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(Denver-CO) It's kind of weird to watch, but the Denver defense is winning games. Tonight, the Nuggets allowed their lowest point total of the season for the second time in just 24 hours after setting the same record by keeping the Heat to just 82 points in yesterday's win. The Magic were pulled out of their game like a rabbit from a hat in this one, 82-73.
In the first quarter we saw the same Nuggets defensively as we did last night in the fourth quarter against the Heat. Denver held the Magic to just 17 points in the first with physical defense. Kenyon Martin, Nene, and Johan Petro (yeah, that’s right) all stepped up and put spirited efforts up against Dwight Howard. Petro and Martin each stripped D-12 and made him work extremely hard to get into favorable position low on the block. But, Nene was whistled for his first foul only 1:12 into the game and after he picked up number two at the 4:37 mark it was up to Johan Petro to tangle with Superman. And you know what? Petro held his own! He blocked a shot, stole the ball from Howard, and did a good job keeping Superman off the offensive glass.
Offensively, the Nuggets played solid around basketball. Nothing sticks out in particular about the first quarter, but with the defensive lockdown the Nuggets put on the Magic it was a very unassuming, 24-17, Denver lead after one.
Denver extended their lead to 13 points at the 6:00 mark in the second quarter after Carmelo sank his eighth free-throw and followed up with a dunk on the left baseline. The game then became a defensive battle over the next three minutes with only the Nuggets scoring the only field goal and the Magic scoring on one J.J. Redick free-throw as a result of a defensive three-seconds call. The Nuggets went up by 16 after Nene put the third foul on Dwight Howard and went into the half with the lead, 46-29.
The entire first half can be summed up with one word: Defense.
The Nuggets were playing one of the NBA’s best three-point shooting teams about as good as anyone could have hoped for. The Magic were held to just 12 points in the second quarter, a frigid 2-14 from the land of plenty at the break. and were shooting 29% from the field. The Nuggets also forced 14 turnovers and capitalized on said miscues for 15 of their 46 points. Denver was aggressive offensively and shot nine more free-throws then the Magic making 14 of 16 free-throw attempts in the half largely in part to Carmelo hitting 8-8.
The Magic scored eight straight points and trimmed the Nuggets’ lead to twelve, 51-39, with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter. ‘Melo quickly thereafter picked up his fourth foul and a technical on his way to the bench. It was up to this point that I couldn’t go any further without mentioning how poorly officiated this game had been. The refs had completely blown a call that took away a lay-up from J.R. Smith after Courtney Lee DID NOT touch the ball as it went into the backcourt, made two very ticky-tack blocking calls on Nene, missed countless calls over the back on Howard, numerous reaches on Carmelo driving the lane, and a plethora of other calls.
I digress, but only because the Nuggets were shutting down everything the Magic wanted to do offensively. And when a team can’t score, a team cant win. The Nuggets opened up another 15-point lead after J.R. Smith hit a long three-pointer with under four minutes to play. J.R. then got hit with a technical foul by our whistle-happy officiating crew, but the damage had already been done and the Magic were way out of their game plan. Orlando scored just 51 points through three quarters and had fallen into the trap of the last game before All-Star break.
With the lead, 63-51, entering the fourth quarter, the feeling of this game was the Nuggets had things all sewn up. But, in reality, and despite the score reflecting a girls J.V. basketball game, the Magic did trim things too close for comfort, 63-54, before Denver scored five straight points to put the lead back to 14 with under nine minutes remaining. I do give the Magic a lot of credit for sticking with their game plan because with under three minutes to play they were able to battle back within six after Rashard Lewis hit three, three-pointers all under two minutes apart. The Magic comeback may have also exposed a bigger problem for Denver as once again a team was able to orchestrate a late comeback because the Nuggets didn’t have anywhere to turn when the needed a basket desperately. More and more as of late it seems like Denver plays timidly after opening up a big lead and it always makes closing out games harder than it needs to be. Thankfully, it once again didn’t cost the Nuggets a victory, but the inability to close teams out does raise a few concerns.
The Magic’s 73 points are the fewest allowed by the Nuggets this season breaking their pervious best mark of 82 set last night in Miami. Offensively, Denver was led by Carmelo Anthony’s game-high 28 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. This, 82-73, win may not have been pretty, but the late collapse aside, it did show the Nuggets can play some very stifling defense when they put their minds to it. Denver forced 22 Magic turnovers which is a season-high for Orlando.
Up next for the Nuggets is some much deserved rest and relaxation as they have completed the hardest part of this eight game road trip 4-1. Only Chauncey Billups will represent the Nuggets in the All-Star game on Sunday, but the entire Nuggets Nation needs to support J.R. Smith in the Dunk Contest on Saturday night! Denver’s next game is next Wednesday when they travel to the City of Brotherly Love to clash with former Nugget Andre Miller and the 76ers. Go Nuggets! 
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