After being blown out by the Golden State Warriors in Games 1 and 2 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets turned to themselves on Thursday night for their first competitive fourth quarter of the series, albeit in a 118-113 loss dig magma-core-of-the-earth-deep 3-0 hole.
Of the Nuggets adjustments that worked: Giving the ball to presumptive NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. A lot. Jokic finished with a streak-high of 37 points and 18 rebounds, hitting 14 of 22 shots, along with nine trips to the charity streak (he made seven free throws).
Of the Nuggets adjustments that didn’t work: Ask Denver’s Aaron Gordon to guard Golden State’s guards, starting with honorary Splash brother Jordan Poole.
This is how it went:
Jordan Poole: 27 points, 9-of-13 shooting, 3-of-5 from 3-point range
Klay Thompson: 26 points, 10-of-18 shooting, 6-of-13 from 3-point range
Steph Curry: 27 points, 9-of-17 shooting, 3-of-9 from 3-point range
The defensive move confused pretty much everyone:
Aaron Gordon, defending Jordan Poole, isn’t working early.
Also a great start for the Warriors.
— BontaHill (@BontaHill) April 22, 2022
If Denver’s big move puts Aaron Gordon on Poole… uhh…
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) April 22, 2022
favorite thing ever? Watching Jordan Poole ruthlessly cook Aaron Gordon.
—Louis (@HoopsTalk13) April 19, 2022
An 8-second clip posted by sports announcer Dan Le Batard Thursday night summed up Gordon’s night defensively.
“Aaron Gordon chasing Steph Curry this is how I picture hell,” Le Batard wrote alongside a video of Curry taking Gordon in absolute circles before taking an uncontested floater that bounced off the rim harmlessly.
Aaron Gordon chasing Steph Curry, that’s how I imagine hell. pic.twitter.com/6CosgahrOZ
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) April 22, 2022
Gordon already has one of the team’s worst regular-season defensive ratings (113.8) and is nearly seven points behind the league average (106.9), and that’s when he’s not guarding the Warriors’ death lineup.
What adjustments does Nuggets head coach Mike Malone plan for the Warriors in Game 4? Will DeMarcus Guard Cousins Gary Payton II? Will Bones Hyland be Draymond Green’s new stopper? We’ll all have to wait and see Sunday when Denver hosts Game 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Ball Arena in a potential sweep game for Golden State.