Game ID: 22301130
Atlanta Hawks @ Denver Nuggets
Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 9:00 PM ET
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
DEN 33 36 42 31 142ATL 26 30 30 24 110
ATL @ DEN ScoutingATL @ 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.
DEN availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 14 min since (131% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 13 min since (121% of 11)
DEN availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 4 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Jordan back 3/21 after 15, 13 min since (122% of 11)
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 9 min since (83% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/02 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 5 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 25 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/04 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 6 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Strawther back 3/25 after 4, 7 min since (71% of 11)
NEW Jackson 21 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Murray missed 7 since 3/23, returns tonight: 21 min (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 26 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restBACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 21 min since (64% of 33)
NEW Jackson 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Braun 20 to 28 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Gordon missed 2 since 4/06, returns tonight: 28 min (87% of 32)
OUT Jordan missed 2 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 24 min since (73% of 33)
NEW Braun 20 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 23 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 3 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 25 min since (77% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 4/10 after 2, 28 min since (87% of 32)
NEW Braun 20 to 28 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 24 min over the last 5
DEN availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restOUT Jordan missed 4 since 4/06, out tonight
BACK Murray back 4/06 after 7, 26 min since (80% of 33)
BACK Gordon back 4/10 after 2, 28 min since (88% of 32)
NEW Braun 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Watson 18 to 24 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 17 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 5 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 69 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 13 since 3/05, out tonight
BACK Windler back 3/23 after 4, 13 min since (104% of 12)
NEW Bogdanović 30 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Krejčí 25 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Mathews 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Matthews 12 to 17 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 18 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 6 since 3/21, returns tonight: 25 min (74% of 34)
OUT Gueye missed 70 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Bufkin missed 14 since 3/05, returns tonight: 17 min (150% of 12)
BACK Windler back 3/23 after 4, 10 min since (86% of 12)
NEW Bogdanović 30 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Krejčí 25 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Fernando 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Mathews 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Matthews 12 to 18 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 4/03 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 19 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 71 since 11/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 4/01 after 6, 25 min since (74% of 34)
BACK Bufkin back 4/01 after 14, 17 min since (150% of 12)
NEW Bogdanović 30 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Krejčí 25 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Fernando 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Matthews 12 to 17 min over the last 4
ATL availability going into 4/04 · back-to-backOUT Young missed 20 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Windler missed 2 since 4/01, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 72 since 11/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 2 since 4/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 4/01 after 6, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Bufkin back 4/01 after 14, 15 min since (130% of 12)
NEW Bogdanović 30 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Hunter 30 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Fernando 15 to 20 min over the last 5
NEW Matthews 12 to 17 min over the last 3
ATL availability going into 4/06 · 1 day's restOUT Young missed 21 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Windler missed 3 since 4/01, out tonight
OUT Gueye missed 73 since 11/01, returns tonight: 4 min (31% of 12)
OUT Forrest missed 3 since 4/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 4/01 after 6, 33 min since (97% of 34)
BACK Bufkin back 4/01 after 14, 14 min since (123% of 12)
NEW Bogdanović 30 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Hunter 30 to 36 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 4/09 · 2 days' restOUT Young missed 22 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Windler missed 4 since 4/01, out tonight
OUT Forrest missed 4 since 4/01, out tonight
BACK Johnson back 4/01 after 6, 33 min since (98% of 34)
BACK Gueye back 4/06 after 73, 4 min since (31% of 12)
BACK Bufkin back 4/01 after 14, 14 min since (122% of 12)
ATL availability going into 4/10 · back-to-backOUT Young missed 23 since 2/25, returns tonight: 21 min (57% of 36)
OUT Windler missed 5 since 4/01, returns tonight: 26 min (216% of 12)
OUT Forrest missed 5 since 4/01, returns tonight: 20 min (183% of 11)
BACK Johnson back 4/01 after 6, 31 min since (92% of 34)
BACK Gueye back 4/06 after 73, 4 min since (31% of 12)
BACK Bufkin back 4/01 after 14, 13 min since (116% of 12)
NEW Bogdanović 30 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Hunter 30 to 36 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 4/12 · 1 day's restBACK Young back 4/10 after 23, 21 min since (57% of 36)
BACK Windler back 4/10 after 5, 26 min since (216% of 12)
BACK Gueye back 4/06 after 73, 10 min since (86% of 12)
BACK Forrest back 4/10 after 5, 20 min since (183% of 11)
NEW Hunter 30 to 37 min over the last 4
NEW Mathews 15 to 21 min over the last 5
ATL availability going into 4/14 · 1 day's restBACK Young back 4/10 after 23, 24 min since (67% of 36)
BACK Windler back 4/10 after 5, 26 min since (216% of 12)
BACK Gueye back 4/06 after 73, 14 min since (115% of 12)
BACK Forrest back 4/10 after 5, 20 min since (183% of 11)
NEW Fernando 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Mathews 15 to 22 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 32 and Gordon at 16 a game. Without Murray (7 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Bogdanović at 22 a game. Without Young (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the defense, Denver allowing 105 a night to Atlanta's 113 and the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 15 times a game to Denver's 11. Call it Denver 115, Atlanta 110.
3/29 vs MIN 98-111 — DEN notes
DEN lost 98-111. DEN took 14 more shots (88 to 74), fed by 13 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to MIN's 51%, 8 of 28 from three, and got to the line 27 times to MIN's 37. DEN turned it over 12 times to MIN's 7. Jokić led with 32 (11 of 24, 0 of 3 from three, 10 of 13 at the line); Porter Jr. added 14, Gordon 14. Q4 was theirs, 34-24, the deficit cut from 23 to 13, but the other 3 periods went 87-64 against them. Caldwell-Pope's -15 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/31 vs CLE 130-101 — DEN notes
DEN won 130-101. DEN shot 57% (50 of 87) to CLE's 46%, 21 of 33 from three, and got to the line 13 times to CLE's 21. The glass went 51-28 for them. Jokić led with 26 (11 of 18); Caldwell-Pope added 22, Porter Jr. 19. The hinge was Q3, 36-21: a lead of 9 became 24, and the lead reached 29. Jokić was the night's best plus/minus at +37.
4/02 vs SAS 110-105 — DEN notes
DEN won 110-105. DEN shot 44% (43 of 98) to SAS's 40%, 11 of 34 from three. Jokić led with 42 (18 of 32, 1 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gordon added 23, Porter Jr. 15. The hinge was Q1, 30-23: from level to 7 ahead.
4/04 @ LAC 100-102 — DEN notes
DEN lost 100-102. DEN shot 43% (36 of 83) to LAC's 38%, 11 of 35 from three, and got to the line 25 times to LAC's 32. DEN turned it over 13 times to LAC's 6, and LAC turned those into 10 steals. Jokić led with 36 (14 of 24, 3 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gordon added 18, Caldwell-Pope 16. Q1 was theirs, 31-20, but the other 3 periods went 82-69 against them. They led by as many as 17. Jackson's -14 in 22 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 vs ATL 142-110 — DEN notes
DEN won 142-110. DEN shot 60% (53 of 88) to ATL's 43%, 23 of 41 from three, and got to the line 16 times to ATL's 29. Caldwell-Pope led with 24 (9 of 12, 6 of 9 from three); Porter Jr. added 20, Jokić 19. The hinge was Q3, 42-30: a lead of 13 became 25, and the lead reached 32. Caldwell-Pope was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
4/09 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 121, shooting 44 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Sexton at 19 and George at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Jokić at 31 and Porter Jr. at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-7 a night and Utah minus-8 and the defense, Denver allowing 106 a night to Utah's 121. Call it Denver 117, Utah 111.
4/10 vs MIN — 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 119 a night and allowing 103, shooting 51 percent and 44 from three, 16 free throws a game; Jokić at 30 and Gordon at 16 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Gordon (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 105, shooting 49 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Reid at 18 a game. Without Towns (17 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Denver has been plus-5 a night and Minnesota plus-1. Call it Denver 112, Minnesota 110, Minnesota keeping it close.
4/12 @ SAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
San Antonio comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 43 percent and 30 from three, 17 free throws a game; Wembanyama at 23 and Branham at 15 a game. One day's rest. Denver comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 104, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Jokić at 33 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to San Antonio's 30 and the defense, Denver allowing 104 a night to San Antonio's 113. Call it Denver 115, San Antonio 109.
4/14 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 108, shooting 41 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; LaRavia at 24 and Pippen Jr. at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Aldama (6 straight), Kennard (5 straight), Clarke (2 straight). One day's rest. Denver comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 107, shooting 52 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Jokić at 29 and Murray at 25 a game. One day's rest.
So: Denver wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Denver at 41 percent from three to Memphis's 35. Call it Denver 112, Memphis 107.
3/30 vs MIL 113-122 — ATL notes
ATL lost 113-122. ATL took 14 more shots (92 to 78), but shot 46% to MIL's 55%, 14 of 35 from three, and got to the line 18 times to MIL's 35. Bogdanović led with 38 (12 of 23, 5 of 9 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); Murray added 20, Hunter 13. Q4 was theirs, 39-33, the deficit cut from 15 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 89-74 against them. Hunter's -11 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/01 @ CHI 113-101 — ATL notes
ATL won 113-101. ATL shot 50% (41 of 82) to CHI's 39%, 19 of 40 from three, and got to the line 18 times to CHI's 24. ATL turned it over 14 times to CHI's 8, and CHI turned those into 8 steals. Bogdanović led with 20 (6 of 7, 6 of 6 at the line); Krejčí added 18, Murray 17. The hinge was Q3, 29-21: a lead of 8 became 16. Bogdanović was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
4/03 vs DET 121-113 — ATL notes
ATL won 121-113. ATL shot 54% (49 of 90) to DET's 46%, 13 of 38 from three, and got to the line 15 times to DET's 21. ATL turned it over 16 times to DET's 10, and DET turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 48-37 for them. Johnson led with 28 (10 of 14, 2 of 4 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Hunter added 26, Murray 24. The hinge was Q1, 28-23: from level to 5 ahead, and the lead reached 22. Capela was the night's best plus/minus at +30.
4/04 @ DAL 95-109 — ATL notes
ATL lost 95-109. ATL shot 40% (34 of 85) to DAL's 40%, 13 of 38 from three. ATL turned it over 21 times to DAL's 14. Bogdanović led with 17 (6 of 15, 3 of 10 from three); Murray added 16, Mathews 14. Q1 was theirs, 31-25, but the other 3 periods went 84-64 against them. Capela's -25 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/06 @ DEN 110-142 — ATL notes
ATL lost 110-142. ATL shot 43% (37 of 87) to DEN's 60%, 12 of 37 from three, and went to the line 29 times to DEN's 16 — 24 points from the stripe to their 13. Capela led with 19 (5 of 6, 9 of 12 at the line); Bogdanović added 18, Hunter 18. Q2 was theirs, 30-36, but the other 3 periods went 106-80 against them. Mathews's -29 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/09 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Bogdanović at 21 and Murray at 18 a game. Without Young (22 straight). 2 days' rest. Miami comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 107, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Butler III at 21 and Rozier at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Richardson (25 straight), Wright (4 straight), Mills (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 107 a night to Atlanta's 117 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-5 a night and Atlanta minus-0. Call it Miami 114, Atlanta 112, Atlanta keeping it close.
4/10 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 116, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 20 and Hunter at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Young (23 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 115, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 22 and Miller at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-2 a night and Charlotte minus-9 and the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 16 times a game to Charlotte's 12. Call it Atlanta 116, Charlotte 112, Charlotte keeping it close.
4/12 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 21 free throws a game; Edwards at 29 and Reid at 16 a game. Without Towns (18 straight). One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 119, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 21 and Hunter at 20 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the arc, Minnesota at 42 percent from three to Atlanta's 33 and the defense, Minnesota allowing 107 a night to Atlanta's 119. Call it Minnesota 119, Atlanta 109, Minnesota by 10.
4/14 @ IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 119, shooting 51 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Siakam at 20 and Haliburton at 19 a game. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 21 free throws a game; Murray at 18 and Hunter at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Atlanta giving it away 16 times a game to Indiana's 11. Call it Indiana 122, Atlanta 115.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
ATLBB B. Bogdanović
BF B. Fernando
BO Bogdanovic
CC C. Capela
DH D. Hunter
DM D. Murray
GM G. Mathews
JJ J. Johnson
KB K. Bufkin
KR Krejci
MG M. Gueye
VK V. Krejčí
DENCB C. Braun
HT H. Tyson
JH J. Holiday
JH J. Huff
JM J. Murray
JP J. Pickett
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
ATL/DEN 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's return sparks Nuggets to 142-110 win over Hawks as Denver moves into first place in West
DENVER -- — Jamal Murray 's return rippled through Denver's roster in a rout of the Atlanta Hawks that left coach Michael Malone in a great mood and the Nuggets in sole possession of first place in the tight Western Conference playoff race.
Murray returned from a strained right knee after missing seven games and had 16 points and six assists in 21 minutes of a 142-110 victory Saturday night. He sat out the fourth quarter as did Nikola Jokic , who still recorded his 25th triple-double of the season, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope , who added a season-high 24 points.
Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic said Murray's presence was a game-changer.
“He's a tremendous player. Him and Jokic are the best duo in the league and it's tough to guard them,” Bogdanovic said. “When Jokic needs to find a guy to score, he's got Murray and that's basically it.”
Murray's impact in his first appearance since getting hurt March 21 in a game against the New York Knicks went well beyond the numbers he put up.
Reggie Jackson , who had started in Murray's place, returned to the bench and led Denver's second unit with 18 points despite a sickness that left him masked on the sideline and Malone surprised he even played.
“I have to give him a lot of credit because I didn't think he was going to play,” Malone said. "For him to go out there ... it was just amazing and a testament to his toughness.
“Having Jamal back gets Reggie back to that second unit. (It's) more of a natural order of things for us, and it was great to have Jamal Murray back. And I was really grateful I didn't have to put him back in. He's on a minute restriction and ... I kept him well below his minute restriction.”
Denver's reserves erupted for 58 points one game after making just three baskets. Peyton Watson scored 13 points to go with five blocks and Justin Holiday dished out six assists to go with his eight points.
All of this propelled the Nuggets (54-24) into sole possession of first place in the Western Conference, a half-game ahead of the idle Minnesota Timberwolves , who visit Denver on Wednesday night.
Clint Capela led Atlanta with 19 points.
The showdown between the Wolves and Nuggets could decide the top seed in the West, although Oklahoma City is just a game back. Malone has insisted he's more concerned with his team's health than its seeding — as evidenced by his not rushing Murray back into the lineup despite a 4-3 record in his absence — but Denver did parley the No. 1 seed a year ago into a 10-1 home record in the playoffs on its way to winning the franchise’s first NBA championship.
“Of course it matters,” Murray said. “It's the No. 1 seed. You get the home-court advantage for the whole playoffs.”
Jokic had 19 points, 14 boards and 11 assists.
Michael Porter Jr . added 20 points for the Nuggets, who sank 23 3-pointers and dished out a season-best 38 assists despite Aaron Gordon sitting out with a sore right foot.
“It was a good win,” Malone said, adding, “I can't say enough good things about our bench tonight. Fifty-eight bench points ... and Nikola, oh yeah, he gets another triple-double.”
Malone said Murray will remain on a minutes restriction as the Nuggets look to get him back into a rhythm ahead of the playoffs.
“The way it used to be, the season ended on a Wednesday night and you were playing on Saturday. The way it is now, you finish, you've got a week off. So, I think that's why it's really important to Jamal to play and find a rhythm,” Malone said.