**ESPN:** [recap](https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401585340) – [boxscore](https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585340) – [gamecast](https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401585340) | **NBA.com:** [boxscore](https://www.nba.com/game/0022300712) – [shotchart](https://www.nba.com/game/0022300712/game-charts)
||**Q1**|**Q2**|**Q3**|**Q4**|**Final**||
|:—|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
**POR**|**37**|**26**|**21**|**19**|**103**|[](/POR)|
**DEN**|**25**|**35**|**26**|**26**|**112**|[](/DEN)|
**Team**|**FG**|**3PT**|**FT**|**OR**|**Reb**|**Ast**|**TO**|**Stl**|**Blk**|**PF**|**Pts**|
|:—|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|
[](/POR)**POR**|**39-85 (45.9)**|**11-31 (35.5)**|**14-15 (93.3)**|**15**|**42**|**29**|**13**|**6**|**4**|**16**|**103**|
[](/DEN)**DEN**|**42-86 (48.8)**|**12-28 (42.9)**|**16-19 (84.2)**|**14**|**42**|**26**|**8**|**8**|**6**|**11**|**112**|
**[](/DEN)DEN**|**Min**|**FG**|**3PT**|**FT**|**OR**|**Reb**|**Ast**|**TO**|**Stl**|**Blk**|**PF**|**Pts**|**+/-**|
|:—|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|
M. Porter Jr.^^SF|24:00|4-10 (40.0)|2-6 (33.3)|2-2 (100.0)|3|5|3|3|0|3|1|12|-2|
A. Gordon^^PF|29:32|4-8 (50.0)|0-1 (0.0)|4-4 (100.0)|3|7|2|0|0|0|3|12|-2|
N. Jokic^^C|34:14|12-20 (60.0)|1-3 (33.3)|4-5 (80.0)|1|8|7|2|2|0|1|29|-5|
K. Caldwell-Pope^^SG|30:53|3-9 (33.3)|2-5 (40.0)|3-3 (100.0)|0|3|0|1|1|0|0|11|-5|
J. Murray^^PG|34:24|8-16 (50.0)|4-6 (66.7)|1-2 (50.0)|2|5|10|1|1|2|2|21|+16|
R. Jackson|21:26|3-11 (27.3)|1-4 (25.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0|4|1|0|1|0|2|7|+6|
C. Braun|27:43|1-4 (25.0)|0-0 (0.0)|2-3 (66.7)|2|3|2|0|1|0|0|4|+18|
P. Watson|29:53|5-6 (83.3)|2-3 (66.7)|0-0 (0.0)|3|6|1|1|2|1|1|12|+14|
D. Jordan|7:55|2-2 (100.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0|1|0|0|0|0|1|4|+5|
**Totals**||**42-86 (48.8)**|**12-28 (42.9)**|**16-19 (84.2)**|**14**|**42**|**26**|**8**|**8**|**6**|**11**|**112**||
**DNP:** ***Collin Gillespie***, ***Justin Holiday***, ***Jay Huff***, ***Braxton Key***, ***Zeke Nnaji***
**Inactive:** ***Vlatko Cancar***, ***Jalen Pickett***, ***Julian Strawther***, ***Hunter Tyson***
**[](/POR)POR**|**Min**|**FG**|**3PT**|**FT**|**OR**|**Reb**|**Ast**|**TO**|**Stl**|**Blk**|**PF**|**Pts**|**+/-**|
|:—|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|—:|
K. Murray^^SF|19:38|4-7 (57.1)|0-2 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0|2|2|2|1|2|2|8|-15|
J. Walker^^PF|29:31|2-8 (25.0)|0-5 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|3|7|0|1|0|0|1|4|-22|
D. Ayton^^C|38:33|13-19 (68.4)|0-0 (0.0)|1-1 (100.0)|4|9|4|1|1|2|1|27|+5|
M. Thybulle^^SG|33:55|2-7 (28.6)|1-5 (20.0)|1-2 (50.0)|0|1|3|0|3|0|1|6|+4|
A. Simons^^PG|38:42|8-18 (44.4)|4-8 (50.0)|6-6 (100.0)|0|6|9|4|1|0|0|26|-1|
S. Henderson|33:25|3-16 (18.8)|2-6 (33.3)|6-6 (100.0)|4|8|9|3|0|0|4|14|-7|
T. Camara|22:31|4-6 (66.7)|2-3 (66.7)|0-0 (0.0)|2|6|0|1|0|0|4|10|+10|
J. Minaya|10:25|0-1 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0-0 (0.0)|2|2|1|0|0|0|0|0|-3|
D. Reath|13:20|3-3 (100.0)|2-2 (100.0)|0-0 (0.0)|0|1|1|1|0|0|3|8|-16|
**Totals**||**39-85 (45.9)**|**11-31 (35.5)**|**14-15 (93.3)**|**15**|**42**|**29**|**13**|**6**|**4**|**16**|**103**||
**DNP:** ***Ibou Badji***, ***Moses Brown***, ***Jerami Grant***, ***Rayan Rupert***
**Inactive:** ***Malcolm Brogdon***, ***Shaedon Sharpe***, ***Robert Williams III***
||**PITP**|**2^^nd PTS**|**FB PTS**|**BIG LD**|**BEN PTS**|**TOT TOV**|**TOV PTS**||
|:—|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|:–:|
**POR**|50|13|17|14|32|13|14|[](/POR)|
**DEN**|46|19|15|15|27|9|17|[](/DEN)|
**Lead Changes: 1** | **Times Tied: 3** | **Gametime: 2:01** | **Attendance: 19715**
*Officials: Ed Malloy, Justin Van Duyne, Jenna Schroeder*
by BigHoneyBot
50 Comments
Peyton Watson is going to end up as the Nuggets 3rd best player sooner than later.
What this guy is already doing at such a young age is impressive. Malone did well to close out this game with him. His energy is off the charts and he makes defensive plays that very few players are capable of.
That was a hell of a fourth quarter, amazing to watch Nugs just completely kick it into overdrive
​
https://preview.redd.it/du7ovlc1vogc1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3059c8b3b90197ad8dfb887185e7741c99acc709
4 games to go before ASG break – tough games – let’s make the push. No help today, OKC pulled it out.
MPJ Zeke and Holliday for Bruce Brown + Scottie barnes
Peyton Watson was such an insane hit like i cannot believe it
I wouldn’t be surprised if KCP gets shutdown these last few games before the break
Always enjoy a come from behind win. That’s the difference between the Celtics and this nuggets team right now. Cetlics would lose that type of game 9 times out 10, Nuggets I think have a game like this 8 out of 10.
Also at this point is there a player that you’d realistically trade PWat for?
For his entire time on the team, Malone has never felt comfortable closing with MPJ. Sits him the entire 4th and we look totally locked in. It feels inevitable Watson will take that SF spot
Game tonight got a liittle tense, but with their quality and our quality, was never in doubt. 3-day break to help KCP get well from his boo-boos, then it’s off to LA to have Malone spank his kid. LFG!
Today was a rough day and was hoping for an easy game to watch, but remembered the Nuggets love the drama
This is very reusable
https://preview.redd.it/8nkpsigpvogc1.jpeg?width=689&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c28d7f099452317ca3fe2d80957a90ee7e11553b
Peyton Watson is HIM
Hope KCP is ok
So we’re all high on PWAT right
How often is Jokic -5 and we win? Great minutes from the bench tonight.
Where would we be without Aaron Gordon
Feels like CB has stripped down his game lately, and he looks much better. I think he was trying to do too much when he was having to play PG.
PSA: The nuggets playing close games or coming back from down against ANY team helps for the playoffs.
I feel like Peyton’s energy and focus is contagious. Everyone else seems locked in when he’s on the floor
Meanwhile, the Bucks couldn’t wait to enjoy the Salt Lake City nightlife and left the game for the Jazz to snatch it lol.
Cool
Still no strawther?
Lakers, Kings, Bucks and Kings before the break. If we can go 3-1 or 2-2 over those games I think I’ll be happy.
MPJ is such a hit or miss guy, the man can be an absolute demigod with his length and smooth jumper, but can also be brain dead and lazy in the very next play.
Mal’s lob game has drastically improved, he’s much better as a playmaker in general the past couple years but that in particular this year. Felt like he bricked as many lobs as threes back in the day.
DeAndre Jordan played, and we got the win. No coincidence.
Glad I got called off work so I could watch this game in full. Was a bit worried after the 1st but our boys came in so clutch in the 4th.
PWat is quickly becoming my favorite player after Jok and Murray.
I bet the doomers were on an all timer after that first quarter
This man Peyton Watson is just too much bro I can’t, I’m so happy his game is developing like this 😭😭😭
Great second half and 4th quarter. Held them to only 40 points total in the 2nd half and some of those were gimmie points at the end. Solid come back tonight, was nice to see Braun playing better as well. He seemed to be playing like he did last year scrappy and getting loose rebounds and put backs.
Parapalegic basketball
Rn Peyton Is our seventh best player, wonder where he’ll rank at the end of the season. Might be top 5 next year if he continues developing like this.
Peyton Watson’s ceiling is very promising, Calvin Booth struck gold drafting him at pick #30… he’s becoming indispensable to the Nuggets, eventually he’s going to be too good to be coming off the bench
Zero nnaji mins in 2 games vs one of worst teams in league
Trade in the works let’s go
2nd best record in the East would be 5th in the West. Take that as you will.
#Petition to make mentioning P-Wat in trade talks a ban able offense.
OH SHIT I MISSED OUT ON BLONDIE NEW ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT BECAUSE OF SOME STUPID BASKETBALL GAME INVOLVING THE POORTLAND
KCP good: https://x.com/viclombardi/status/1754357282270294259?s=46&t=8Icx4f3LgwWAHBVb6oQnSA
Closer than I would’ve like but a win is a win
Sorry to be negative but what still annoys me are the game we gave away to OKC at home and the Magic game at home. We are in the one seed if don’t give away just one of those. Hopefully it doesn’t end up mattering but OKC, Minnesota, and LAC just keep stubbornly winning.
I was extremely loud. Loud.
Denver at 188.5 salary to 13 guys next year if Reggie and Pope pick up options. Second apron 190
Zeke make 8.8. Shed that salary they’d be at 180ish
KCP could get a 5 mil raise, they have their 2024 1st making 2.5
With that rough math a vet min at 3.2 would put them over 2nd apron just barely.
If Reggie were to walk and be replaced by a vet min they’d barely come under
TLDR they need to trade Zeke Nnaji
Sorry to be negative but what still annoys me are the doomers that think that minor losses before the ASG are critical. We are in the one seed if don’t have extended injuries to Murray, AG, and Strawther. Hopefully we don’t forget where that switch is because OKC, Minnesota, and LAC just keep stubbornly winning.
Hi I’m Peyton Watson and I’m nice.
Didn’t get to watch the game, but just checked the box score. The bench is showing as all positive with all the starters except Murray in the negative.
Is this a glitch?
CB really don’t wanted to play in Rising Stars, now when names are in, he can get back to being good
16-4 in the playoffs, “best home court advantage in the NBA” (I’m not saying that, but people do say that a lot to excuse losing to us).
If I was OKC, Minnesota, or the Clippers I would be fucking worried to be less than a game ahead of the defending champions in the standings. I would be thinking “We need that home court advantage to beat them”, but maybe it isn’t like that for a lot of their fans because they can just enjoy how well they are doing now in the regular season.
​
Nuggets have been at the #1/2 spot in the standings for so long (since this squad first debuted for long stretches at #1 in 2018-19) that I can’t remember when that felt like genuine recognition or that something special was achieved. I’d like to be the number one seed in the playoffs at the end of the season because of home court, but just because we are the first in the west at some point in February or March I’m going to shrug and expect most other people to also not take notice.
​
It’s nice but it’s not really anything that is going to especially motivate guys who have been there a lot in their careers here. Similar to Bucks firing their coach with their record rather than being happy with the standings, it really isn’t good enough to prove we can repeat even if we are at the top. More important is how the team is feeling I guess, so hopefully they are also going to push us to fire Malone.
I was under the impression Doctor Rivers had diagnosed the problem in Milwaukee
https://x.com/MattBrooksNBA/status/1754363190958240020?s=20