Emmanuel Mudiay's miraculous game-winner lifts Nuggets over 76ers

DENVER — Flashbulb memories are one of life’s greatest gifts.

The ability to reminisce to a particular moment in time and remember second-for-second, play-for-play what transpired, especially on a basketball court, are memories every NBA player wants to tuck away in the dark, deep pockets of their brains for eternity.

Tonight was one of those moments for Denver Nuggets rookie Emmanuel Mudiay.

A desperation, half court heave from the 20-year-old as time expired lifted the Nuggets to a miraculous 104-103 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in front of what we’ll call a cozy Pepsi Center crowd.

“When I shot it I was leaning to my left, and I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Mudiay said. “I just kept running to my left, and then it went in.”

With the Nuggets down two and just 3.1 seconds remaining on the clock, Darrell Arthur gunned the ball to an awaiting Mudiay just beyond half court. Mudiay took three dribbles, briefly lost control of the ball as it was poked away by Isaiah Canaan, regained his dribble and tossed up a prayer that was answered as Denver put a cap on one of their most thrilling games of the season.

“God is good!” Mudiay exclaimed postgame.

Outside, Mother Nature rained down as the state’s biggest snowstorm in three years pounded the downtown district throughout much of the day, yet inside the walls of Pepsi Center, the 76ers came out lit.

Philadelphia was 5-10 from 3-point range in the first quarter and closed the period on a 19-2 run. That run, that resulted in a 35-24 first quarter advantage, came against a Nuggets second unit that struggled adjusting to the 76ers’ five-out lineup.

With only two true interior players active tonight, Philadelphia sent out a unit midway through the quarter featuring T.J. McConnell, Nik Stauskas, Sonny Weems, Robert Covington and Richaun Holmes. Those five dribble-drove the Nuggets to death and were routinely able to connect on both contested and uncontested looks from deep.

Philadelphia finished the night 15-37 (40.5 percent) from deep, staying true to their Moreyball-built foundation and philosophy of threes and layups, brought to Philly by GM Sam Hinkie – a Daryl Morey disciple.

“I thought [our defense] was okay,” Malone said. “If you look at the field goal percentage, you’d say [we] played really well because they only shot 39 [percent], only score 103 points. But the frustration I have inside the numbers is the 3-point defense and just the discipline and the lack there of at times.”

The tables turned in the second quarter as Denver outscored Philadelphia 29-10 behind nine points from Mudiay, who finished with 27 points on 23 shots, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and just one turnover in a team-high 42 minutes. Jusuf Nurkic also chipped in four points and five rebounds in that second frame and was able to establish himself on the interior agains the Carl Landry, Elton Brand combo platter. Nurkic later exited the game in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury.

A tightly contested third quarter bled over to the fourth where Mudiay led the way with 11 points. Fellow rookie Nikola Jokic was a force as well scoring 11 of his own and went 7-9 from the foul line in the period. Jokic finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, another stat-stuffing game from the likely first-team All-Rookie selection.

Gary Harris chipped in 18 points and Darrell Arthur, who was starting once again for an injured Kenneth Faried (sore lower back) hit double figures with 11 points as well.

For the 76ers, rookie T.J. McConnell led the way with 17 points off the bench on 7-10 shooting. Covington, Hollis Thompson, Carl Landry and Isaiah Canaan all reached double figures in the loss. Nerlens Noel, who was a game-time decision with a right knee contusion was held out.

WHERE/WHEN

Pepsi Center – March 23, 2016 – Game No. 72

STAR OF THE GAME

Emmanuel Mudiay’s first buzzer beater capped one heck of a night for the Nuggets. The rookie finished with 27 points (his eighth 20-point game this season), and hauled in 11 rebounds giving him his fourth double-double of the year.

MOOOOODY!!!

What. A. WIN.

Sixers 103 – #Nuggets 104. https://t.co/bNHBdyLIbZ

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 24, 2016

Mudiay game winner. Nuggets win 104-103 pic.twitter.com/lhEFHDuPmx

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) March 24, 2016

BY THE NUMBERS

QUOTE OF THE GAME

Malone on Mudiay’s game winner:

“You guys have witnessed the… what are we going to call it? The shot? We witnessed the shot, the one and only shot.”

WHAT’S NEXT

The Nuggets head to Los Angeles this weekend for the classic Lakers / Clippers double dip. They take on Kobe Bryant for the last time Friday night then have a dangerous Sunday matinée vs the Clippers.