Game ID: 22300383
Denver Nuggets @ Brooklyn Nets
Friday, December 22, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BKN 28 32 26 31 117DEN 28 30 30 34 122
BKN vs DEN ScoutingBKN vs DEN Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BKN availability going into 12/14 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 16 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 5 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 18 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 12/11 after 15, 4 min since (26% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 12/11 after 5, 4 min since (38% of 10)
BKN availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 17 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 6 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (67% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 12/11 after 5, 10 min since (92% of 10)
BKN availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 18 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 7 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 20 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 10 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (68% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 12/11 after 5, 10 min since (92% of 10)
BKN availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 19 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 6 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 8 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 21 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 11 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (63% of 16)
BKN availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 20 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 12/08, returns tonight: 19 min (103% of 19)
OUT Walker IV missed 9 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 22 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
BKN availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 21 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 10 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 23 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 4 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 19 min since (103% of 19)
BKN availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Simmons missed 22 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 11 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 14 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 24 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 14 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 5 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 19 min since (101% of 19)
BKN availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 23 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 12 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 15 since 11/26, returns tonight: 24 min (150% of 16)
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 25 since 11/04, returns tonight: 21 min (170% of 12)
OUT Whitehead missed 15 since 11/26, returns tonight: 21 min (178% of 12)
OUT Brooks missed 6 since 12/16, returns tonight: 29 min (278% of 10)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 20 min since (105% of 19)
BKN availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 24 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 13 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 22 min since (118% of 19)
BACK Clowney back 12/27 after 15, 24 min since (150% of 16)
BACK Keo. Johnson back 12/27 after 25, 21 min since (170% of 12)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/27 after 6, 29 min since (278% of 10)
DEN availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 12/02 after 4, 29 min since (91% of 32)
NEW Strawther 11 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restBACK Murray back 12/06 after 2, 28 min since (86% of 33)
NEW Strawther 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/18 · 1 day's restOUT Caldwell-Pope missed 2 since 12/14, returns tonight: 26 min (82% of 32)
NEW Holiday 15 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Strawther 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/20 · 1 day's restBACK Caldwell-Pope back 12/18 after 2, 26 min since (82% of 32)
NEW Holiday 15 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Strawther 11 to 21 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 2 since 12/18, returns tonight: 6 min (56% of 11)
BACK Caldwell-Pope back 12/18 after 2, 29 min since (91% of 32)
NEW Holiday 15 to 20 min over the last 4
NEW Strawther 11 to 18 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 2 since 12/20, out tonight
BACK Caldwell-Pope back 12/18 after 2, 29 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Jordan back 12/22 after 2, 6 min since (56% of 11)
NEW Strawther 11 to 16 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 3 since 12/20, out tonight
BACK Caldwell-Pope back 12/18 after 2, 30 min since (94% of 32)
BACK Jordan back 12/22 after 2, 6 min since (56% of 11)
DEN availability going into 12/28 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 4 since 12/20, returns tonight: 18 min (122% of 15)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 12 min (116% of 11)
BACK Caldwell-Pope back 12/18 after 2, 31 min since (98% of 32)
DEN availability going into 12/29 · back-to-backBACK Holiday back 12/28 after 4, 18 min since (122% of 15)
BACK Jordan back 12/22 after 2, 9 min since (86% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 121, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Thomas at 26 and Bridges at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Simmons (20 straight), Smith Jr. (7 straight), Walker IV (9 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 21 free throws a game; Jokić at 19 and Murray at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to Brooklyn's 121 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-3 a night and Brooklyn minus-6. Call it Denver 116, Brooklyn 112, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/14 @ DEN 101-124 — BKN notes
BKN lost 101-124. BKN shot 41% (39 of 95) to DEN's 47%, 8 of 30 from three. BKN turned it over 16 times to DEN's 8, and DEN turned those into 13 steals. Dinwiddie led with 17 (5 of 11, 1 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Thomas added 13, Giles III 11. Q4 was theirs, 34-34, but the other 3 periods went 90-67 against them. Thomas's -25 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/16 @ GSW 120-124 — BKN notes
BKN lost 120-124. BKN shot 48% (45 of 93) to GSW's 48%, 17 of 43 from three. Thomas led with 41 (15 of 24, 5 of 13 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Claxton added 19, Bridges 18. Q3 was theirs, 35-25, the deficit cut from 16 to 6, but the other 3 periods went 99-85 against them. Dinwiddie's -6 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 @ UTA 108-125 — BKN notes
BKN lost 108-125. BKN shot 43% (39 of 90) to UTA's 49%, 16 of 39 from three. The glass went 36-51 against them. Thomas led with 32 (12 of 23, 5 of 7 from three); Dinwiddie added 17, Bridges 13. Q2 was theirs, 31-26, but the other 3 periods went 99-77 against them. Bridges's -19 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/20 vs NYK 102-121 — BKN notes
BKN lost 102-121. BKN shot 37% (37 of 101) to NYK's 46%, 15 of 47 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NYK's 25. Thomas led with 20 (8 of 18, 4 of 7 from three); Johnson added 20, Bridges 15. Q2 was theirs, 31-28, the deficit cut from 12 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 93-71 against them. Dinwiddie's -27 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/22 vs DEN 117-122 — BKN notes
BKN lost 117-122. BKN shot 48% (43 of 89) to DEN's 52%, 13 of 33 from three. Thomas led with 23 (8 of 21, 1 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Johnson added 17, Finney-Smith 14. Q2 was theirs, 32-30, but the other 3 periods went 92-85 against them.
12/23 vs DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 123, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Thomas at 26 and Bridges at 14 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Simmons (21 straight), Walker IV (10 straight), Clowney (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 130, shooting 47 percent and 28 from three, 25 free throws a game; Cunningham at 24 and Bogdanović at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Duren (7 straight), Hayes (2 straight), Knox II (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been minus-2 a night and Detroit minus-10 and the arc, Brooklyn at 36 percent from three to Detroit's 28. Call it Brooklyn 119, Detroit 114.
12/26 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 129, shooting 48 percent and 31 from three, 25 free throws a game; Cunningham at 24 and Bogdanović at 19 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Duren (8 straight), Hayes (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Thomas at 27 and Bridges at 18 a game. Without Simmons (22 straight), Walker IV (11 straight), Clowney (14 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Brooklyn at 38 percent from three to Detroit's 31 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 121 a night to Detroit's 129. Call it Brooklyn 118, Detroit 116, Detroit keeping it close.
12/27 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 28 free throws a game; Thomas at 22 and Bridges at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Simmons (23 straight), Walker IV (12 straight), Clowney (15 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 118, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 26 free throws a game; Lillard at 31 and Antetokounmpo at 27 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Crowder (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Milwaukee has been plus-6 a night and Brooklyn minus-5. Call it Milwaukee 121, Brooklyn 117, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/29 @ WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 130, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Kuzma at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cam. Johnson at 20 and Thomas at 18 a game. Without Simmons (24 straight), Walker IV (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-9 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 13 times a game to Brooklyn's 10. Call it Brooklyn 121, Washington 120, Washington keeping it close.
12/14 vs BKN 124-101 — DEN notes
DEN won 124-101. DEN shot 47% (47 of 99) to BKN's 41%, 12 of 36 from three. DEN turned it over 8 times to BKN's 16. Jokić led with 26 (8 of 12, 10 of 12 at the line); Watson added 18, Murray 16. The hinge was Q3, 38-28: a lead of 13 became 23, and the lead reached 28. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/16 vs OKC 117-118 — DEN notes
DEN lost 117-118. DEN took 9 more shots (93 to 84), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to OKC's 51%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 24 times to OKC's 30. Jokić led with 24 (8 of 15, 7 of 8 at the line); Porter Jr. added 20, Gordon 16. Q1 was theirs, 31-27, but the other 3 periods went 91-86 against them. They led by as many as 11. Jokić's -9 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/18 vs DAL 130-104 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-104. DEN shot 56% (49 of 87) to DAL's 45%, 14 of 26 from three. Murray led with 22 (8 of 14, 4 of 4 from three); Gordon added 21, Jackson 20. The hinge was Q3, 30-21: a lead of 9 became 18, and the lead reached 36. Braun was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
12/20 @ TOR 113-104 — DEN notes
DEN won 113-104. DEN shot 50% (49 of 98) to TOR's 48%, 12 of 33 from three, and got to the line 7 times to TOR's 13. Jokić led with 31 (13 of 23, 3 of 5 from three); Murray added 20, Porter Jr. 12. The hinge was Q1, 29-20: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
12/22 @ BKN 122-117 — DEN notes
DEN won 122-117. DEN shot 52% (45 of 87) to BKN's 48%, 11 of 26 from three. Murray led with 32 (11 of 19, 4 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Jokić added 31, Gordon 18. The hinge was Q3, 30-26: DEN came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 2. DEN trailed 58-60 at the half and won the second half 64-57. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +29.
12/23 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 28 from three, 15 free throws a game; Rozier at 22 and Bridges at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. Without Ball (11 straight), Martin (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 109, shooting 50 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Jokić at 24 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 40 percent from three to Charlotte's 28 and the glass, where Denver has been plus-1 a night and Charlotte minus-10. Call it Denver 118, Charlotte 110.
12/25 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 22 and Murray at 22 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Thompson at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Green (6 straight), Wiggins (2 straight), Payton II (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Denver plus-2 and the defense, Denver allowing 108 a night to Golden State's 117. Call it Denver 117, Golden State 114, Golden State keeping it close.
12/28 vs MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 20 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 23 a game. That is 5 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Memphis comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Morant at 29 and Bane at 27 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Jackson (4 straight), Kennard (18 straight), LaRavia (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Memphis giving it away 17 times a game to Denver's 10 and the arc, Denver at 42 percent from three to Memphis's 34. Call it Denver 116, Memphis 108.
12/29 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 107, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 26 and Murray at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 53 percent and 40 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 33 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and OKC minus-3 and the defense, Denver allowing 107 a night to OKC's 113. Call it Denver 117, OKC 116, OKC keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
DENAG A. Gordon
CB C. Braun
DJ D. Jordan
JM J. Murray
JS J. Strawther
JO Jokic
KC K. Caldwell-Pope
MP M. Porter Jr.
NJ N. Jokić
PW P. Watson
RJ R. Jackson
ZN Z. Nnaji
BKNCJ C. Johnson
CT C. Thomas
DF D. Finney-Smith
DS D. Sharpe
DS D. Smith Jr.
MB M. Bridges
NC N. Claxton
RO R. O'Neale
SD S. Dinwiddie
DEN/BKN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Murray, Jokic help defending champion Nuggets outlast Nets, 122-117
NEW YORK -- — Jamal Murray scored 32 points, Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 11 rebounds and the Denver Nuggets held off the Brooklyn Nets 122-117 on Friday night for their third straight victory.
Aaron Gordon added 18 points and Michael Porter Jr . had 15 to help the defending champion Nuggets improve to 20-10.
“The energy we need to start the game right,” Jokic said when asked why Denver has won four straight on the road. “I think we had a 14-7 run (to start the game) and we kind of slowed down a little bit. But (we need to) be the aggressor. We need the one to be the one (controlling) the game.”
Brooklyn has lost five in a row to fall to 13-15.
Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 23 points. Cam Johnson had 17, Dorian Finney-Smith and Mikal Bridges each had 14, Royce O’Neale and Day’Ron Sharpe had 13 apiece and Nic Claxton finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
“It’s a pretty good recipe for us,” Brooklyn coach Jacques Vaughn said about the balanced scoring. “I think we had 18 assists at (halftime), over 30 to finish the game; seven dudes in double figures.”
Thomas’ four-point play with 19.4 seconds brought the Nets within one.
“Overall, a good effort from our guys,” Vaughn said. “I think we put ourselves in a position to try and win a ballgame. I thought our attention for the majority of the night was in the right place."
Following a timeout, Murray made three of four free throws to push the advantage to four. The teams then spent the final five seconds trading free throws.
“It worked out,” Murray said about his missed free throw with 18.1 seconds left.
The guard grabbed the offensive rebound and was immediately fouled by Thomas. He then knocked down both free throws to give the Nuggets a 118-114 lead.
The Nets did not have Ben Simmons (left lower back nerve impingement) and Lonnie Walker IV (strained left hamstring) due to injuries.