Spurs roast Nuggets, become fourth-straight team to score 120+ on Denver

[Elite_video_player id=”39″]

DENVER — The Nuggets’ defensive ineptitude is top of mind for everyone throughout Denver’s organization. You can tell that from listening to the disappointment in Michael Malone’s voice at practice and before and after every game as of late.

In the Nuggets’ 127-99 loss Thursday night to the San Antonio Spurs, Denver’s defensive effort will once again emerge as the main talking point after the Nuggets surrendered over 120 points to the opposition for a fourth-straight game.

“We can’t be a one-way team,” Malone said. “I think what happened was to start that game, neither team could miss, but neither team could get a stop. When our offense started struggling and we couldn’t make shots, I think it really deflated our defense.”

San Antonio was paced by LaMarcus Aldridge who scored 28 points on 11-18 shooting. Kawhi Leonard added 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Tony Parker scored 21 points on 10-11 shooting.

“They’re a team that has championship aspirations. They’re a championship team,” Malone said. “And to compete with them, you have to give a championship effort for all quarters, and we did it for two tonight.”

For Denver, Nikola Jokic scored 19 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out five assists in 27 minutes. Jokic only picked up two fouls in his 27 minutes, an encouraging sign for the Nuggets’ big man. Elsewhere, Danilo Gallinari scored 15 points on 5-13 shooting and Wilson Chandler added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Denver and San Antonio combined for 111 points on 53 percent shooting from the field in the first half, including 38.5 percent shooting from three.

A 23-10 Spurs run to start the third propelled San Antonio to a 83-69 lead midway through the quarter. Gallinari was then called for a technical foul after he converted on a layup and thought he was fouled.

The Nuggets outscored the Spurs 9-7 after Gallinari’s technical to close to within 13 to start of the fourth, but that was as close as Denver got.

“It’s going to take time, we gotta keep working at it,” Chandler said of Denver’s defense. “I think we have to stay consistent with it, believe in the process and follow orders that we’re given out on the court and try to do it to the best of our abilities and just trust one another.”

“When you go under, go under, go under, and we give up three’s that drives me insane, and we address it,” Malone said about his team not sticking to the gameplan on Spurs’ shooters. “Guys look at me like I’m crazy when I take them out of games sometimes and that really bewilders me. It’s called gameplan discipline and we don’t have enough discipline obviously.”

Footnotes

Darrell Arthur started in place of Chandler, Arthur finished with 13 points on 5-8 shooting and four rebounds in 19 minutes of action.

Kenneth Faried (low back pain) sat out for a third-straight game.

What’s next

The Nuggets visit Oklahoma City Saturday before heading to London in a game against the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 12.

Malik Beasley and Juan Hernangomez, who the Nuggets assigned the D-League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce play Friday and Saturday night.