Brooklyn Nets Defeat The Denver Nuggets In Dominating Fashion, 112-89
By Andrew Dill
Feb 27, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce (34) shoots the ball during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. The Nets won 112-89. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets (25-32) appear to be in a dreadful downward spiral as the season looks all but over for the club. Denver was without forward Wilson Chandler tonight and even he couldn’t help the Nuggets who currently have six players out with injuries. Denver scored just eight points in the first-half which was a season worse as the Nuggets fell to the Nets at home, 112-89,
The game was basically all but over following the first quarter where Denver was out-scored 29-8 and the crowd would let them know just how bad they were playing as boo’s rained down from the Pepsi Center faithful. Paul Pierce shows that he still has game as the veteran scored 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, collecting 6 rebounds and 1 assist. Marcus Thornton would supply some scoring off of the Nets bench as he finished with 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting.
Denver just came out with no energy and urge to play as Brian Shaw continually has to beg his players to do so. The team shot just 30-of-80 from the field (37.5%) while shooting 23-of-33 from the free-throw line (69.7%) which wasn’t getting the job done. Anthony Randolph played some hefty minutes tonight in the absence of Chandler and it didn’t go so well. The forward would shoot a miserable 3-of-13 from the field, collecting 8 points and 7 rebounds.
Denver would also turn the ball over 24 times — four times each from Kenneth Faried, Aaron Brooks, and Evan Fournier. The team also struggled as a unit to play defensive which has been obvious over their horrible stretch. They couldn’t seem to knock down jumpers, including one’s from behind the three-point line. They shot just 6-of-22, (27.3% percent).
The Denver Nuggets return to action Saturday night on the road as they take on the Portland Trailblazers. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:00 PM ET, 8:00 PM MT.