SAN ANTONIO – Nuggets coach Michael Malone didn’t want to see any of his players patting each other on the back Monday night.
The comeback was good. But, it wasn’t enough as the Spurs came up with four defensive stops in the final 27.4 seconds to defeat the Nuggets 104-103 on Monday at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.
And with the way the Nuggets started the game there was no reason to celebrate the good fourth-quarter effort.
“We lost the game. Whether you lose the game by a wide margin or a close one, the disappointment is having lost two in a row coming into tonight is the way we started,” Malone said. “That can’t be who we are. I know we are not going to go 19-0 but the sense of urgency has to be there.”
That sense of urgency didn’t really show up until drained four 3-pointers in the final four minutes. The barrage brought the Nuggets back from 11 down.
The Nuggets also had plenty of opportunities in the closing seconds. missed a fadeaway as time expired. got the ball picked from him by Rudy Gay with less than five seconds remaining and Murray also missed a runner and a 3-pointer all in the final 16.2 seconds.
“I like the fact that we came back and made it a game. We had a couple of great looks at it in the end to get the win,” Malone said. “With three losses in a row, there are no moral victories for us at this time in the season.”
With the loss, the Nuggets (42-21) fell two games behind the in the Western Conference standings – a far cry from what could have been only a few days ago. If the Nuggets can’t catch the Golden State, they could face the Spurs (36-29), who are tied with the Clippers for seventh place in the West, in the first round of playoffs. The Clippers-Lakers game Monday night finished after press time.
“I don’t think anyone envisioned the being in second place with 20 games to go in the regular season,” Malone said before the game.
One reason for that success has been the improved defense. The Nuggets have the league’s 10th rated defense this season – up from 23rd in 2017-18.
But Monday against the Spurs, it became a problem again, especially in the first quarter. The Spurs began the game on a 7-0 run and led 36-17 as the Nuggets also failed to find an offensive rhythm, shooting 7 of 23 from the floor and 1 of 9 from 3-point range.
“Especially on the road teams are going to dictate what they are going to do and we have to be aggressive,” Murray said. “When they hit first we have to hit back. Being down 20 in the first quarter is a tough mountain to climb.”
The Nuggets chipped the lead down to 10 at the half and after a 3-pointer by Jokic and a floater by Jamal Murray cut the Spurs’ lead to 64-59 with 8:08 left in the third quarter.
Two minutes later, Harris drilled a 3 to cut the lead to 67-64. The Spurs went on a 13-2 run to push their lead back to 16 at the end of the third quarter.
“Why did we put ourselves in that position?” Malone said. “To start the game – with the way they outplayed us on both ends – I thought we were really selfish in that first half. The ball did not move. We were taking contested shots and not playing for each other. When we do play for each other we are a really good basketball team.”
Former Colorado star Derrick White continued his strong play for the Spurs, who have now won three straight – and seven in row at home. White finished with 11 points and nine assists.
DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs with 24 points and Aldridge scored 22. Murray led the Nuggets with 25 points and Jokic added 22.
“Jamal got us going. When he makes one shot he is someone who can feel like he is shooting into a big basket,” Malone said. “We ran a couple plays for him and he got good looks. His teammates got him open and he stepped up and did the rest.”
Saturday was the first time since Oct. 20 that the Nuggets’ intended starting five — Jokic, Murray, Harris, and — started together. They did so again Monday against the Spurs. The lineup didn’t fare well in the game’s opening quarter.
“We have 19 games to go and I have to constantly remind myself that Gary Harris is still trying to find a rhythm in that starting lineup and a rhythm overall,” Malone said.
The Nuggets will try to get off to a better start against the Lakers on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
“As much as we hate to go through it – losing three in a row – this kind of failure if we are willing to learn from it can be a positive,” Malone said. “We are in L.A. in two days and we will find out what kind of resolve we have.”
