Denver Nuggets Take Down Raptors and Turn to Magic

Is number one good enough finally?  Is the best around good enough for people to start taking the Denver Nuggets seriously? Apparently not.

It’s a good thing the Denver Nuggets are in first place because they have the best record, if it were a popularity contest as some believe they really wouldn’t have a chance.  The last game against the team in the East that everyone said was the team to beat was beaten.  It was close but the Denver squad didn’t even necessarily play their best.

Nikola Jokic came up big with a triple double and Jamal Murray played a heroic 41 minutes to cover Gary Harris leaving the game early on.  Harris left with a hip injury after having just come back into the rotation after missing two games with an ankle injury.

Kawhi Leonard played well, as expected but Kyle Lowry was held successfully to just 1 of 7 shooting.  He left without speaking to reporters.  Maybe because he knew he didn’t play well and the old go-to of flopping and kicking your leg out didn’t work.  That can be frustrating.

If the Raptors spent half the time they spend complaining on working hard maybe they would have achieved a different result.  It’s difficult to praise players who’s merit is on faking it. Serge Ibaka played strong and is a nice round out for the Toronto team.

The next stop on the Nuggets road trip will be Orlando to meet-up with the Magic again.  The first match ended with the Nuggets over Orlando by 30.  The Magic however are coming from more success since then, that game being one of their worst so far.  They are 5-2 at home since a devastating loss to the Clippers.  So far they are coming up big in the third to dominate the game which could be a problem for the Nuggets since they struggle with a third quarter of doom sometimes.  Aaron Gordon has been red-hot and the Nuggets will have to watch him on the arc.

After the Raptors the Nuggets have an opportunity to pad their standings with some easier teams.  Let’s hope old habits of losing when you shouldn’t doesn’t crop up for the Mile-High crew.

Game info as follows:

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 • 7:00 PM ET
Amway Center • Orlando, FL
Local TV: ALT, FSFL
Radio: KKSE-FM 92.5, FM 96.9 The Game

Injuries:

Nuggets – Will Barton, Isaiah Thomas, Gary Harris, Jarred Vanderbilt, Michael Porter Jr. – out

Magic – Timofey Mozgov – out