The Denver Nuggets looked like they were on their way to earning an impressive road win, but a late-game implosion doomed them in Indianapolis. Here are five observations from the 126-116 overtime loss.
1. Brutal late-game execution
The Nuggets were in position to beat a good Pacers team on the road. Gary Harris‘ three-pointer with 2:54 left put them ahead by eight points. But from that point on, Denver imploded. The Pacers scored the final eight points of the game in regulation and outscored the Nuggets 12-2 in overtime.
Over the final 7:54 of the game, the Nuggets shot 1-11 from the field and turned it over five times. They were stuck on 114 points for almost eight minutes. Kenneth Faried‘s garbage-time bucket with 13.2 seconds remaining in overtime broke the drought.
“That game should have ended in regulation,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said on Altitude TV’s post-game broadcast. “We had our chances to win it.”
Denver closed the game with Will Barton as the lead ball handler. Barton has bailed Denver out in tight games before this season, but he was bad down the stretch in Indianapolis. He missed all three shots he took and turned it over once from the 2:54 mark of regulation on.
2. The Victor Oladipo show
The Nuggets have had their struggles containing ultra-athletic guards this season. That continued in Sunday’s game as Victor Oladipo torched Denver for 47 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Oladipo took 28 shots and made 15 of them. He sunk six threes and went 7-11 on shots at the rim, according to NBA.com.
Time and time again, Oladipo blew by the Denver defender checking him and created havoc once he got into the lane. The Nuggets tried to guard him by switching pick-and-rolls. That strategy didn’t work very well.
Oladipo is having a monster season. He destroyed Denver.
3. Trey Lyles’ best game as a Nugget
Due to a crowded frontcourt, Trey Lyles wasn’t part of the Nuggets’ rotation at the start of the season. Only once in his first 15 games as a Nugget did the 6-foot-10 forward earn double-digit minutes. But since Paul Millsap hurt his wrist against the Lakers on Nov. 19, Lyles has seen his role increase. Lyles has played 10 minutes or more in each of his last 11 games. He’s performed well in an expanded role.
On Sunday, Lyles scored a career-high 25 points in 26 minutes. Lyles hit five threes and converted 9-15 field goals. The 22-year-old was especially impressive in the fourth quarter, when he scored 15 points, made three three-pointers and grabbed three rebounds.
Lyles has a smooth offensive game, which he’s finally getting the chance to show off.
4. Turnover issues return
At times this season, the Nuggets have struggled to take care of the basketball. They’ve already had a 23-turnover game against the Wizards and 21-turnover games against the Jazz, Grizzlies and Lakers. On Sunday, the Nuggets’ turnover issues returned as they coughed it up 21 times.
Emmanuel Mudiay managed to turn it over four times in 15 minutes. He continues to make too many unforced errors.
