Nuggets' new-look starting lineup comes out firing, Denver cruises to win over Trailblazers

DENVER — Behind a season-high 27 points on 8-13 shooting from Danilo Gallinari and a first-half offensive onslaught, the Denver Nuggets pulled ahead at halftime and coasted to a 132-120 win over the Portland Trailblazers.

The Nuggets new-look starting lineup featuring Gary Harris, who returned after missing 16 games with a right foot injury, Nikola Jokic, who started his first game at center this season, and Wilson Chandler got the Nuggets off to a 13-11 start and set the table for a first quarter where Denver exploded for 38 points on 62.5 percent shooting.

“The main thing is we came out with a lot of energy,” Harris said after the win. “And our bench came back had a lot of energy as well, and we were able to finish it down the stretch.”

Leading 38-28 after the first, Denver continued their hot start from the field going on a 7-0 run to begin the second quarter behind Will Barton. Barton, who started his NBA career with Portland, wasn’t shy against his former team scoring 15 points on 3-8 shooting.

“We talked about our record when we win the first quarter and get off to good starts and we made that a point of emphasis going into the game,” Michael Malone said. “I loved our defense, I loved our energy, I loved our effort.”

The Nuggets’ lead ballooned to 18 points at 74-56 by halftime behind a productive first half from Gallinari and Chandler, the latter of which got back on track after three straight single-digit scoring nights

As a team, the Nuggets shot 55.3 percent from the field and a blistering 9-13, 69.2 percent from three over the first two quarter. Four out of five Denver starters; Harris, Gallinari, Chandler, and Jokic finished in double-figures in the first half.

“I thought we came out aggressive,” Gallinari said. “We had a very good practice yesterday and I thought everybody came out aggressive and we were sharing the ball and playing with a great rhythm on offense and defense. I thought we did a great job throughout the whole game but especially in the beginning of the game.”

The full Jokic experience at the five, surrounded almost exclusively by Chandler and Gallinari was unlocked tonight. The 21-year-old picked up his fourth foul just a couple minutes into the second quarter and had to sit, but by then the game was mostly out of reach.

Jokic’s impact was felt throughout all facets of tonight’s Nuggets’ win despite playing just 19 minutes. Because of foul trouble, Jokic played quite a bit less than the 30 minutes Malone envisioned, but set the tone in the first half and finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and five assists.

Denver rode their efficient first half into a third quarter that soon saw all Nuggets starters reach double-digits. Portland held even during the third and actually outscored the Nuggets in the quarter 29-26, as Damian Lillard, who was a lone bright spot for the Trailblazers got in a groove on his way to a 40-point night.

Portland was able to trim Denver’s lead to 11 points at the 11-minute mark of the fourth, but the Nuggets weathered the storm behind steady point guard play from Jameer Nelson, who closed tonight’s game over Emmanuel Mudiay and finished with 15 points in 26 minutes.

“That’s 13 years in the NBA, that’s an All-Star, that’s played in the finals,” Malone said of Nelson. “Trust me when I tell you it’s tough because I really want to get Emmanuel out there. He played well tonight, did some good things for us. Jammer gives us that in a close game, a game we desperately needed, let’s be honest right, we’ve been struggling we needed a win in the worst way, and Jameer’s calming influence and the big shots he made down the stretch, he calmed his teammates down as well.”

The Nuggets move to 10-16 on the season.

“It was just a great win,” Gallinari said. “Especially after the road trip coming back and winning the first one, the first out of three home games we have is a very good way to start.”

FOOTNOTES

In his first game back from a right foot injury that cost him 16 games, Harris was thrust into the starting lineup was explosive, and played well. Harris came into tonight set to play anywhere from 24-28 minutes. The shooting guard scored ten points in the first half and finished with 18 points on 7-11 shooting in 31 minutes.

“I felt good, I was just real happy to be out there,” Harris said. “I just wanted to bring energy on both ends of the floor, just try to make the plays and just try to help do whatever I can to help the team win. I really didn’t know what was going to happen, I was just happy to get back out there.”

The 129 points from the Nuggets tonight was a season high.

WHERE/WHEN

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado | December 15, 2016

NUGGETS STAR OF THE GAME

Tonight’s game ball goes to Harris, who made a triumphant return to the starting lineup and showed no ill-effects of a right foot injury that cost him 16 games. As a team, the Nuggets didn’t play well on the defensive end of the floor tonight, but Harris will be key for Denver moving forward.

BY THE NUMBERS

PLAYS OF THE GAME

Harris hits his first jumper, a three from the left wing

Great to have you back, Mr. Harris! #Nuggets https://t.co/8yJhNNHWFO

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 16, 2016

Magic Jokic with the no-look

That assist though…

😎😎😎 #Nuggets https://t.co/nKCpyHuO5g

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 16, 2016

Barton against his former team

Oh, Thriiiiiiiiill…

BANG. #Nuggets https://t.co/svKLfyUbkd

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 16, 2016

Jokic and Harris getting that chemistry back

Now ain't that pretty!#Nuggets https://t.co/8HO68VWUZ6

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 16, 2016

Three of Gallinari’s season-high

Also Gallo being Gallo.#Nuggets https://t.co/ijX5f480QI

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 16, 2016

WHATS NEXT

Denver has two more games on this homestand; Saturday night against the Knicks and Monday, when the Nuggets host the Mavericks.