A cacophony of disaster: Nuggets drop another close game to Raptors

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DENVER —The Denver Nuggets, fresh off of their first home victory, hosted the Toronto Raptors and their All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and the NBA’s leading scorer DeMar DeRozan. The Nuggets played hard for all 53 minutes but two late turnovers, from Emmanuel Mudiay and Jameer Nelson doomed Denver and the Nuggets fell 113-111 in overtime.

The Nuggets came out in the first half with energy and toughness but fell behind by ten points at the end of the first quarter. Behind the controlled and methodical play of Mudiay and the lights out shooting of Wilson Chandler, the Nuggets stayed within ten points of the Raptors until Malone decided to uncork a lineup featuring Chandler at shooting guard to defend DeRozan. That lineup may have been one of the best decisions Malone has made all year.

That five-man group, which also included Faried, Mudiay, Gallinari, and Nurkic, proceeded to go on a 17-6 run in the last 4:37 of the half to go into halftime with a five-point lead. In limited time this season it seems that pairing Mudiay with both Chandler and Gallinari and one center has been one of the best lineups for the Nuggets. Behind Chandler’s 14 points, four rebounds and one assist, and Mudiay’s 10 points, five assists and three rebounds and just one turnover, the Nuggets went into the half leading 57-52.

With 1:30 left in regulation, the Nuggets gave up back-to-back offensive rebounds to Jonas Valanciunas, wasting a full minute of the clock. Then, with 30 seconds on the clock, Nelson had his best sequence of the season. Nelson went from contesting a DeRozan jumpshot to securing a much needed defensive rebound and then hit a three on the next possession off of a Chandler rebound to put the Nuggets up 101-100.

DeRozan nearly broke the hearts of all Nuggets fans when he hit a jumper with 15 seconds remaining on the clock but Chandler answered by drawing a foul and hitting one of two to tie the game at 102. DeRozan’s final shot barely rolled off the rim and we went to overtime

The Nuggets played hard and had a solid overtime period but two late turnovers; a bad pass from Mudiay and a subsequent turnover by Nelson who stepped on the sideline out of bounds, was the end of a potential comeback. With the Nuggets down by four, Mudiay drew a foul from a heave beyond half court, which he almost converted and then made all three shots from the charity stripe, but it was not enough as the Nuggets fell 113-111 in overtime.

WHERE/WHEN

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado | November 18, 2016 | Game No. 12

NUGGETS STAR OF THE GAME

Emmanuel Mudiay put together his most complete game of the season on both ends of the ball with 25 points, six rebounds, 9 assists and five turnovers while playing his best on-ball defense of the season.

BY THE NUMBERS

PLAYS OF THE GAME

Mudiay with the finger-roll in transition.

Moody on the run 😎#Nuggets https://t.co/1dLjjP7bKF

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 19, 2016

Nurkic finds a streaking Faried for the lay-in.

MANIMAL 💪

Here we come! #Nuggets https://t.co/f1vCtOpYBK

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 19, 2016

Jokic with the great pass leading to Gallinari dunk.

Bellisimo –> Boom.#Nuggets https://t.co/IO298j3DLA

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 19, 2016

Murray finds Chandler in transition.

This was PRETTY.#Nuggets https://t.co/1N85fFEjYN

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 19, 2016

Mudiay finds Faried with the beautiful over the shoulder assist.

Let's go let's go let's goooooooooo!#Nuggets https://t.co/r4FenEK28N

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 19, 2016

Nelson hits a big three to give the Nuggets the one point lead late in the 4th quarter.

YESSS! FINISH THIS!#Nuggets https://t.co/U71nXGmXMT

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) November 19, 2016

QUOTE OF THE GAME

Malone on if the Nuggets are getting close to winning.

“I do. I mean, its frustrating. I hate to lose and it’s driving me nuts but it shows that we are close. Now how do we get over the hump? How do we stop making the same mistakes time and time again in close games? Like I said earlier, I think that when you are a team that hasn’t won in a few years and you are playing a lot of young guys who haven’t won in the NBA that is a huge step and there is no secret formula to that. It is trial and tribulation, learning from your mistakes, and trying to get better and that is why it is imperative as the head coach and the leader of this team to stay positive and continue to teach and show guys how we have to be better and how can be better. To your point, yes, I am encouraged where we are at. The record is not what we want but I’m not worried about the record right now. Are we getting better? As long as were getting better and were making strides then as the season goes along I think we will find our rhythm at some point.”

WHAT’S NEXT

The Nuggets continue their four-game homestand against the Utah Jazz on Sunday at Pepsi Center looking for a much needed win.