Sunday’s loss to the Pacers was by no means a “bad” loss, but the Nuggets were right to be bitter because it was a game they could’ve, and probably should’ve, won.
’s bruising performance helped build an 11-point lead late in the third quarter. From there, the Nuggets’ defense evaporated as the Pacers exploited the 3-point line and the offensive glass. Denver conceded 49 points over the final 14 minutes of the game. Thatap an untenable, alarming rate.
The Nuggets have a quick turnaround against Minnesota on Monday, which marks the end of their third consecutive back-to-back set. But before that, here are my takeaways from Sunday’s loss:
Teams don’t survive 41-point fourth quarters
has put together a strong season, and his production (13 points, four assists) was especially important with three starters out. He was blunt about the defensive breakdowns that allowed Doug McDermott to burn the nets for 18 points in the fourth quarter.
“(The defense) was non-existent,” Plumlee said. “We didn’t find McDermott the whole half. We just weren’t ourselves on defense.”
Nuggets coach Michael Malone was asked specifically where the breakdowns came from.
“When you give up 41 in the quarter, I think itap everywhere,” Malone said. “I think itap definitely on the ball, which is where your defense always starts. And then itap communication behind that. … A lot of (McDermottap shots), he was naked. He was wide open. You can’t leave the best shooter in the gym wide open.”
After re-watching the fourth quarter, itap clear lost him twice on the perimeter. Once the starters subbed back in, drew the assignment. The two he gave up came after sagging off him in help defense.
As Malone said, McDermott was shooting into a giant hoop by the end of the game.
Plumlee’s promise
Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis drilled the Nuggets’ frontcourt all game long. He recorded his first-ever triple-double and was relentless on the offensive glass.
Sabonis’ backbreaking sequence came with 3:00 left in the fourth and the Pacers leading 98-97. Sabonis snatched three consecutive offensive rebounds, eventually ending the possession with a putback layup. The plays were so deflating that Malone immediately subbed out for Mason Plumlee. He wanted more size on the glass.
The problem is that Plumlee’s shooting just 55% from the free-throw line this year. Over the final two minutes, Plumlee missed three of his four attempts.
“Personally, (Malone) came to me late. I didn’t deliver, but thatap not going to happen again,” Plumlee said.
Enough Porter
Jr. has been invaluable to the Nuggets over the last three weeks. If they don’t make any moves at the trade deadline, his improvement is likely the biggest storyline of the second half of the season.
Coming off his fantastic game in the Golden State comeback, he was decent Sunday and finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. He’d played 11 consecutive minutes over the third and fourth quarters before Malone yanked the entire second unit for the starters. By that point, the Pacers had all the momentum.
After the game, it felt prudent to ask about Porter. Understandably, Malone was tired of the line of questioning.
“Every nightap not going to be about Michael Porter,” Malone said. “This loss has nothing to do with Michael Porter. The Denver Nuggets lost tonight. I don’t want every game, every postgame news conference just being about Michael Porter. Thatap unfair to the other guys and unfair to him as well.”
