Denver Nuggets fall behind early but recover to defeat Brooklyn Nets 144-139 in overtime

On By Littum

The Denver Nuggets were coming off an overtime win on the East Coast and found themselves in the exact same scenario the next day. After beating the Toronto Raptors with a late comeback yesterday, Denver used a similar approach tonight and found themselves on the right side again with a 144-139 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets. In a game where defense was optional, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray led an all-out effort that saw the Nuggets overcome big nights from Cameron Johnson, Cam Thomas and Dennis Schroder.

Murray got the Nuggets off to a good start with a pair of shots that helped them take an early lead. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last. The effects of the back to back were evident because the Nuggets energy was middling at best. Still, Murray kept them in it with some support from the other starters. Schroder began to heat up and quickly pushed the Nets lead nearly to double digits. Denver continued to play tired and the lead continued to grow as the bench checked in. The Nets took full advantage. When the first quarter ended, the Nuggets had given up forty points and trailed 40-27.

It wasn’t much better for Denver to start the second, Brooklyn pushing the lead to seventeen before Denver finally started to play some defense. They were able to get it back to eleven and Jordi Fernandez called a timeout. Denver started to play a bit better, but the Nets still hit some threes, including a very tough one from Johnson, and kept the lead around ten. Jamal continued to be the catalyst for the Nuggets offense. If he didn’t get shots, he found his way to the line and converted his attempts. However, the defense continued to be poor, preventing the Nuggets from closing the gap. Johnson was inexplicably left to his own devices at the three-point line the entire half and was 5-5 from deep. At halftime, Denver trailed 73(!!!)-62.

The Nuggets had a good start to the third quarter. They got a couple of stops and then a Christian Braun layup and another Murray three to cut the lead to four and prompt Jordi Fernandez to take a timeout. The Nets needed a total of three minutes before they finally got a bucket. The Nuggets got as close as two points behind before the Nets finally started hitting their shots again, staying ahead of Denver by a few possessions. However, the intensity was noticeably higher for the road team. Both clubs went back and forth with scoring from their stars through the middle of the quarter. With the quarter winding down, Denver brought in their bench but stayed within a bucket or two of taking the lead, and the Nets continued to fend off the Nuggets push with three pointers. Brooklyn closed the third quarter leading 99-96.

Peyton Watson opened the fourth with a three from the corner, then a Russell Westbrook drive to the bucket gave the Nuggets the lead. He led the offensive attack to the Nuggets bench and showed how he can be positive as a spark plug off the bench. Eventually, the reserve group started to stall on offense, while Ziaire Williams gave Brooklyn good minutes. Halfway through the quarter, the Nets held on to a one-point lead. Denver had some chances, but kept making silly mistakes (Braun had a particularly bad one) and it kept them from taking the lead. With three minutes remaining, they were still trailing by two points. An Aaron Gordon three finally put the Nuggets ahead with two minutes left. Thomas made back-to-back baskets, including an incredibly tough fadeaway over Braun, to put the Nets up three with thirty-three seconds to play. Just like last night, the Nuggets played the possession and free throw game and got one last shot down by two. However, Jokic hit an easy hook with eight seconds left, giving the Nets a chance to win at the buzzer. Dorian Finney-Smith looked good from the corner but only caught iron and with the game tied at 125, the Nuggets were headed to overtime again.

The Jokic maestro started OT for Denver. First he fouled, then he bullied his way to an easy basket, then he hit a cutting Michael Porter Jr. for an easy layup. On the Nets side, Thomas went cold and the Nuggets had the opportunity to steal another road game. They had some opportunities, but Schroder hit a three to pull Brooklyn back within three. Braun answered with one of his own, and the Nets were running out of time. They refused to give up and started to play possession and free throws themselves. Gordon shut the door with two clutch free throws in the final fifteen seconds, and the Nuggets win the high-scoring game 144-139.

Best matchup: Jamal Murray vs. Dennis Schroder

October 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Denver Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray (27) dribbles the ball against Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder (17) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The battle at the point guard position tonight was tough. Schroder led the Nets in scoring with 28 points and Murray added 24 of his own. Murray didn’t have the best night from three, but he still had his finishing game going and that made him a very effective weapon on offense. It wasn’t what I would call a pretty Murray game, but it was very effective. Schroder on the other hand shot away from three and did most of his damage beyond the arc like most of the Nets. He still showed some of that speed though and even had a few easy baskets on layups.

The main thing I noticed: team effort

Everyone in Denver played their part tonight. Jokic and Murray were stars, Gordon was fed by them, Michael Porter Jr. downed his shots. On top of that, the role players were also played beautifully. Braun again scored in double figures and was a consistent chase on defense, Russ went full Russ while carrying the bench and led a big run in the second half behind his energy, Dario Saric made a shot and Watson hit a big three! Great effort from a group of guys who had excuses to let this one slip away (and almost did early on) but didn’t.

Jokic easily cashes Thing to Bet

There’s really nothing left to say about Jokic. He is simply the most dominant basketball player on the planet. As predicted, he had no trouble dishing out assists tonight, hitting double-digit assists (+250) by the end of the third quarter. With OT, it ends up being another absolute monster of a stat line for him as he finishes with 29 points, 18 rebounds and 16 assists.