The Denver Nuggets tipped off their quest for the NBA Cup in Portland, Oregon, where they took on Tiago Splitter’s Trail Blazers. With three wins over struggling or shorthanded teams, the Nuggets had an opportunity to secure their best win of the season to date. But the victory slipped through their fingers in a painful fourth quarter. A series of tough calls put the final nail in the coffin.
The final score: 109-107.
Nuggets Open up in a Zone
David Adelman promised to change up the defensive coverages throughout the year. We got an extended look at Denver’s zone defense, which they deployed from the opening tip in Portland. The Nuggets looked rusty and confused in their execution, but the Blazers failed to capitalize on wide-open looks. The zone ultimately succeeded in its intended purpose. The Blazers, an athletic team that likes to drive to the rim, struggled to find a rhythm in the opening minutes of the game. It allowed the Nuggets to win the opening quarter and establish a 12-point lead early in the second.
Revamped Bench Hits First Bump in the Road
The new second unit has flexed its muscle to start the season. That group is already proving to be an asset compared to last year’s exercises in futility. But the bench struggled in Portland. They lost their first stint without Jokić, leaving the door open for the Blazers after a strong start. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Peyton Watson brought some good energy to the floor across quality minutes in the third quarter, but the unit lost the non-Jokić minutes again to open up the fourth. It was up to the starters to seal the deal down the stretch, but they lost the lead and the game in a brutal fourth quarter.
Nuggets Offense Falters Late
The Blazers entered the game with the 6th-best defensive rating in the league. They bothered the Nuggets for most of the night, rendering their typically well-oiled offense into a collection of tough shots and prayers. That was particularly evident down the stretch, when the Nuggets struggled to get into their offense altogether, let alone get the ball to their best player for a clean look.
The Blazers pressured the Nuggets’ ball-handers and closed the game with a small group that got handsy, as is the way in today’s NBA. Toumnai Camara blatantly fouled Nikola Jokić in the final seconds, but the officials inexplicably called a jump-ball. Grant was fouled on the other end before time expired and sank both free throws, sinking Denver’s hopes of escaping with a win. The calls were brutal. Still, the Nuggets helped make their own bed down the stretch with poor execution.