Nuggets Engineer Win Over Bucks 109-102

The Nuggets went about their business digging themselves out of the big hole they are in by producing the second great team effort in two nights to defeat the Michael Redd-less Milwaukee Bucks 109-102. Although it was the second road game in two nights, it was almost a must win given how many home games the Nuggets have already squandered this season and given that the Bucks are almost as bad off as a car without an engine without Redd, who is one of the very best scorers in the League.

The game was tied at the half, and the Nuggets led my 80-74 after 3 quarters. The teams traded scores through the first half of the 4th quarter, but the Bucks were within 2 points, at 99-97, with 2:53 to go. Melo's drive to the hoop plus 1 made it 102-97, but the Boykins fire was still out of control and he made a three and a two on successive possessions to tie the game with 1:21 to play. But then the player who has been mostly missing from the scoreboard, Najera, made a jumper to make it 104-102 Nuggets. After SF Ruben Patterson, well defended by Najera, missed a jumper for the Bucks, Nene was unintentionally fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws for 105-102 Nuggets.

PG Mo Williams missed a running jumper and a Charlie Bell inbounds pass was intercepted by Blake with half a minute left to end any chance the Bucks had to send the game into overtime.

Were it not for PG Earl Boykins and G-F Charlie Bell, the Bucks would have lost big, because the Nuggets were firing on all cylinders. Boykins, who was a Nugget (known as Iverson #2) until a month ago, but had to be traded for budget reasons, was on fire, finishing with 26 points on 10/15 shooting, and 6/7 from long range. Boykins did all this wearing a splint on his shooting hand. Bell had 16 points on 7/13 shooting. The Bucks were a blazing 10/18 overall from 3-point land, whereas the Nuggets were a much more limited 5/18 from that distance, led by J.R. Smith who was 4/8.

For the second night in the row, the Nuggets defended with very few fouls, as the Bucks made 8 of the measly 10 free throws they had for the whole game. The extra defensive drills in Denver have clearly paid off. Meanwhile, at the other end Nene and Evans were fouled repeatedly, Evans apparently on purpose. The Nuggets made 22/32 free throws, with Evans accounting for half of the 10 misses.

Solid evidence that the Nuggets are serious about winning on the road to make up for losing at home was provided by their 11 steals, achieved while one of the all-time greatest pickpockets in basketball, Allen Iverson, was still trying to get the swelling and the pain from an ankle strain to subside. And even the assist count was up, to an impressive 28, with both Blake and Melo in double digits in the category.

And then there is the evidence of the Nuggets outrebounding the Bucks 44-35, despite being without the number 2 rebounder in the NBA, Marcus Camby, also out with an injury. For the second night in a row, the Nuggets' forwards crowded the backboards, aggressively positioned themselves, and limited the second chance opportunities of their opponents.

For the second night in a row, Eduardo Najera played at a level not seen from him earlier this season, with 15 points on 7/10 shooting and 4 important steals. Led by Najera and Melo, the Nuggets played with hustle, discipline and good execution, and had only 12 turnovers, a major accomplishment in itself. Nene made sure he got his points up close and wisely decided not to try to develop his jump shooting during a live must-win game. He layed in and dunked 6 of 8 opportunities at the hoop and pocketed a nice 17 points.

In summary, every single Nugget who played for 10 minutes or more made solid contributions and had a good game relative to his career average. And, gasp, the Nuggets are playing defense and using smart strategies to close out wins.

The Nuggets are now probably the only team in the NBA who are more dangerous on the road than at home. The pressure of playing for huge Denver crowds that expect wins every game due to the Iverson hoopla may have cost them some of those home losses. On the other hand, it remains to be seen whether the across the board great effort and solid results that were seen on this golden little 2-day road trip will happen again when the Nuggets storm the arenas of the monster teams of the Western Conference. It is in places like Dallas, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, where very few teams win, that the real test will be, both in the regular season and in the playoffs.

Melo, who has talked about the need for himself to step up with A.I. and Camby out, and has also requested that the team have more fun as it turns things around, put his play where his mind is in this one, missing a so-called triple double by just 2 rebounds. In "Star Wars" it was "May the force be with you". In Nuggets basketball, it is "May Melo's jumper be with you". And for the second night in a row, it was with us.

Reggie Evans played 19 minutes and was 0/2 and 6/11 from the line for 6 points, and he had 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal. Kleiza played 27 minutes and was 4/8, 0/3 on 3's and 4/4 from the line for 12 points, and he had 4 rebounds, a steal, and an assist.

Eduardo Najera played 35 minutes and was 7/10 and 1/2 from the line for 15 points, and he added 8 rebounds, 4 steals, a block, and an assist.

Nene played for 34 minutes and was 6/8 and 5/7 from the line for 17 points, and he had 11 rebounds, 1 block, and an assist. Nuggets fans have to hope that Nene's knee continues to not swell up badly, so that the Nuggets can continue to enjoy his increasing defensive contributions, layups, and dunks.

Steve Blake played almost the whole game and was 4/14, 0/2 on 3's, and 2/2 from the line for 10 points and he had 11 assists and a steal.

J.R. Smith played for 24 minutes and was 5/10, 4/8 on 3's, and 2/2 from the line for 16 points, and he also had 3 assists. The Bucks were treated to the "J.R special," which is either 6 or even 9 points in less than a minute or two. It happened to the Bucks late in the 3rd quarter, as J.R. buried two 3-pointers on back to back possessions as he has done so many times before. As long as the Nuggets are not being routed, they will never be out of a game as long as J.R. is in it, although sometimes he seems to be physically in the game but not really there, as if he were a ghost.

Melo played almost the whole game and was 13/28, 1/4 on 3's, and 2/4 from the line for 29 points, and he added 10 assists, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals.

The next game is Monday Feb. 12 in Denver to play the Warriors at 7 pm mountain time.