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Unfortunately for Nuggets fans, Denver is historically abysmal in them. Nationally televised Christmas Day games hold a certain significance in basketball. Memphis was behind by at least nine throughout most of the contest and lost by double-digits.Ĥ. In this contest, he logged a ho-hum triple double-13 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists-but ran the offense to perfection (and logged perhaps his finest assist of the season: a no-look pass between his legs to a streaking Bruce Brown for a two-handed dunk).

Also notable: Nikola Jokić proved he doesn’t need to be a top scorer to be dominant. In fact, earlier in the day, diabolical star Ja Morant had proclaimed, “I’m fine in the West”-a dig at Denver. But as would become the norm for Denver this year, different guys filled in when needed (Christian Braun earned his first start of the year). It didn’t look good for the Nuggets, who had to face a top-five team without Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr. The first-place Memphis Grizzlies visited the second-place Denver Nuggets on a nationally televised broadcast during Christmastime, which would become an instant classic. It was a dramatic win against a tough opponent, but more importantly, it showed Nuggets faithful that Murray was back. It did-but instead of floating a shot for the tie, the big man passed to Jamal Murray, who called game with a three-pointer as time expired. Lillard drained another long trey, which put Portland ahead 120-118 with eight seconds left.Įverybody on the floor-or tuning in from home-knew the ball would go to Jokić on the Nuggets’ ensuing possession.

When Aaron Gordon sunk a tough one at the rim, giving Denver a 118-117 lead with 17 seconds left in the game, every Nuggets fan had to be thinking, There’s too much time left in the game. But then it was officially “Dame Time,” and Lillard hit a signature three from way downtown to put Portland ahead 115-114. The Nuggets seized the lead with two minutes left in the game after Nikola Jokić found Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a three-pointer. There were 20 lead changes and seven ties, but a tight one isn’t what you want when Damian Lillard-one of the all-time clutch shooters in the NBA-is on the other side. Meanwhile, the Nuggets were an average 15–10. Portland led the contest early, but Denver kept it close. Portland is always tough on Denver, especially when the Nuggets are on the road, and so thus began what would feel all too familiar for Nuggets Nation.Īt this point, the Blazers hadn’t yet committed to tanking rebuilding and were above. In the extra period, the Nuggets squeaked out the win, proving their resilience early in the season. Behind his deft play, the Nuggets clawed back into the game (also helpful: 39 points from Nikola Jokić, 31 points from Aaron Gordon, and 19 bench points from Vlatko Čančar), pushing it to overtime. Without Murray or MPJ, the Nuggets looked to Bruce Brown.įilling in for Murray, Brown earned one of his few starts of the season and registered his first career triple double with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Thunder led by as many as 15 with eight minutes left in the game. Still, the Nuggets let Oklahoma City rally back-a theme for the Nuggets this season-and even jump ahead in the third quarter. and still jumped out to an early 20-point lead. Denver entered the contest without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.

The rebuilding Thunder looked to upset the Nuggets early in the season-and it almost happened.

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