NEW YORK — First the crowd inside the Barclays Center groaned when Brooklyn Nets rookie Jarrett Allen could not slam home an alley-oop pass from D’Angelo Russell, as Allen shook his head while hanging on the rim.
The audible frustration grew seconds later, when the Nuggets’ Wilson Chandler drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing to push his team’s lead to 22 points.
That sequence perfectly captured the Nuggets’ third quarter their coach later called “phenomenal,” propelling Denver to its highest scoring output of the early season in a 124-111 victory Sunday night.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) takes a shot as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, far left, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27), and Nuggets forward Paul Millsap (4) defend him during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. The Nuggets defeated the Nets 124-111.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen, left, becomes entangled with Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee (24) as Plumlee drives toward the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks to pass as Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell, left, and Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) defend Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap (4) defends as Brooklyn Nets forward Trevor Booker (35) shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. Nuggets guard Will Barton (5) and Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick (6) watch the play.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen, left, guards against Denver Nuggets center Mason Plumlee (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (14) tries to strip the ball from Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) as Russell dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. Nuggets center Mason Plumlee (24) and Nets center Jarrett Allen (31) watch, right.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) tries to strip the ball from Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. The Nuggets defeated the Nets 124-111.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) signals after the Nuggets hit a three-pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts a Nets player is called for a foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. The Nuggets defeated the Nets 124-111.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Brooklyn Nets center Timofey Mozgov, right, drives around Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. The Nuggets defeated the Nets 124-111.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends a shot by Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. The Nuggets defeated the Nets 124-111.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
Denver Nuggets players lock arms during the National Anthem before an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York.
Kathy Willens, The Associated Press
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Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) takes a shot as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, far left, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27), and Nuggets forward Paul Millsap (4) defend him during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in New York. The Nuggets defeated the Nets 124-111.
“Thatap by far our best quarter of basketball on both ends of the floor,” coach Michael Malone said. “It was just a matter of doing what we’re doing with more intensity, more aggression, more commitment.”
Denver outscored Brooklyn 40-21 in the third quarter, including a 22-6 run to start the period to flip a halftime deficit into a comfortable advantage. The Nuggets held the Nets to 7-of-26 from the floor in the period, igniting its offense that made nearly 60 percent of its attempts.
A pull-up jumper by Jamal Murray gave the Nuggets a 66-64 lead. Three consecutive buckets by Paul Millsap increased that advantage to 76-67 about midway through the period. Chandler’s driving layup gave Denver a double-digit lead, before a Nikola Jokic 19-footer pushed it to a game-high 26 points with less than two minutes remaining in the period. The Nets never got closer than 11 points in the final period.
What worked so well for the Nuggets during that decisive third quarter?
“Everything,” Jokic said. “The ball was going in. Everybody made shots. Everybody passed the ball. We got wide-open shots. Thatap how we want to play.”
That third-quarter outburst anchored a balanced, free-flowing effort reminiscent of last season, when Denver boasted one of the NBA’s most potent offenses.
Seven players scored in double figures, led by Murray’s 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting to snap out of an early-season slump. Chandler did likewise, scoring 18 points after averaging 7.2 over his first five games. Jokic (21 points, 14 rebounds, four assists) picked up his third consecutive double-double, while backup point guard Emmanuel Mudiay scored 13 of his 15 points in the second quarter to help halt a 24-6 Brooklyn run.
Itap worth noting Denver’s offensive breakthrough came against a Nets (3-4) team that entered Sunday ranked last in the NBA in points allowed (117.3) and 27th in defensive rating (109.5).
But Denver committed a season-low six turnovers — including just one through about 2 1/2 quarters — against a team that previously averaged 9.3 steals per game. The Nuggets also successfully built off a fourth quarter in Atlanta in which the made clutch plays to close out their first road victory. Sunday they got Murray and Chandler rolling, which Malone believes gives him “a pretty dangerous” starting five.
Next, the Nuggets must maintain momentum on the second night of their first back-to-back set of the season, finishing a four-game East Coast road trip across town against the New York Knicks on Monday night.
“We’re not satisfied,” Malone said. “We’ll try to get the Knicks tomorrow and go home feeling good about ourselves.”
