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00:00Кью-тouffer.
00:03This halftime is presented by the all-new Hyundai Palisade.
00:07Visit HyundaiUSA.com.
00:10The Nuggets is a six-point lead on the Rockets, getting ready to start the third quarter.
00:14Let's take a look at our first-half stats, brought to you by Royal Caribbean.
00:20KD's second-fewest points in any first half this season, scored just five.
00:25The Joker, the first Denver player with five-five and five-and-a-half in the last 25 seasons.
00:32And the Rockets, 40 paint points in that first half.
00:36As we welcome you courtside, Ryan Rucco alongside Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson.
00:40So happy to be with you here for the NBA on ESPN.
00:44Guys, in that first half, Nikola Jokic, even though we know physically he's not quite right,
00:49man, does he still fill up a stat sheet.
00:51Take a look at who's ruling the court, brought to you by Burger King.
00:54He talked about Kevin Durant with a slow half as far as scoring.
00:56Jokic didn't put up big numbers scoring-wise either, but he had an impact in other areas.
01:00His defense, we mentioned the steals, but also the throw ahead of Christian Brown.
01:05And how many teams get the ball back to their center in the middle of a three-on-two break,
01:10RJ?
01:10There's not a lot, but it's the way he's moving the ball.
01:13There's that split game offside action.
01:15Here off another steal.
01:17Just a throw ahead, and obviously Christian Brown is that guy that's always their snippet of those passes.
01:23But moving the ball, but it's the defense turning into offense for the Denver Nuggets.
01:27Let's check in with Katie George.
01:29Well, Ryan, David Adelman recently told his team in years past he thought you had to be in the top
01:34two in the West to win a title.
01:36He said this season OKC's still the favorite, but he believes if you're one through six, you can win the
01:41whole thing.
01:41He said it's really a crapshoot this year, but he wants his guys to get out of survival mode.
01:46He said they did a great job staying afloat amid the injuries, but now he wants to see the dominant
01:50mindset come back.
01:51The dominant mindset they had at the start of the season.
01:53Tim, RJ, you think they can get back to that level in the next 16 games?
01:56I believe they can.
01:58I mean, to me, this was the team that represented, at their best, the biggest threat to OKC.
02:03Now, we know San Antonio's had an incredible year, and they clearly emerged as a title threat.
02:06But I do think there's enough time, enough talent, enough depth, but now David Adelman has a lot of different
02:12buttons to push,
02:13and he said it, somebody's probably going to get left out, because once they're at full strength, there's a lot
02:18of bodies on the wing.
02:19Oh, and Lex, don't forget that this Denver team took OKC to seven, right?
02:24And so, when you look at, you can get the defending champion on the ropes, and this is a much
02:29more talented team than they had last year.
02:31So, I would say this, over Denver OKC, I would love to see Jokic versus Wimpy in a playoff series.
02:37Jokic draws the foul on Durant, number two, on KD, and free throws here for Nikola Jokic.
02:52The Joker, one of two players, all-time against Houston, averaging 20, 10, and 5.
02:59Larry Bird, the other, you know, also with the five steals in the first half, we're on quadruple-double watch
03:06here with the Joker.
03:09And if you, now, blocks and steals only became an official stat, 73-74 season, right?
03:16But since then, it's only happened four times.
03:19And last time was David Robinson back in 1994, did it with blocks.
03:24Hakeem did it in 1990 with blocks.
03:27Alvin Robertson did it in 1986 with steals.
03:30And then, Nate Thurman was the first to do it in 74 with blocks.
03:36Now, Will probably had some in there, but those predated when the steals and blocks became the official stat.
03:44I feel like Will Chamberlain and Bill Russell probably had some 10-block games probably there.
03:49You think?
03:49Yeah.
03:50It was pretty incredible.
03:51No one's done it since 94, and Joker with the five steals in the first half.
03:56It's on the table tonight.
03:58Everything's on the table when you have Jokic out on the floor.
04:00The man just can fill up any stat sheet.
04:03Here's what has to change right now for Houston.
04:05Maybe they're feeling the effects of last night.
04:07Toronto's a team that plays really hard.
04:09They're a really good defensive team.
04:10So, they're on a back-to-back here.
04:12Doesn't look like they've got their legs, particularly Kevin Durant right now.
04:16They're not winning this game if Kevin Durant doesn't get going.
04:18He's got to inject himself into this game offensively.
04:22Well, there he does with a nice dish to Easton in transition.
04:26Meanwhile, Denver wanted basket interference on that last attempt at the rim.
04:33We'll have to take another look at it, but...
04:35His hand did go up through the rim.
04:37Yeah, it looked like they had a case.
04:38And it shook the rim more than anything that I think that the ball was tipped.
04:42Here's Jokic.
04:43Shot clock at five.
04:45Nice look.
04:46Brown trying to find an angle.
04:48Gets swallowed up by Shingun.
04:52Durant.
04:53Can't hit the three.
04:55Shingun.
04:56And Murray after it.
04:58Shingun emerges.
04:59And Durant, there you go, gets an easy one.
05:02And the importance of that number one, it's just great effort by Shingun.
05:05That's a three or four jump offensive rebound that he just got.
05:10But now, because of that effort, you get Kevin Durant a dunk.
05:14And sometimes that's all it's going to take to get a score of that caliber going.
05:20Well, he hasn't been scored, but he's three for six.
05:22So, it's not two for five.
05:24And we're going to take a look at this basket interference.
05:26Now, Jamal Murray goes up high.
05:28And you can see the rim.
05:30Oh, yeah.
05:31His hand does go up in there.
05:32And it moves.
05:33And it moves.
05:33Yeah.
05:34Should have been.
05:35Murray.
05:37In it to jumpers.
05:39Smith the rebound.
05:46Pocket pass.
05:47Thompson loses it.
05:49Shingun.
05:50What a block from Aaron Gordon.
05:53Here's Yoker running, kicking.
05:55Johnson hitting.
05:57Nine and three.
06:00That was great spacing on the break.
06:03You saw Cam Johnson, once he knew that ball was going to end up in Jokic's hands in the
06:07middle, he flared out to the opposite corner because he knows Jokic's first look when he
06:12got that return pass from Brown was the opposite corner.
06:15Tenth assist for the Joker.
06:17This 10.7 rebound, Shingun fouls him.
06:21That'll be the first on Alfred Shingun.
06:29This is so good right here.
06:30First of all, what a block.
06:32Gordon, your backline defender.
06:33Now the advance pass.
06:34And right here, watch Johnson.
06:36See, he was in the middle of the lane, but he knew Jokic is trailing down the middle.
06:40Let me flare out here and create the space.
06:42And he knows he's going to get rewarded if the defense commits to Jokic.
06:48Jokic hands it off.
06:51Murray giving it back.
06:54Jokic off the mark.
06:560 for 2 from 3.
06:58It was 3 for 6 on Monday, which was a good sign.
07:01Gordon goes down.
07:04Shingun gave a little push, and Gordon was looking for a whistle that didn't come.
07:21Johnson shovels Jokic, lays it in.
07:27And right now, when you watch Denver, it feels like their offense is flowing.
07:31It's moving.
07:31They're getting things in transition.
07:32They figured out the half-court defense.
07:34But I think the biggest surprise to me is that there's only been 12 free-throw shots in this entire
07:39game.
07:39Six by both teams.
07:40Here's Thompson.
07:44Settling with Shingun.
07:47Easton can't hit the 3 after a hot start for the season.
07:50He's been pulled.
07:52Brown.
07:53Murray for the slam.
07:57Timeout, Houston.
08:009-point nugget lead.
08:04Again, that ball is moving.
08:07Denver just moving at a different rate.
08:10Jamal Murray with the easiest bucket he might have all night.
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08:27Well, Jabari Smith has to make a decision.
08:30You're either all in on that rebound or you have to get back.
08:33But he's neither.
08:34As a result, Denver gets a run out.
08:36And you see Imei Yudoka is alluding to it right there.
08:39And I just think that was basically indecision on his part.
08:43And remember, this is the number one offensive rebounding team in the NBA.
08:46And they are because their wings crashed from all over the floor.
08:50I think Imei Yudoka would rather have him go all out trying to get that ball.
08:55And if he doesn't get it, he can live with it.
08:56That wasn't exactly what we saw there.
08:58And he emphasized to us before the game, physicality and effort, that's what's really been the driving force of whether
09:07or not they're playing well or not.
09:09Shepard short on a three.
09:11Brown the rebound.
09:13Here comes Murray.
09:14Murray having a big night.
09:16Gets the nine by Shangoon.
09:18Another chance here for Denver.
09:24Murray with 16 to lead the way for the Nuggets.
09:27Johnson.
09:28Again!
09:29Cam Johnson starting to find his stroke.
09:32His third three of the night.
09:34RJ, this is important for them.
09:35He's played really well tonight.
09:37He looks confident.
09:38His rhythm's better.
09:40You cannot overstate the importance of Cam Johnson there often.
09:42Oh, not at all.
09:44Especially again.
09:45Some of those plays in that second quarter, getting down to his right hand, getting some motion, getting the ball
09:50in his hands, that makes it easier to hit threes later.
09:54Can Durant get going?
09:55Been a quiet night for him.
09:57Here's Johnson.
09:58Circling, dishing.
10:00Jokic.
10:02Wanted a whistle.
10:03So did David Adelman.
10:04Did not get it.
10:06Ten-point nugget lead.
10:08Just had a 7-0 run in.
10:09Thompson, little bunny jumper is good.
10:1312 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists from N. Thompson.
10:20Jokic lays it in.
10:21Busts the foul.
10:29Really have no idea what Houston was doing here defensively.
10:32They're back.
10:33They're not aware.
10:34Nobody stops the ball.
10:36Oh, to be able to throw the ball to Jokic on the wing in early offense and have him get
10:41all the way to the rim before he sees any resistance.
10:45You see, Ima Udoka came all the way up to half court there on that one as well.
10:49Just talks about that effort and consistency of physicality.
10:52Right now, you're not seeing it out of Houston here in the middle part of the third quarter.
10:55And one of the things he mentioned, too, was a lot of the guys who brought that consistently, they don't
11:02have.
11:02Fred Van Vliet with his injury.
11:04Steven Adams with his injury.
11:06And then Dylan Brooks with his departure.
11:08Those were some of the sort of ten-pole players of what has been the Rockets' identity over the last
11:14couple seasons.
11:16Smith, baseline jumper, is good.
11:20Jamari Smith Jr. in double figures now with 11.
11:28Murray got held up.
11:36I will give a compliment to Denver.
11:38They had a foul to give in the first quarter.
11:40Had a foul to give in the second quarter late.
11:43Right now, they haven't had a foul.
11:46No, they have no fouls.
11:47And they're in the bonus already.
11:49Yeah, and Houston, now, they have to play the rest of this quarter without fouling.
11:54Denver has been very, very consistent with their approach on that defensive end.
11:59Let's take a look at the upcoming national TV schedule.
12:02Prime video tomorrow.
12:03Sixers at the Pistons.
12:05Celtics against the Thunder.
12:06That should be a great one.
12:07Prime video Friday night.
12:09Cavs and the Mavs.
12:11Warriors and the T-Wolves.
12:12For more on these games, please go to NBA.com and visit the NBA app.
12:17You're right, Richard.
12:18They have not fouled tonight.
12:20No, and six as a team.
12:23And, well, now, let me say this.
12:24They could put a little bit more defense.
12:26You get 40 points in the paint in the first half.
12:30That means there's not a lot of resistance.
12:31There's not a lot of physicality.
12:32There's not a lot of defense at the rim.
12:34You're kind of just conceding once you get to that space.
12:38Houston already with 50 points in the paint for the game.
12:44Here's Asim.
12:46Okoge drops it.
12:48Johnson has it.
12:51Cam Johnson with 13 tonight.
12:53Barrels into Okoge.
12:55And Cam Johnson's going to get free throws here.
13:01Houston over the limit.
13:06I've seen more out of him tonight in terms of his aggressiveness.
13:09And, look, it helps when you make a couple of shots early.
13:13When you are a guy that has struggled to find your offense, you know, in a new setting, a new
13:17situation, new system.
13:18Clearly, he's had a hard time finding his comfort zone.
13:21But I'm seeing him do more things tonight, aggressively trying to seek out inclusion in the offense, not just, like,
13:29wait in the corners.
13:30And I think that's important.
13:31And David Adelman, I'm sure, loves seeing it as well because, again, his offense is so important because of his
13:37ability to stretch the floor for you.
13:40Yeah, David Adelman emphasized for us his importance to this team.
13:45They're going to be at their best.
13:51And Denver, with their largest lead of the night, is up to 13.
13:5715 points for Cam Johnson.
14:0015, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 5 steals for Jokic.
14:05Jamal Murray has 18.
14:07Durant with just 9 thus far.
14:09That's just 7 field goal attempts.
14:11Throws it away.
14:12Johnson, another steal.
14:14Brown lobbing it up.
14:15Shang-Goon tips, but Murray there to collect the trash.
14:24And that was all Jamal Murray finishing the play.
14:28Don't just assume that 2-on-1 is going to happen.
14:31Some absent-minded turnovers here from Houston.
14:35They have 12 now for the game.
14:39They were a little sloppy the first three quarters last night before cleaning it up in the fourth.
14:44As Durant gets that one to drop.
14:48And Kevin Rand's seen a lot of extra bodies in front of him, but that's the first time he's really
14:53gotten to the mid-range in his right arm three.
14:56And he's finally able to knock down a shot.
15:00Brown buries the three.
15:05Brown buries the three.
15:06Did he bank that in?
15:07No.
15:08Okay, I was straight in.
15:08It looked like it to me.
15:09You guys had a better vision.
15:11I was blocked.
15:17Jokic comes up with a rebound.
15:19There's the triple-double for the Joker.
15:25Jokic gives it back.
15:27Johnson extra feet.
15:28Brown.
15:29You bet!
15:44Well, Christian Brown hasn't shot it as well from the three as he did a year ago, but he's starting
15:50to string them together.
15:51Denver opening things up.
15:54Buckets brought to you by KFC.
15:56A couple role players really stepping up.
15:58We talked about Cam Johnson and his importance for this team, and Christian Brown as well.
16:03He has not really shot the ball particularly well.
16:05The injuries derailed his rhythm this season, but you see right there the numbers off of Jokic.
16:11Passes seven for eight for those two guys, including three for three from deep.
16:15And to your point, Brown just 27% on the season.
16:19Last year he shot it at just under 40% from three.
16:22But tonight, three for four from deep.
16:25Good sign for Denver.
16:27Here's Spencer Jones.
16:29Oh, Spencer Jones!
16:30Look out!
16:31Hard landing after he didn't get to the apex.
16:34And Reed Shepard turns it into two on the other end.
16:40And Ima Udoka goes with Aaron Holiday right here because they need some three-point shooting.
16:45You know, you get down 19, not enough time really to continue to try to operate in that middle area
16:51of the floor.
16:52Like, you need some three-point shooting to cut into a deficit.
16:54So he goes with Holiday out there with Shepard to try to see if he can get some spark here
17:00from his shooters.
17:01This is a Houston team that is two for 20 from three-point range tonight.
17:07Hey, in honor of our Latino and Hispanic fans, the NBA is celebrating Noches NBA throughout the month of March.
17:15Teams will wear specially designed Noches NBA shooting shirts and will celebrate with in-arena festivities.
17:30Three-eighteen to go in the third.
17:32Denver has opened up an 18-point lead after a very closely contested first half.
17:37Houston on the second half of a back-to-back.
17:39But these games are big.
17:41Richard, you talked about it all night, the tiebreaker situation.
17:44Denver wins this.
17:44They have the tiebreaker over Houston.
17:47And they'll have climbs it within a half game.
17:49And that's why also the regular season is tough.
17:50You have Houston coming in here off of back-to-back, struggling to shoot.
17:54You're at elevation.
17:55They've done their job in the paint.
17:57They got 54 of their 65 points in the paint.
18:01It's just from the three-point line and then from the free-throw line, one for six.
18:05So it's just you look at the total kind of effort on the offensive end.
18:09It just hasn't been there.
18:10But this is also why Denver having home court is so big.
18:13When you come in to play at elevation, it is the challenge to catching your wind,
18:19getting your legs underneath you.
18:20It's difficult.
18:21So they always want to fight to have home court advantage in any round.
18:26Smith got blocked from behind by Cam Johnson.
18:28But then a foul.
18:29Got to keep things here.
18:32Well, the other way that Houston will try to get back into a game,
18:36like they're a dominant offensive rebounding team,
18:38that has not really been a factor to this point in the game.
18:42And look, some of that could be legs, because normally you see two or three guys crashing.
18:47They're tipping the ball to each other, and they're securing those extra possessions.
18:50And that has not been a major part of this game.
18:53Only seven offensive rebounds as a team.
18:55And they're averaging 15 a game.
18:58Here's Bruce Brown.
18:59Brown gets fouled, and Bruce Brown will shoot two.
19:04To your point, legs, Houston is on pace to have the most offensive rebounds per game
19:10by any team since the 0-2-0-3 Warriors.
19:14Let's talk about going back more than two decades.
19:17Now, their numbers have dipped a little bit since Steven Adams went down,
19:20but still, they average a lot.
19:24Brown misses the free throw.
19:26Brown gets the second to drop.
19:47Denver will be in San Antonio tomorrow night.
19:52Talk about a tough back-to-back.
19:54Thompson, Bank City.
19:56That's just not much you can do there.
19:58Well, imagine having, like, a wall of defenders 15 feet off of you in the lane,
20:02and you still find a way to go right at the defense, jump in the air,
20:06and figure out what you're going to do later.
20:08I can imagine it.
20:11I guess I was really saying, I can't.
20:16Him and I had a very similar shooting struck the first few years in this league.
20:19That's why I have a lot of confidence that he will continue to improve it.
20:24That's why J. Kidd just told you, run.
20:26Just run and jump.
20:27Just run.
20:28Figure it out after.
20:31Smith.
20:32Knocked away by Jokic.
20:35Holiday.
20:36Trying to find the end.
20:38Wow.
20:40Houston, 3-iron, needed a pitching winch.
20:42Here comes Brown.
20:44Brown has just stripped out of bounds, and it last touched him.
20:46Houston ball.
20:5920-point Denver lead.
21:00Nugget shooting at 53% from the floor for the game.
21:05They're 9 of 19 from 3.
21:07Accurate with modest attempts.
21:09Topsy, and that time won't drop.
21:12Gets it back and crushes it down.
21:14He just, in a league of the most extraordinary athletes in the world,
21:19he's just different.
21:21He's a standout.
21:21Yes.
21:21Yes, he is.
21:22Yes.
21:22But it's also his skill.
21:23His ability to kind of learn this point guard position.
21:26The defense you see right there, just the active hand.
21:29It's the athleticism.
21:30Yes, that sets him apart.
21:31But it's also his basketball IQ that you've watched him learn over time
21:35to play different positions, the defensive possessions.
21:38Do you think he needs less time to gather and jump?
21:42Yes.
21:43He's got to percent.
21:43Than anybody else in the league?
21:45Ooh.
21:46He's up there.
21:47He's in that Mount Rushmore.
21:48Who are the springy-ish guys?
21:51They don't need a lot of, like, gather time.
21:53Assar doesn't either.
21:54Johnson can't serve it in.
21:58Jokic.
21:59No.
22:00And Smith the rebound.
22:01And it's knocked out of bounds off of Holliday by Brown.
22:07And it's going to be Denver basketball.
22:21Jokic.
22:22Who else just, like, quick springs up in the way that they leap?
22:28I leap most of those leaping.
22:30Quick, quick, quick, Richard.
22:31Yeah, fair enough.
22:38A double foul.
22:39The rare double foul here.
22:41You had a different list going earlier, Legs, which I thought was good.
22:43And it was, who are the most valuable non-stars in the league
22:51that are as critical to their team as stars?
22:54Right, and I think, I'm talking about guys that on a given night can play like a star,
22:57but I don't think the word star is not typically what you use.
23:00And I mentioned it because of how important Aaron Gordon is.
23:03Like, he's so important to this team.
23:06I would put him in that category.
23:08One of the most valuable, like, pendulum swingers in this entire league
23:14because when he plays well, Denver looks completely different.
23:17Look, tonight, you know, they're on their way to getting a win
23:19without needing a lot of production from Aaron Gordon tonight.
23:22But that is one of the big things to look for down the stretch.
23:26Jokic gets fouled here.
23:27We'll go to the line.
23:32You look confused there, Legs.
23:34You didn't like that call?
23:35I was wondering if we were, if somebody was upset about that.
23:39That's why we were taking another look.
23:40But no one really was.
23:42He got hit, and here he goes to the line for his two free throws.
23:49189th triple-double of his career.
23:51Only Russ with more.
23:54To your point, though, about Aaron Gordon,
23:56even David Adelman told us before the game,
23:58you were asking about the struggles in the clutch.
24:00They've lost 7 of 10 in the clutch, and he said,
24:04for them to be good at clutch time, Aaron Gordon in the dunker spot,
24:07so critical to what they do.
24:09Brown flushes it down off to Spencer Jones.
24:13Steel and dish.
24:18Denver really humming, turning defense and offense.
24:21They also have 29 assists already tonight.
24:25Shepard Short, Hardaway, will pull it back out.
24:30Shot clock turned off, and the Nuggets will hold for a final shot.
24:39Jokic, 16, 12, and 12, Hardaway, connects!
24:53Holiday, no.
24:55A Denver day lose to end the third.
24:59They outscore Houston 40-22 in the frame.
25:09Cam Johnson got going there in the third, knocking down threes.
25:14Right now, Denver up 24 with 12 to play.
25:24That is best.
25:25How have you been able to find your rhythm tonight?
25:26We're just playing with pace, playing hard, communicating, trusting each other.
25:30That's been the key to our success all year.
25:31You guys have built a really nice lead here.
25:34What's pleased you most defensively, especially keeping somebody like Katie in check?
25:38Talking.
25:38It's talking.
25:39It's effort.
25:39Multiple efforts.
25:41Being able to handle their cutters when we send two and being able to guard straight up
25:44when the time calls for it.
25:46Like I said, it's effort today.
25:48Appreciate it, Cam.
25:48Thank you.
25:49Ryan?
25:50All right.
25:51Thank you, Katie.
25:51Thank you, Cam.
25:52Meanwhile, Ime Udoka has gone deep into his bench here to begin this fourth with the Nuggets
26:01up 24.
26:02Houston playing the second half of the back-to-back.
26:05And Denver is going to play the second half of back-to-back tomorrow at San Antonio.
26:11So, I wonder if David Adelman will be able to conserve minutes here for some of his stars
26:18in this fourth quarter.
26:21Well, this is the best-case scenario if you're Denver.
26:23If you've got a back-to-back to be able to handle business early.
26:27Yep.
26:27Get your team some rest.
26:29Get your guys some rest.
26:30But a lot of times, that's why you put forth that effort in the first two, three quarters
26:34to try and see if you can put yourself in a position.
26:37Now you're in a better position to win the game tomorrow because you did your work early.
26:41I mean, the Rockets at the line, it's been astonishingly bad in limited attempts in this game.
26:46They are one for eight.
26:51It's not going to make Imei smile.
26:53So, two for 22 from the three and one for eight from the line.
26:56Oof.
26:59Yeah, they've been stuck at 69 for a while.
27:06Far it away.
27:07He got it.
27:1496-69.
27:16You know, and this is a guy, Tim Hardaway Jr.
27:18has been knocking down threes for a long time in this league.
27:20But, you know, he's never had a year in which he was over 40% for the season.
27:23He's always right below it, like 38-39.
27:25In fact, this is the first year he's done it.
27:28And, you know, David Adelman talked about it before the game.
27:31His significance and what he has brought to this team, the consistency of that offensive punch off their bench.
27:38Had eight threes the other day off the bench in that game against OKC.
27:43It's the first Nuggets to do that since J.R. Smith in 2011.
27:48Here's Crawford euroing in and laying it home.
27:51Are you right, Legs?
27:52I mean, that was such a point of emphasis over the last couple of years for the Nuggets.
27:56Just the lack of quality veterans off the bench in the couple of years after the championship run.
28:03And Hardaway, a huge game changer for that.
28:05Let me bring Bruce Brown back.
28:07Yes.
28:07Valanchunas, their depth of veteran guys that I felt like they could count on or trust more in the postseason.
28:15There's no doubt that they targeted their depth in that regard.
28:19Part of the reason why they also made the Porter-Cam Johnson deal was because not only were they switching
28:25things up
28:26and they have to send out an unprotected pick with Porter-Brooklyn,
28:30but they also were getting a little more financial flexibility for what they could do to beef up that bench.
28:39Let's see if Ken Capella can give us our second free throw made for Houston tonight.
28:44What do you think, Legs?
28:45I'm looking up.
28:49We have a little percentage handy.
28:51Yes, 63% on the season, 54 and a half in his career.
28:55I think he makes this one.
28:57Richard.
29:01Houston's missed eight.
29:02Can you answer before we know the result?
29:04You got it.
29:06Yeah.
29:06I have think.
29:07Yeah, yeah, yeah.
29:08You guys were going to join.
29:09That's all.
29:10I'm hedging your bets.
29:11I'm not.
29:11I presented the question.
29:15Fair point.
29:16Houston is two for ten from the line in this game.
29:2125th in the NBA in free throw percentage on the season.
29:24And Murray's stroke just looks so smooth.
29:29Jamal Murray, you know, he made his first all-star game this year.
29:31We have to start talking about him in that all-in-the-game game.
29:34Absolutely.
29:35And if they can get out of the six, if they can get to the fourth bid, what he's done,
29:39he's been the most consistent performer.
29:41You know, when healthy, it's been impressive to watch his growth.
29:4527 points tonight, 10 of 19 shooting.
29:48As good as the season's been, been even better in this recent stretch.
29:51Last six games entering this one.
29:5328 points per, 48 from the floor, 48 from three.
29:57And a whole lot of that from Jamal Murray.
30:01A 30-point night.
30:05You're Daniel, David Adelman, you may want to consider getting him out sometime soon.
30:10Possession or two more, and he's going to definitely get Jamal Murray out of this game.
30:15With a 28-point lead here on Houston, having already emptied their bench.
30:21Again, he's just been in such rhythm, taking his time.
30:23He knows he can get that shot off, so he just dribbles up in rhythm.
30:28And I understand if you're Reed Shepard.
30:30You've got to give some space, but you also have to understand what they're doing.
30:33And I love the fact that Jokic, he might not touch the floor on the fourth.
30:39These are one of those games that you can kind of, hey, you worked today.
30:42But it was a half day at school.
30:44That's what it was.
30:45Loved half day.
30:47Loved a good half day.
30:48Oh, man.
30:49An early exit.
30:49Come on.
30:51Lex, have you started diving into your All-NBA teams yet?
30:56Not too early for that.
30:57All right.
30:58I want all the data, Ryan.
31:01Yeah, I understand.
31:02I've got to see all the data and watch these guys and see who's going to sprint through the wire.
31:07Brown left it short.
31:08Good contests by Capella, but then Valanchunis there.
31:15106-78, Denver in front of Houston.
31:18That three's way off.
31:20Houston, a miserable two for 23 from three.
31:26They usually shoot it at a pretty good percentage.
31:28Seventh in the NBA.
31:3037%.
31:31They just don't take a lot of attempts.
31:33Only Sacramento takes fewer.
31:35Murray short on that one.
31:37Valanchunis gobbling it up.
31:39It is a 30-point nugget lead.
31:44Yep, and Jamal Murray will be exiting this game very, very short.
31:49Nice.
31:50Jones goes to the score stable.
31:54Now, the question is, does he get one of those score stable shots up knowing he's about to come out?
31:59You know him well, you're his teammate.
32:03What do you say?
32:05Made the right decision.
32:06Brown, Koenigse.
32:12Timeout.
32:13Houston.
32:14The Nuggets pouring it on the Rockets.
32:18The lead has ballooned to 33.
32:23The NBA on ESPN.
32:25Is presented all season long by State Farm.
32:28Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
32:31And in part by Burr.
32:32The Bulls finish up their four-game road trip in OKC against the Thunder.
32:36Covered chips in the NBA countdown at 1230 Eastern.
32:40Guys, how about the way that Denver defended KD tonight?
32:44It was so impressive.
32:45Look, he's just seeing a wall.
32:47One of the great players of all time.
32:50Offensively, this is where you need guys to be shooting threes to spread out the space.
32:54When you're two for 24, the defense can key in on your primary score.
32:58You give two threes to reach Shepard.
33:00You give a couple threes to spread out around.
33:02Now you have to at least acknowledge that threat.
33:05That threat wasn't there.
33:06It did not open up lanes for Kevin Durant tonight.
33:10Okoge banks it in.
33:11Now, in case you're wondering,
33:14the fewest threes made by a team in a game this season.
33:17The answer is three.
33:19Done five times amongst just two teams.
33:23Orlando's done it twice.
33:25Dallas has done it three times.
33:27Dallin Chumas sheds and slams.
33:31Right now, Houston, two for 24.
33:35They have six minutes and 50 seconds to hit a third three.
33:38And in this league, with the volume that we have every night,
33:40I'm actually shocked that three was the number.
33:43If you had asked me, I would have said probably five or six.
33:46Right.
34:14Somebody hit three.
34:16That's Bam out of bio numbers.
34:20Holiday.
34:21Can't hit.
34:23It was fun seeing the NBA world abuzz last night with Bam's historic performance.
34:30It was fun to watch.
34:32It was impressive.
34:33Congratulations to Bam out of bio on the Miami Heat.
34:37Jones banks it in.
34:39Busts the foul.
34:40And Tyus Jones a chance for three.
34:45Come on.
34:49Bam just incredible.
34:53The 43 free throw attempts.
34:56It's seven threes.
34:58I think, you know, one of the most amazing parts of this is he's just not the player you
35:03would expect to have that kind of output.
35:06His previous career, I was 41.
35:08Someone said, hey, someone scored 83 in the NBA tonight.
35:11How many players would you have to name before you would get to Bam?
35:14You know, you're right.
35:15And that's what made it really such a story.
35:17Yeah.
35:18On top of it all.
35:19Like, wait a second.
35:19Who's doing it?
35:20Yeah.
35:20You know, Bam out of bio, a guy that we all highly regard for a lot of different reasons.
35:24But that's not it.
35:25Talk to him after the game.
35:26He said, he said, when did you start thinking about it?
35:28He said, well, when I had a 30-point first quarter.
35:30You know, I started kind of thinking, like, this could be a big night.
35:33But even then, in your wildest dreams as a player, you're not getting north of 80 points.
35:39And yet, here he was, you know, able to finish that off.
35:42And so, you know, that top tier of all-time individual scoring games looks a little different today when you
35:49make that list.
35:52Wilt, Bam, Kobe.
35:54Honestly, something feels right with that.
35:58Bam agrees.
36:00No, I mean, look, there was a lot of conversation.
36:03But everyone's battling for second.
36:04The argument over second was just, look, until someone gets that 100 points and someone hits 101, then everything is
36:12a battle for second.
36:13And in this league, we don't complement silver medals.
36:25It was fun to see him at the podium afterwards as well with his partner, Asia Wilson, the four-time
36:33MVP, and talking about the ways that they motivate each other.
36:36Yeah, iron sharpens iron.
36:38That's right.
36:39Right now, Houston could use some iron because this game went from bad to worse.
36:44There you go.
36:45Clint Capella with some action.
36:47Let's have a big picture conversation, guys.
36:51Starting with Denver, all right?
36:53It's been an up and down year health-wise.
36:55They just haven't had a lot of available bodies for long stretches of time.
36:59This was just the 13th game.
37:01They had their preferred starting lineup.
37:05How dangerous are they in the West, though, as a threat to OKC and San Antonio?
37:11So clearly, OKC and San Antonio are separated right now.
37:14Yeah.
37:14They deserve to be put on a different level.
37:17Both of those teams, you know, on both ends of the floor, can beat you so many different ways.
37:21When you look at that next group of teams, Houston, Lakers, Minnesota, Denver, I personally think Denver at their best
37:27represents that team that potentially, you know, throws a serious threat into those top two teams.
37:33All of the teams after Oklahoma City and San Antonio have been inconsistent.
37:37But Denver, because of the injuries and who they have coming back and what they look like at the start
37:42of the year, I think that's the team to me that I look at and say they're very interesting to
37:47see what these last 17 games look like.
37:49Yeah, no, I couldn't agree more.
37:51But, you know, we talk about all the injuries.
37:54OKC's dealt with a lot of injuries.
37:56Yeah, they have.
37:56They have victories with multiple guys out and still able to beat quality teams.
38:01They did that to Cleveland a couple of weeks ago.
38:03They've had some impressive victories.
38:05So everyone's going to deal with injuries.
38:07But I'll go back to last year when Denver had them on the ropes.
38:11Yeah.
38:11Aaron Gordon not healthy, still came out, had a great game seven contributing to his team.
38:16But ultimately, this is a better Denver team, a more talented Denver team than last year.
38:20So if they're able to get healthy and get the right matchup, I think it could be problems for everyone
38:26in the conference.
38:27How about Houston?
38:28How you assess their chances heading into the Western Conference playoffs?
38:33I think so many things have to go right for them on a given night to take on certainly those
38:39top teams that we talked about.
38:40But even looking at what a potential first-round matchup could be, I think their shooting is a problem.
38:46We know that.
38:47Their defensive and offensive rebound gives them a chance most nights.
38:50But without a true natural point guard to organize them, it's just tough to operate your offense that efficiently and
38:59efficiently in that area of the floor to beat one of those teams four times.
39:03Uncle Jeff can't hit the three.
39:06Could hear the crowd anticipating it.
39:08He was a beloved member of that championship team a couple years ago.
39:14You know, Jeff Green has the most teammates ever.
39:17Wow.
39:18He's headed towards the most teams ever.
39:20That also helped.
39:23273 teammates for Jeff Green.
39:25And you know what?
39:26I can't think of one teammate that wouldn't have loved playing with Uncle Jeff.
39:29Yeah.
39:30Like, he's just been that guy.
39:31I had a training camp with him in Cleveland before I was traded away.
39:34And it was just those couple of weeks we had so much fun.
39:37Just really one of the best teammates in this league.
39:39He was joking with him before the game.
39:41About him finally shaving it all off.
39:44Well, he's kept some of it up there.
39:46He's kept some of it up there.
39:48But, you know, he could join the club.
39:50He's on the team now.
39:51A team Legs will never know anything about.
39:54Board center with Scott Van Pelt.
39:56Stick around because Legs is going to be with him.
39:59That's your guy, Legs.
40:00That's my fam.
40:02Back with my fam.
40:03Miss those guys.
40:04I love a good Legs SVP combo.
40:06Plenty of time for you to still catch a red eye suit.
40:10So, yeah, SVP can keep you a while.
40:12Yeah, a couple segments.
40:14Yeah, this is a super late red eye.
40:17Yeah, yeah.
40:18Probably it's in that midnight area.
40:19This is closer to 1 a.m.
40:21Yeah, no, you got time.
40:27Richard's private jet will just take off whenever he wants, you know.
40:30Yeah.
40:31I tried to put that through ESPN travel.
40:34They said no.
40:35That would came back at you.
40:37That would came back.
40:37It got rejected.
40:38Yeah, yeah.
40:38That would came back quickly.
40:39And understandable.
40:41That was out of policy.
40:43Yes.
40:47Ryan Rugo, Tim Legler, Richard Jefferson, Katie George with you.
40:52Yeah, Strother.
40:53There's another guy who wasn't a part of the rotation tonight, but he has played a big role at times
40:59this year for Denver.
41:00He has.
41:00He's had certain pockets of time this season where he's had to step up, play more minutes, and he can
41:05score.
41:06But he's another one of those guys, you're right, because there's about six, seven guys in that wing position that
41:13there's going to be some difficult decisions to be made for David Adelman.
41:17And look, you know, getting run during the season will help you.
41:20If you do get called on again, once you've had to go out of the rotation, you never know.
41:24Injuries, foul trouble, and you don't want to give it night.
41:26The fact that a lot of these guys have played important stretches is going to be helpful.
41:31I thought it was interesting David Adelman talking about Peyton Watson and saying, you know, he had one role when
41:36we were whole at the beginning of the year, got off to the 10-2 start.
41:39But then, because of the injuries, he showed us elements of his game that make it so that even when
41:44he's back, and they're hoping he's back soon, David Adelman is going to have to access parts of him that
41:51he didn't have to the first 12 games.
41:54But that's also part of when you have injuries and stuff like that, other players are able to step up
41:59and find something.
42:01Players can get confidence.
42:02Players can find their shooting stroke.
42:05So when you have these injuries, there's a silver lining that you try and find.
42:09But they have a bunch of guys.
42:11I think even Tyus Jones, a quality backup in this league, assist to turnover ratio, always one of the best.
42:18And that's what you want with your second unit.
42:20So you never know when you might have to win a game without a point guard.
42:23You might have to win a game because somebody goes down.
42:26So to have these guys on your bench that know the system and can play the right way, it's so
42:30valuable.
42:321-24-87, Denver in front, 42 points off the bench tonight for the Nuggets.
42:39Nikola Jokic with a triple-double, 16 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists.
42:45Fourth different season, he's had at least 25 triple-doubles matching Russell Westbrook for the most such seasons.
42:55Ryan, do you know where you were six years ago, really?
42:57I do.
42:58I do.
42:59I was in Dallas calling the Mavs and the Nuggets with Doris Burke, Tom Rinaldi, our producer, Ian Gruka, our
43:08director, Jeff Evers.
43:09You had the whole crew.
43:11Because it was the day the NBA shut down.
43:14We called the final game.
43:15You were waiting in Sacramento, Richard, for a game that didn't happen.
43:18Yeah.
43:19We had the final game between Nuggets and Mavs before the season shut down because of COVID six years ago
43:26today.
43:26I was working that night in Bristol.
43:28I'm still in SportsCenter.
43:29And I remember we got the news because the second game was Utah, right?
43:33I think Utah and Sacramento.
43:34And that's when it began, right there.
43:37I remember walking out that night and no one really knew exactly what was happening, how long it was going
43:42to go on.
43:43And they just said, hey, look, go home.
43:44The producer said, go home and we'll get back in touch maybe a couple weeks.
43:48You'll be out.
43:50Months later.
43:51Months.
43:51Months.
43:52I mean, I've only been in Bristol a handful of times since.
43:56And I was basically going up there every week at the time.
43:59So how long that lasted.
44:01That's amazing, though.
44:02Six years ago.
44:03Already.
44:04Pretty crazy.
44:06Life was very strange for a while.
44:09You kept naming people.
44:10Can you name more people that were in the truck that night?
44:12Because you got a pretty extensive list.
44:14I did.
44:14We had a great crew.
44:16Who was the runner that night?
44:18Who drove you?
44:19Who brought the coffee?
44:20Who was the driver?
44:21Oh, who was a runner that night?
44:23We had an amazing crew.
44:25They were taking great care of us.
44:29I can't remember.
44:30He's trying to think right now.
44:31I know he is.
44:31It's going to bother him.
44:32That he's not remembering this.
44:34We were joking.
44:35It's going to bother you.
44:36I can remember our stage manager that night.
44:38I can remember.
44:39I was so conscious of germs.
44:41Saw everything that was developing.
44:42I remember she had touched the open part of the top of my hot water.
44:46And I was like, oh, I can't drink that one.
44:48I'm not drinking that one tonight.
44:51I'm not drinking that one tonight.
44:52Jennifer Paris was our stage manager that night.
44:56We all know Jen.
44:58That's great, yeah.
44:58Jen's a Dallas staple.
45:03Okoge buries the three.
45:05Boy, fellas, we've covered a lot of ground in this one's daughter.
45:23Субтитры сделал DimaTorzok.
45:38The Nuggets will claim the season series against Houston.
45:43Could be big in tiebreakers.
45:46An authoritative victory tonight for the Denver Nuggets.
45:50129-93.
45:53The final for our producer, Lori Privatera.
45:57Our director, Billy, don't call me, Scott Proctor.
46:01For Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, and Katie George.
46:05I'm Ryan Rucco.
46:06Thanks for watching as we say so long from Denver.
46:10A 30-point night for Murray.
46:12A triple-double for Jokic.
46:14Brown and Johnson in double figures.
46:17And now at SportsCenter with SVP.
46:19Legs will join them.
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