Brian Shaw Earns First Career Win, Nuggets Finally Win 109-107

nuggets 2The Denver Nuggets prevailed at the Pepsi Center Thursday Night against the Atlanta Hawks, earning their first win of the season, as point guard Ty Lawson led the team with 23 points, 7 rebounds, and eight assists.

The Nuggets started the game a little sluggish. JaVale McGee showed that his offensive game is still raw, as he took a 17-foot jumper that hit off the rim, and a 7-ft hook that bounced out. The defense was sloppy, especially from Jordan Hamilton. He left his man open on most plays, but the Hawks didn’t capitalize. However, the Hawks started the game on a 12-4 run sparked by a Kyle Korver three-pointer. Korver was on Denver’s radar in free agency, but never really made a play for him. The Nuggets surged right back, with a Faried hook, and Hamilton three, bringing them within seven. Robinson and Hickson came off the bench providing a spark, Robinson quickly made his presence felt with a three pointer, and Hickson made a nice defensive play, intercepting a pass leading to a slam. Denver went on a 12-3 run, tied with the Hawks at 26; to finish the 1st. Nuggs were led by Evan Fournier leading them with six points.

Denver started off the 2nd very sloppy with the basketball, turning it over three out of the first four possessions. Kenneth Faried hit a medium range jumper to put Denver up 32-31, showing signs he is working on his overall game. At this point, the Nuggs bench was outscoring the Hawks 21-3, behind Robinson and Mozgov. After the Robinson three, Denver started the 2nd going 5-for-5 from the field. Javale electrified the crowd with a dunk, then a block at the other end of the court. Al Horford ended the Nuggets run with a jumper, leading the Hawks to an 8-0 run, putting them ahead 44-43.Denver ended the quarter with a layup from Ty Lawson, putting Denver up 54-51 at the half.

JaVale McGee was called for a defensive three seconds to start the 3rd, allowing Kyle Korver to sink the technical. Back-to-back trips down, Faried threw alley-oops to JaVale, flushing them both down, taking a 58-54 lead over Atlanta. The Nuggets proved to be still turnover prone, as Randy Foye’s poor pass led to a Paul Millsap lay-up. Next possession for Denver was a missed three; they didn’t get back in transition, allowing the Hawks to score a layup. Head coach Brian Shaw was fired up and immediately called a timeout. Evan Fournier showed he was playing with confidence, hitting open shots, and finishing layups. Denver’s bench was outscoring Atlanta’s 29-6, and was casting off from deep, going 9-for-16. Foye and Hamilton on back-to-back possessions hit three pointers, putting six Nuggets in double-figures. Denver finished the 3rd tied with Atlanta, 83-to-83.

The fourth quarter was as exciting as it gets. Shelvin Mack threw up a prayer, and it was answered. He banked in a three pointer with no time remaining on the shot clock to put the Hawks up 93-88. It seemed as if the air was sucked out of the Pepsi Center. Denver and Atlanta traded buckets back-and-fourth as Andre Miller found JaVale McGee on the alley-oop, bringing the fans to their feet. The Nuggets and Hawks kept trading buckets as it went down to the wire. Then Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson banked in a three pointer to put the Nuggets up by 5, 107-102. Jeff Teague kept the Hawks in it with a floater in the paint, and right after that Paul Millsap won a jump-ball over Ty Lawson, trailing by three. J.J. Hickson fouled Millsap on a questionable call, and he went to the line and hit both free-throws. Atlanta fouled Ty Lawson after a time-out and he only hit 1-of-2, giving the Hawks a chance down two. Paul Millsap found himself at the line once again, and this time split the free-throws and Denver took possession leading 108-107. Nate Robinson was fouled, and he too went 1-for-2. Last possession of the game, Millsap went up with a turnaround jumper and missed, and Al Horford missed the put-back, giving the Nuggets the 109-107 win.

The Nuggets three point shooting kept them in the game, as they shot 14-of-25 behind the arc, (56.0%). There wasn’t much of a defensive improvement, but they got the stops when they needed them. Despite Atlanta out-scoring them 52-to-38 in the paint, the Nuggets bench kept them off balance. Nate Robinson, Evan Fournier, and Timofey Mozgov combined for 37 points, as the whole Atlanta Hawks benched only scored 17.

They won as a team tonight, and found a way to score the basketball in tough situations. Ty Lawson took over this team once again, proving he can play at an all-star level. JaVale McGee bounced back from his previous three games, scoring 14 points, but only hauling in three rebounds. Manimal was huge on the glass, along with J.J. Hickson, as they wore down the Hawks late.

What’s Up Next: The Denver Nuggets (1-3), travel to Phoenix to take on the Suns (3-2).

Andy Dill

Andy Dill

Andy is a Huge Denver Sports Fan. He started writing in Fall 2013. He plays baseball, basketball, football and baseball.

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One Response to Brian Shaw Earns First Career Win, Nuggets Finally Win 109-107

  1. Excellent writeup, Andy. I like how you break it down with the game with quality analysis. You use observations to make your point.

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