The Denver Nuggets continued to show their dominance over the very best groups within the league with a slender win from Ball Enviornment on Monday evening. Nikola Jokic paced the Western Confence leaders with one other triple-double within the 116-111 victory.
No Joel or James for Philly
After taking down Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Japanese Convention main Milwaukee Bucks of their earlier sport over the weekend, they hosted the Sixers who got here in because the three seed within the East. Philadelphia would come to city, however is was a brief handed Sixers facet that have been with out MVP candidate Joel Embiid who was dominated out after an early morning exercise earlier than the sport and James Harden was out with a lingering Achilles harm.
The Nuggets began with a bang, because the Philly offense struggled to seek out their rhythm with out Embiid or Harden. Doc Rivers’ facet would rating simply 18 factors within the first quarter because the Nuggets prolonged the result in double digits with an early 14-3 run.
Lastly Philly discovered their groove on the offensive finish after a dreadful begin, due to Tyrese Maxey and his 20 level second quarter. The Sixers clawed again into the sport after happening by double digits, however by no means took the lead from the Nuggets after main 5-4 within the early going.
One other triple-double for Jokic
James Niang lower the result in 4 with a 3 pointer proper earlier than the half, however Denver got here out of the break weapons blazing, whereas Philly had a stagnant begin to the second half. Maxey went chilly after his big second quarter and the guests scored simply 4 factors within the opening seven minutes of the half. In that point the Nuggets went on a 22-4 run to retake command of the sport.
It appeared like the house staff was going to cruise to victory as Aaron Gordon, Bruce Brown and Christian Braun dazzled the Denver crown with a dizzying array of excessive flying dunks, and Jokic produced his twenty ninth triple-double of the season with 25, 17 and 12 assists.
Sixers second staff struggle again in fourth
Doc Rivers even sat Tyrese Maxey and a few of his different starters because the lead constructed as much as 20 within the fourth quarter, however the second staff introduced Philly again to life and virtually tied the sport again up after a 20-4 run closed the sport to a few factors with 28.2 seconds left.
The Sixers may have had an opportunity to tie the sport up after Jeff Inexperienced stepped on the baseline earlier than getting fouled with 13.1 seconds left, however the refs didn’t see it and the play couldn’t be challenged Inexperienced hit each FTs to seal the sport and ship Philly again residence on a 3 sport dropping streak.