good look.
10:25A little 15-footer is good.
10:27Well, Davion Mitchell, pretty good defensive player.
10:29Not sure he can stay with Jamal Murray.
10:33Now Adebayo against Peyton Watson.
10:36Adebayo's in the lane.
10:37He's missed a couple.
10:38Now he makes one.
10:39He just sees it in size.
10:40He's got Peyton on in there.
10:41And he just backed Peyton into the paint.
10:43Three-time all-star.
10:44Five-time all-defensive player.
10:46Bam Adebayo.
10:48So 6-4 Miami here in the early going.
10:51Dump it down to Watson.
10:52And Watson is fouled.
10:55Wiggins was there.
10:56His first.
10:59First habit of young guys.
11:01Peyton's still learning this position, right?
11:03Still young.
11:05Comes in there.
11:05They feel contact.
11:06The first thing they want to do.
11:08They've got the whistle.
11:09But they fade away.
11:10Go get the shot blocked nine out of ten times right there.
11:13You've given too much space to the defensive player.
11:15If he can slow down, especially when he hears that whistle,
11:18you've got to figure a way to kind of go up through the body.
11:22Make the defender pay for it and try to get an end one.
11:25Watson with the miss there.
11:26He's averaging career highs in minutes per game, points per game,
11:30rebounds, assists, field goal percentage, and free throw percentage.
11:34So he's up his numbers in all categories.
11:39This is his 20th start this season.
11:41He makes one of two.
11:43And the Heat on top, 6'5".
11:47And now answering back, Miami Heat.
11:52And that is Norman Powell, who came over in the Jimmy Butler trade.
11:57Now inside, a foul and a bucket.
12:02So Hardaway going to the cup.
12:08A little bit lucky he got to reach.
12:10And I think the ball fell, but look where his body goes.
12:12Just when I talk about Payton, see bodies going up and through towards the basket.
12:16But able to take the foul, maybe fortunate, but able to go in.
12:21And because you're kind of going forward, I really feel that that's a big thing.
12:25Now he has an end one.
12:26It's foul number two, Scott, on Wiggins, who is one of the better players for Miami.
12:32Hardaway makes the free throw.
12:35He's at 90.5%.
12:37Nuggets a very good free throw shooting team at 82.5%.
12:42Adebayo does not have three-point range.
12:46Powell does.
12:47He stops and pops and hits again.
12:49Well, he's got the confidence that he's never had, right?
12:52Well, Norman Powell has played well.
12:54He's shooting almost 40% from three.
12:57Now Murray's in the lane.
12:59Scoop it up.
13:00No.
13:01Kalil Ware with the rebound.
13:03That's a Mitchell.
13:04He's in a hurry.
13:05Mitchell put it up.
13:06No good.
13:08Off a foot.
13:09Diving for it is Spencer Jones.
13:11Trying to dig it out.
13:13Trying to hang on.
13:14Nuggets have a break.
13:15Jokic is out in front.
13:17Give it over to Hardaway.
13:18He fires a three.
13:20That's no good.
13:21And the Nuggets squander an opportunity there.
13:32And it's off.
13:33Adebayo out of bounds.
13:35So good pressure from the youngster Spencer Jones.
13:39He's gassed a little bit from diving on that floor.
13:41But you see the stoutness of Jones compared to others that are trying to defend Adebayo.
13:4710 or more in the last two games.
13:49His 18th start tonight.
13:51Now over Murray.
13:53Murray around the corner.
13:54Put it up.
13:55No.
13:56And we've got a late whistle.
13:58But I think a good one.
13:59And the push is called.
14:01They've had Mitchell picks up the personal.
14:07And they can say it was on the floor now too.
14:09Not only late.
14:10See a body right there.
14:11Bumped him.
14:12Lost it.
14:12So Mitchell's first foul.
14:1711-8 Miami.
14:18First quarter.
14:20Glad you're with us on altitude.
14:22Hardaway.
14:24Got a 17-footer.
14:25Bang.
14:26Tim Hardaway Jr.
14:28He's attempted to 10 or more threes in each of the last four games.
14:33He's never done that in five straight.
14:35Mitchell.
14:36Oh and Kalil Ware with the left-hand jam.
14:417-1 guy.
14:43Don't have a body on him.
14:46Now Jokic is in the lane.
14:47Floats it up and in.
14:49Miami's already committed four team fouls.
14:52And we're headed towards the seven-minute mark.
14:55That's a good note for the Denver Nuggets.
14:58Bam trying to get in the lane.
14:59They leave Powell open in the corner.
15:01That's no good.
15:02Miami comes up with a rebound.
15:04Powell puts it in.
15:06You fly at that shooter.
15:08And then you kind of vacate those guards when you're in a zone.
15:11They've got to come down a rebound from that low area.
15:16Now Jokic against Kalil Ware.
15:19Second-year man.
15:21Scoop it out.
15:22Hardaway.
15:24That's one he will normally make out of fire with a rebound.
15:29Long range.
15:33That's no good.
15:34You know the Nuggets are the highest scoring team in the league.
15:37It's just under 126.
15:40Miami is 17th in offense.
15:42Nice feed and Murray to the cut.
15:45Straight line cut after the pass in.
15:4715-14 now.
15:54And the ball poked out of bounds.
15:55Last touched by Denver.
15:57Oh, 6-17 to go first quarter.
16:02A little tight action.
16:03Nifty pass.
16:05Murray scores.
16:06Nuggets down by one.
16:07The Denver Nuggets trail by one early in Miami against the Heat.
16:10Nicole Jokic and Jamal Murray have eight of the 14 points so far for the Denver Nuggets.
16:15And they have been playing at a different level during the regular season than we've ever seen them play at together in their careers.
16:22David Allen before this game was talking about the efficiency and consistency that those two have started this season with.
16:29They're both averaging career highs in points and assists plus their three-point percentage.
16:34And get this.
16:34The top two assisters to points scored duos in the entire NBA.
16:38Number one, Murray to Jokic.
16:40Number two, Jokic to Murray.
16:43Guys, the synergy is elite.
16:44They've been playing together for about a decade now.
16:46Through all of the changes, Chris and Scott, Coach Adelman said the standard has always been Jokic and Murray.
16:51Yeah, you know something interesting, Katie, they're both very durable this season.
16:55Jokic has played in all 31, now 32, and Murray, 30 of 31 coming into this game.
17:03So when you have those two guys, you've always got a chance, no matter what.
17:08Chris Marlowe, Scott Hastings, you just heard from Katie Wenge.
17:17And the three-pointers off the mark.
17:18Jaime Jaquez has come on.
17:21He's one of the leading candidates for sixth man of the year.
17:25He's been playing very well, very aggressive, not a great outside shooter.
17:29But to the basket, outstanding.
17:31Now Watson off the screen and off to Murray.
17:37Murray shuffling.
17:39In the lane, floater, no good.
17:42Well, Pella Larson has come on.
17:44Murray got a hand on it.
17:46Now Jokic into the corner.
17:48Murray's got it somehow.
17:49Floated up.
17:50And the lob to Jokic is a beauty.
17:53Joker up high.
17:54You don't hear those words very often.
17:58Well, the Nuggets have the lead at 16-15.
18:01Look at the ball movement right there by Miami.
18:03Pella Larson, who can shoot it at 37% in his second NBA season.
18:11He's a glue guy.
18:12Just great ball movement, though, Miami.
18:14We want to work its own.
18:15You get that zone going left, right, left, right, center, back to the wing, and it's wide open.
18:20Now Jokic gets it back and has it stripped.
18:23It's two-on-one.
18:25Hawkins is on the rim, and Hawkins lays it in.
18:31Points off turnovers the last three games have been an issue.
18:3417 turnovers against Orlando cost them 27 points.
18:41Murray with the pump fake.
18:42Murray in the lane.
18:43Little floater drops at home.
18:45So there is what Katie Wenge was talking about, that nectar-like two-man game.
18:50Jokic and Murray.
18:51Now they're trying to run Jamal off that three-point line.
18:5420 to 18, our score.
18:56Here's Hawkins, and Hawkins puts it up and in.
19:00He's a third-year man from UCLA.
19:02Actually, teammates with Peyton Watson for a season out in Westwood.
19:08As you look at both teams getting into the paint early.
19:13Bounce pass, Watson.
19:15And Watson is hammered.
19:20They saw the fish, he didn't want to blow that.
19:23But he grabbed his arm.
19:26Miami going a little old school right now.
19:27Trying to tackle him on the offense.
19:29And defensively, they're going to make sure no one gets a layup.
19:33Bows on Powell.
19:36His first.
19:37And Peyton Watson back to the line.
19:40Look at the numbers for Peyton at the Magic.
19:47But you may know this stat.
19:49The Nuggets have not lost two games in a row all season long.
19:53They're the only team in the NBA who has.
19:55And as Spencer Jones goes out, David Adelman sending in Zeke Nagy to deal with the height and length of Miami.
20:05And David talked about that in the pre-game presser also that maybe they need to get a little bit more size in.
20:11Nagy has played sparingly in a couple of games.
20:14He's played well.
20:15Now, Hawkins is always in a hurry.
20:22Once again, Miami, number one in pace.
20:24They want to.
20:25And drawing the foul there and getting the bucket is Norman Powell.
20:29That's that kind of that play you talked about with the official before the game.
20:37If a guy leans in here, goes in to you.
20:41Peyton tried to slide to the side.
20:43Head fake.
20:44Got him up on his feet, though.
20:45He got up.
20:46See, but he jumped in.
20:48See, an angle.
20:49And it's so hard, isn't it, right?
20:51I mean, a guy head fakes it.
20:52He's like, well, just jump straight.
20:54Stay down.
20:54Well, you tend to go, well, you're telling a shot blocker to stay down.
20:58He's 6'8.
20:59Yeah.
21:00That's why he's got a 7'8 wingspan.
21:01That's why you always head fake shot block.
21:05Okay.
21:05Always.
21:07Oh, Miami leads by five.
21:10Now Jokic against Hawkins.
21:13Going to back him down.
21:14You betcha.
21:15He's triple-teamed now.
21:17Drop it off.
21:17Bruce Brown got the three.
21:20So Bruce Brown, who started off slowly from downtown,
21:24he's been shooting over 50% from three in the month of December.
21:29Nikola Jovic has come on.
21:34Now this is Smith from the corner, Drew Smith.
21:39So Larson, Powell, Hawkins, Jovic, and Smith.
21:43The five on the floor for Miami now.
21:45Smith's coming in and knocking threes down.
21:47Murray.
21:49Now Jokic is in the lane and came up empty.
21:57Powell, he checked.
22:00Off the mark.
22:01Murray's got it.
22:01He's always on that glass.
22:05Yes, he is.
22:06Yes, he is.
22:08In all-time parlance, he's a banger.
22:10Now Jokic back out to Murray.
22:13Jokic one-on-one against Jovic.
22:16Eight to shoot.
22:18Jokic double.
22:19Off to Murray.
22:19Four to shoot.
22:21Murray pulls the trigger.
22:22And a good defensive rebound.
22:26I think they're going small.
22:28Great job blocking out.
22:30Jovic got it in a foul.
22:32That's the third and one.
22:34The Dippers given up.
22:37That's on Zieg Nasi.
22:41Jovic, a Serbian who was actually born in the United Kingdom, where his dad, who was a Hooper, played.
22:48He'll beat the free-toe line when we come back.
22:49The Heat shooting 62% early in the Nuggets trail by seven.
22:55Time now to see who you can count on more.
22:58Brought to you by UMB Bank.
23:00Well, you know, Nikola Jokic is chasing this man, the big O, Oscar Robertson.
23:04He needs one triple-double to tie the big O.
23:07Look at some of the highlights from Jokic, from Robertson.
23:14Sweet jumpers all around, Scott.
23:17Yeah, kind of similar players.
23:18It was Joker doing it in a bigger body, but big O in his time was pretty large for a two-guard, wasn't he?
23:26You might recall, we've mentioned it a number of times on this broadcast, that the big O, the first man to average a triple-double.
23:34And the year he did, he didn't even win MVP.
23:37Wow.
23:38That was given to Bill Russell.
23:39That was also the year that Wilt scored 50 and averaged 25 rebounds.
23:43And he didn't get it either.
23:44Wow.
23:45Tough competition.
23:46So, I'm Chris Marlowe with Scott Hastings, Katie Winge.
23:51Oh, my goodness.
23:52I'm just trying to get it back in a foul.
23:58By ball control against this team, particularly, Scott, so important.
24:03Well, you get by the guy, but then you just kind of get nonchalant and just forget the guy's behind you.
24:09Denver's giving the Joker in with four bench guys.
24:18Jokic, put it up and in.
24:25You can't just bounce.
24:27Zignaji, deep into the paint, got him off of him, got that easy shot.
24:31It's too easy for Miami right now.
24:33Jokic played with Jokic on the Serbian Olympic team, which won bronze in Paris.
24:39Now, Jokic, three-pointer, round it out.
24:42Nuggets trail by ten, their biggest deficit.
24:45Eight straight points for Miami.
24:47Wiggins.
24:50Jokic.
24:52Got it again.
24:55Nikola Jokic.
24:56And he's talking trash to Jokic.
24:58That might be a bad idea.
25:02He's a talented youngster.
25:05Serbia's got a lot of young guys on the pipeline.
25:10Nice pass under to Najee, and Najee lays it up and in.
25:14Got to get production.
25:15Yeah, good head fight.
25:1735 to 25.
25:20Jokic try it again.
25:21That's no good.
25:22Bruce Brown's got it.
25:23Brown on the run, hanging up there, got it off the window.
25:30Now, Bruce Brown, 29-year-old, he made his 300th three-pointer early in this game.
25:38300 of his career.
25:40Now, Hawkins.
25:44And just a flash by Wiggins and the weak side guys watching them stand on the block,
25:49never moved until Wiggins was just right in front of the rim.
25:52Jokic, six points, six assists.
25:56Just one rebound so far.
25:57They double Jokic.
25:59Got Hardaway with him.
26:03Jokic.
26:04And then lands it away.
26:06Letting them get rough.
26:07They got small, and so they're just banging him.
26:10Larson was hitting him.
26:13Jokic's trying to draw the foul, didn't get it, and ended up throwing it away.
26:18Too many turnovers again.
26:19There's Larson on him.
26:22He's going to start.
26:22Watch him get up in tight.
26:24Double-team comes late.
26:26Boom.
26:26And then just kind of a lot of standing.
26:29Again, you got that dunker roll.
26:30You don't have Aaron Gordon there.
26:32That's where Aaron Gordon, once he sees that double-team stand in front of the rim, right?
26:36That was on Najee.
26:38That's his second.
26:4030 seconds to go first quarter.
26:43So what Hawkins likes to do.
26:45Get queued in the lane.
26:47Now we've got a corner three all the way, and that is good.
26:50Smith comes in there shooting them second late three.
26:53They like Drew Smith a lot.
26:55He's been bothered by injuries, and look at what Miami's bench is doing.
26:58Well, the difference in the game right there, 14 points better than the Denver bench.
27:03So the Nuggets have given up 41 so far here in the first quarter.
27:09Final seconds.
27:11Jokic in the lane.
27:12Puts it up and in.
27:132.3 left.
27:19Wiggins.
27:21And that's the end of the first quarter.
27:23A very good one for the Miami Heat.
27:28They have the lead 41-29.
27:30You're watching altitude sports.
27:32You're home for Nuggets basketball.
27:36Water, the exclusive water partner of the Denver Nuggets.
27:39By Jack in the Box, smashed Jack Combo, the GOAT, in the burger game.
27:45And by King Soopers, fresh for everyone.
27:49Kaseya Center.
27:52A rough first quarter for Denver.
27:55Aaron Gordon.
27:57Wish we had him, huh?
28:00Talking to Nuggets assistant Andrew Munson.
28:02Will Gordon be back before the end of the road trip?
28:10Just a guess.
28:11If I had to guess, probably it would be tough.
28:16Well, the Nuggets giving up 41 points in that first quarter.
28:22Jonas Valanchunas has replaced Nikola Jokic.
28:26The Nuggets now running Hardaway Jr., Murray, Brown, Najee, and Big Val.
28:30Well, Nuggets have given up 84 points in their last two quarters.
28:37They're going to call an offensive foul, Valanchunas.
28:42Let's go over to Katie.
28:43You mentioned the 41 points there, Chris.
28:45David Adelman was fired up in between quarters right there.
28:48He wants his guys to be more physical defensively.
28:50He said, touch someone when you're closing out.
28:52Make sure when you do close out and contest those jump shots,
28:55that you D up after that.
28:56So he's looking for the defense to pick up here.
28:58Pella Larson misses there.
29:01Nuggets need to be much more aggressive,
29:03much smarter in terms of who they're covering.
29:06See if they can get Valanchunas going.
29:12Murray.
29:13Got it.
29:14I was told yesterday that Valanchunas has been under the weather for four or five days,
29:19which might indicate some of the issues that the Nuggets bench has been having.
29:25He's kind of the focal point down in the paint.
29:29Well, a ten-point lead for Miami.
29:34Bruce Brown saved an easy dunk right there.
29:38His first personal.
29:40Jokic gets a breather.
29:42Again, they're kind of in that old zone,
29:43and the baseline guy just kind of standing.
29:45And you've got to have your head on a swivel.
29:49You've got to be looking.
29:50Ball, man.
29:50Where am I going?
29:51Boom, boom, boom.
29:51You've got to have your head moving, not just staring at one place.
29:54Free throw is good.
29:55Tired of replacing your roof every couple of years?
29:58Break the cycle and get your roof for a lifetime from Red Hawk Roofing.
30:02Go with the pros.
30:02Red Hawk Roofing.
30:04Well, Miami, we mentioned 17 and 15 a season ago.
30:09They went 37 and 45, finished 10th in the East.
30:13They made the play in, but lost to the Cavs in the first round four zip.
30:21And then it's trailing.
30:23Look at the physical layout of the fence.
30:25We're paying a lot of attention to Murray.
30:26Murray's in the lane.
30:27Dumped to Zeke.
30:28Najee.
30:29Oh, and Najee misses the land, but was fouled.
30:32Now, under pressure there, and a couple of free throws coming.
30:43Great pass.
30:45A little bit of double clutch.
30:47Hovich looked like he had his body underneath it.
30:51Game number five at Ball Arena.
30:53The Nuggets beat the Heat.
30:55122 to 112.
30:58The Nuggets pounding the Heat on the boards.
31:01They had a 61 to 38 advantage that night.
31:06But that's when the Nuggets were healthy.
31:09They had a full complement back then.
31:11Yep.
31:16Tana's a couple free throws.
31:19We settle in.
31:21No, David said there's much time we don't lose the game in that first corner.
31:24So, let's see, Najee's third.
31:33Najee, as Scott mentioned, three fouls.
31:37And I think he let him play tonight a little bit, you know.
31:41Why not?
31:41Got to produce, though, if you come in.
31:47Little step-through is good by Drew Smith.
31:52And an Achilles problem.
31:53He's just gotten back into the lineup.
31:55And without Tyler Hero.
32:02And Rozier, now trying to bounce the ball to Valanchunas.
32:08And Val says, put it up high.
32:09Yeah, he almost went insane.
32:11Throw it up off that glass a little bit.
32:13Everybody flew to him.
32:16There, if it clears the foot, though.
32:19Valanchunas yet to score in this one.
32:21They call it a kick, so you get 14 seconds.
32:27Hardaway shakes off a tackler, and he knocks it in.
32:30Now, Tim Hardaway, Jr., continues his good play.
32:34He's got seven points on three of six shooting.
32:41Bruce Brown, the rebound, had it off the miss.
32:45Now, Jovic missed it.
32:47Bruce Brown goes again.
32:48Got to get those guards to the free throw line on those three-point shots.
32:5245-35, Nuggets playing catch-up.
32:55Bruce Brown on the run.
32:57Floated up and in.
33:00Well, Bruce Brown.
33:05Now, Jaquez is in the lane.
33:10And that might be on Valanchunas' second again.
33:17Bruce Brown's got a bump.
33:19Well, clean play.
33:20Made it.
33:21Knocked it through.
33:23You've got a little grip strength when you can get slapped on the basketball while you're bringing it up and still be able to finish.
33:29The two on Valanchunas.
33:31Miami, a pretty good free throw shooting team at 79%.
33:34Got him.
33:37Nice.
33:38Doing everything I can.
33:41Now, Spencer Jones comes back in.
33:43The Nuggets.
33:44Would you say he's now their most physical defender?
33:46Yeah.
33:46Yeah.
33:46Yeah.
33:47Which, again, projecting when you get Christian Brown and Aaron Gordon back in and back in the starting unit.
33:56Now you're bringing another physical defensive presence you've groomed over this last five, six weeks to be able to come off the bench and add that piece also.
34:05So, Andrew Wiggins knocks it in.
34:09The Nuggets, plenty of talent on the bench, just ready for duty.
34:14Who knows when?
34:15Pretty soon we hope.
34:1846 to 37.
34:21And a steal.
34:23Too far out to try to make that pass.
34:25You've got to dribble it down.
34:26Jaquez lay it in.
34:28That's what he does best.
34:30Drives to the hoop, creates contact, tries to score.
34:35Another points off turnover.
34:36Denver's struggling in that area.
34:38Struggling to scoreboard as well.
34:43Fan duel, the Nuggets coming in as a one-and-a-half-point road favorite.
34:48That's changed.
34:50Nuggets in a bit of trouble now.
34:52Plus five-and-a-half.
34:54The Moneyline 210.
34:55Two-fifty-four-and-a-half.
34:59I'm Chris Marlowe with Scott Hastings and Katie Winge.
35:03The Nuggets getting outrunned and outgunned so far.
35:06Yeah, it's still early.
35:08It's still a little figuring out.
35:11Miami's been playing this way.
35:13They've been able to go small.
35:15But they're putting on pressure.
35:16See, they know Denver has struggled at times bringing it up with pressure.
35:25So, the Nuggets with some of their reserves in.
35:31And, Valanchunas is fouled.
35:35They'll call it on Jovic.
35:36First foul on Jovic.
35:48You can't back off on physicality.
35:53There's another turnover and another two points.
35:5515 points off turnovers.
35:59Oh, this is pressure.
36:01Miami defense, the fourth best in the league.
36:03So, this isn't a surprise.
36:05The surprise is the Nuggets turnovers.
36:08Now, Murray's in the lane.
36:09Scoops it up.
36:10No.
36:17Offensive foul called.
36:21Call this on Jonas.
36:23See if he pushes underneath on where.
36:25Not serious contact, but indeed a push.
36:33Now, Jovic is in the lane.
36:35Throws it up left-handed.
36:36No.
36:37And, Kalil Ware.
36:41Knocks it through.
36:42Smart play.
36:43You get the big kind of challenge on that penetration.
36:46No one's really doing anything with him.
36:48He's just tipping it in.
36:49Nuggets bench right now ineffective.
36:51This is the largest lead of the game.
36:5215 points.
36:54A lot of standing around hoping Murray gets hot.
36:57Miss that one.
36:58Ware goes and gets it.
36:59It's dribble, dribble, dribble.
37:01Try to get Jamal a good look at a shot.
37:10Good ball movement by Miami.
37:14Now, Hawkins.
37:15It's good defense there.
37:20Really good defense.
37:21Bruce Brown's got it.
37:24Nuggets needs some production here.
37:27Bruce Brown pulls up.
37:29And he's feeling good, Scott.
37:30Yep.
37:31Got a little rhythm, you can tell.
37:33He's going to get some multiple stops.
37:37Stolen.
37:38Spencer Jones on the run.
37:40Get the Browns.
37:41Score!
37:43Timeout Miami.
37:44It's amazing.
37:46What a little bit of defense.
37:47Just a little bit.
37:48Just a little, right?
37:50All right.
37:51721 to go until half the heat up by 11.
37:55Let's head back to Chris Dempsey now
37:56for the Kaiser Permanente Sports Break.
38:00Dempsey.
38:04Thank you, Chris.
38:05What's a really busy night in the NBA today?
38:0611 games, including tonight's Nuggets game on the docket.
38:10I'll show you some scores.
38:11There's actually a couple of these teams that are coming up on the Nuggets road trip.
38:15In fact, the last two scores, the Warriors and the Nets.
38:19The Warriors leading the Nets in the second quarter.
38:21The Magic leading the Raptors, who is the exact next game that the Nuggets will play.
38:25Suns also leading the Wizards in the third quarter.
38:28And the Hornets on top of Giannis and the Bucs.
38:34Nuggets showing some life.
38:35We'll see if they can complete the comeback when we come back.
38:39Remember, Nuggets have some work to do in Miami.
38:41Down 52 to 41 with 721 remaining in the second quarter.
38:45A bright spot so far.
38:46And this one, though, has been Bruce Brown off the bench.
38:50A perfect 5 of 5 from the field.
38:52He's got 11 points.
38:53He's been aggressive and looking for a shot.
38:55Great kick out there from Nicole Jokic.
38:57He was down and ready to shoot.
38:59And then attacking this very aggressive Miami Heat defense when he gets a chance.
39:03You see one go in for deep.
39:04That opens things up for you to be able to drive, create, penetrate, that sort of thing.
39:09And Bruce Brown has really been able to find his rhythm a little bit more as of late, guys.
39:12In December, shooting 57% from the field, 40% from three.
39:17And remember, I think he's comfortable in this building.
39:20Because back when the Nuggets won a championship, game four of that, he had 21 points in just under 30 minutes.
39:26You know, Katie, the good news is he's got 11.
39:28The bad news is no other Nugget is in double figures.
39:32Now, Kahlil Ware inside.
39:33Blocked by Spencer Jones.
39:35Get it out of there.
39:36Now, Bruce Brown.
39:38You saw that Jokic has come back in.
39:40Can the Nuggets make a push now?
39:42Watson turns the corner on Powell.
39:44Back to Jokic.
39:45Jokic floater.
39:46Good.
39:48But when it hits the rim, you wonder.
39:51Most of them are swishes.
39:53On a call to Jokic.
39:5410 points, 6 assists, 1 rebound so far.
39:58Into the lane.
39:59Nuggets trying to clear the rebound.
40:01They can't.
40:04That's off the mark.
40:06Spencer Jones gives it to Jokic.
40:08Murray, Bruce Brown, Jokic, Jones, and Watson.
40:18Murray, back to Jokic, going to shoot the three.
40:20Straight away.
40:22Short.
40:220 for 3 now for Joker.
40:24Always a tough sign when Joker's missing threes.
40:27The Nuggets spread.
40:28Oh, my goodness.
40:30Three-point range.
40:31Just 1 of 8 tonight.
40:33Miami's made 5 of 15.
40:35That's no good.
40:36And Watson goes in and gets the rebound.
40:38We mentioned that the Nuggets clobbered the heat last time they played.
40:43But Bam out of bio.
40:45Only played 8 minutes in that game.
40:46He went out with a foot injury, you might remember.
40:48Now Murray.
40:50Behind the back.
40:51Tough shot.
40:51No.
40:53Miami's got it.
40:54Davion Mitchell back in.
40:55Gives it to Powell.
40:56And the ball kicked out of bounds.
41:0352-43.
41:04Nuggets back by 9 as Julian Strother will come back in and give Murray a break.
41:11So, Jamal Murray, 8 points, 4 rebounds, a couple of assists.
41:14Shot 4 of 10 sits.
41:22Nuggets trying to make a push here.
41:24Miami led at 1 point by 15.
41:26Ware has 3-point range for a big guy.
41:33Tough shot there.
41:34No good.
41:35And another offensive rebound.
41:38And stolen.
41:39Spencer Jones.
41:40That man again.
41:41Spencer on the move.
41:42Put it up.
41:44No good, but a foul.
41:45He kept forcing the issue.
41:47And I'm not sure that Larson wanted to really kind of get in his way.
41:53Second steal here in the last few minutes by Spencer Jones.
41:58Yeah, I thought he was going to run him over right here.
42:00Right here.
42:00Larson is trying to move.
42:02Well, the confidence he's played with Gigi three or four weeks ago, and he's got to make the free throws.
42:09But three or four weeks ago, I'm not sure he would have tried to force that issue.
42:13First foul on Larson.
42:15He's too good of a shooter to be at 54% or 57% at free throw line.
42:20December.
42:21He's played 12 games.
42:22All-Stars.
42:23Nine points per game on 56% shooting.
42:28Once he hit the free throw line.
42:30Well, I don't have the December numbers, but just 56% overall has come down.
42:34So, the Nuggets are on a 7-0 run, and Watson spikes it out of bounds.
42:43Watson got beat up on that screen way up top, but never stopped coming.
42:49That's his specialty.
42:51Well, he's going to get hit by where.
42:53He's beat, beat, beat.
42:54He's three steps back, and he just timed that perfectly.
42:57And they're going to call a foul on Bruce Brown here.
43:02Brown had his hand in.
43:08Numbers' fourth team foul.
43:10Miami at three.
43:14Good job, pal.
43:15Got that elbow up underneath Bruce's arm.
43:17Kind of pulled the joker move on him.
43:19Two fouls on Bruce Brown, so that's a concern a little bit.
43:22Strother's going to try to stay with Larson.
43:24Spencer Jones on the weak side.
43:28He's got to keep Kahlil Ware out of the paint.
43:31Out of Iowa.
43:32Pass it out.
43:33Powell.
43:35Out of Iowa.
43:36Shakes off one man.
43:38Oh, that is a heck of a shot.
43:39That was right at the shot clock buzzer, too.
43:42They may look at that and make sure it got off in time.
43:44I think it did.
43:45And Boyd Lee.
43:48Strother around the screen.
43:50Can't get in.
43:52He's got to pull up.
43:52But he's got a three-pointer if he just comes off.
43:55Jokic got the three.
43:57He was trying to get the end one.
44:00That's what David Adelman was signaling.
44:02Nuggets have cut the lead to seven.
44:06Powell.
44:09Now out of Bile.
44:11Backing in.
44:12Turn, shoot.
44:13That's no good.
44:13Rebound.
44:14Ware on his hip toes.
44:16Block him out.
44:17Offensive rebound and really killing Denver here.
44:19Pass thrown away.
44:21Nuggets down by seven.
44:22Looking to cut this lead down.
44:24Watson runs over a man.
44:26And they'll get the blocking call.
44:28The problem with Larson.
44:29He might have been able to take the charge.
44:31Because it felt like Payton was going right at him.
44:34But then he fell down and tripped him.
44:35You're going to look and see.
44:39It's got to be out of here.
44:40Oh, no, no.
44:41They're going to take that two points away.
44:44They'll take a look at that.
44:46We hope.
44:48Pretty good defense.
44:49Boy, Spencer Jones is really up the Nuggets defense here.
44:53I'm not sure if they announced that
44:55or if they just took it off or not.
44:5654-47.
44:59Now Jokic.
45:05Jokic going to work.
45:06Backing in.
45:07Stripped.
45:08Spencer Jones throws it up.
45:10No.
45:11Need a little bit more arc to that one.
45:15Mitchell.
45:17Mitchell missed.
45:19Bam.
45:23Larson, no.
45:24Jokic rebound.
45:25Yes.
45:26Three-and-a-half to go, second quarter.
45:40Now Jokic's great pass under to Brown.
45:44And he lays it in.
45:45Boy, Jokic's threading the needle there.
45:47Yeah, he was called for that the whole way.
45:49Nuggets have cut the lead to five
45:51with some great defense.
45:54And now a foul.
45:55He's called for the pick and roll with Bruce.
46:01He knows his setup right there.
46:03Just trying to prove some of it.
46:04I think he wasn't sure that that's what he's going to do.
46:07He's going to pass.
46:08He's going to pass.
46:10Called play.
46:11Here we go.
46:12Boom.
46:14We're trying to come back from behind and get that.
46:16He just couldn't get the fingertips on it.
46:18Oh, a nice play by Bruce Brown at the free throw line.
46:26It's Bam out of Bile.
46:27So, no basket, as Scott told you.
46:32And that would reduce the Heat's number to 52.
46:38Bam out of Bile.
46:39Meanwhile, his birth name is Idris.
46:42But his mother called him Bam like the Flintstones baby Bam Bam.
46:46Told that story before.
46:47She did that because he flipped over a coffee table when he was a youngster.
46:53Jamal Murray coming back in.
47:01He also had a dog named Dino.
47:04Dino.
47:09Well, the Nuggets here in the second quarter making a move.
47:15Adebayo is a free throw shooter, 75 and a half percent.
47:21And a five-point lead.
47:23There's the Nuggets run.
47:29Grouch and defense.
47:32Jokic turns on Adebayo.
47:35Basket counts and a foul.
47:40We think.
47:41Yeah, we've seen some crazier calls here.
47:44It should be a three-point opportunity.
47:45Third target to the baseline official and ask him why they didn't call.
47:50You see the outside guy raise his hand.
47:52And a mile all over body-wise.
47:59Nikola Jokic at the line.
48:00It is 11th NBA season.
48:04That free throw no good.
48:05Goes and gets it.
48:07Puts it up.
48:08No.
48:08Got it again.
48:09Puts it up.
48:10Yes.
48:11Nikola Jokic staying alive and the Nuggets have cut the Miami lead to one.
48:19A 16-2 run now.
48:27And Powell.
48:28And Powell want to pick up for the Miami Heat.
48:32A proven professional score.
48:35Jokic.
48:35Jokic all of a sudden was 17 points.
48:44Now Jokic against Bann.
48:47They're coming from the weak side.
48:48Hardaway pulls the trigger.
48:49Got it.
48:52Tim Hardaway.
48:53And we are tied up at 56.
49:00Approaching the two-minute mark.
49:01Jokic.
49:02Jokic has UCLA going against Stanford right here.
49:08Old Pac-12 foes and a whistle and a foul.
49:13Ooh.
49:13Call down Spencer Jones for bumping.
49:16I thought they might have get Peyton Watson reaching in.
49:18Second foul on Jones Spencer didn't know it was on him.
49:22He thought it didn't seriously Peyton reached in.
49:24I thought Peyton got it for slapping the arm.
49:27Hawkeyes at the line.
49:29He had 28 points in 29 minutes in the most recent game against Indiana.
49:39Now get this low zero down lease on a built forward tough F-150
49:44for just $479 a month.
49:46One more coming for Hawkeyes who's averaging nearly 16 and a half.
49:52He has doubled his production from a season ago.
49:57That's why they're calling him a most improved candidate.
50:01So Miami by one.
50:021.45 to go.
50:04Jokic going to take a 15-footer.
50:06Drops it in.
50:07Oh, Jokic doing a Jokic kind of thing.
50:1119 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds.
50:14Remember, he's chasing the big O.
50:18Oscar Robertson, 181 triple doubles.
50:21Wiggins sidesteps.
50:22That's no good.
50:24And once again, Miami getting offensive rebounds.
50:29Shots are going up.
50:30Shots are going up.
50:32Guys are standing around.
50:33And that's two offensive rebounds for three points.
50:36Oh, that hurt.
50:37Maybe on Mitchell.
50:38From deep.
50:39Mitchell's first bucket.
50:49Play up is no good.
50:52Hawkeyes.
50:54Well, now you're getting back to the free throw line.
50:56What happened that fourth quarter in Orlando?
50:58Foul, foul, foul, foul, free throw, free throw, free throw.
51:03That's just the kind of foul you don't want to make.
51:06He's got the rebound.
51:07Run back.
51:08Run back.
51:09Don't reach.
51:11Back line.
51:12Back line.
Comments