Indy has revenge in mind after failing to answer the "London Calling Knee-hauling."
Pre-Game Thoughts: For the sake of this piece, oh how I wish the Pacers had a player named Bachman, much like I wish I was dyslexic and CP3 wore the number 30 in our intergalactic battles with the Clippers. Anywho, Can PG13 & Turner push Indy into overdrive and outpace the Nuggets offense, or will this be just another Eastern conference team that does not match up well against Denver, such as the Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks & Bulls? If the Nuggets expect a repeat performance on the Pacer's home court, against a fine ball club with a proud star in Paul George and a star-in-the-making in Myles Turner, they may leave sorely disappointed. I love this match-up of dynamic, young centers, who's pubic statements indicate mutual admiration for each-other's unique approach to the center position.
As this portion is written prior to the game, and as a tip of the cap to Jeff Morton, I thought this song would make a apropos addition. Bachman-Turner Overdrive: You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Update: With Danilo Gallinari (bone bruise in Knee) set to return tonight, the only Nuggets who are expected to miss this rematch are Mike Miller (old), Malik Beasley (young) & the law-firm of Hibbert Mudiay & Nurkic (Malone), but for the first time since Hector was a pup, I can FINALLY say triumphantly, the Nuggets are healthy, and not a moment too soon!
Qtr1- Hickory dickory dock. How on earth was Andrew Dice Clay ever a thing? Chandler is hot from downtown early. PG13 is definitely making up for his poor performance the last time these 2 teams met, thus far. Denver looks to be playing at peak level, with their full allotment of players and are up 8 after 5. Gorgeous lefty hook from Jokic. He's a +14 TPM at the 5 minute mark, with the Nuggets up 13. He's definitely going to be eying a 3d tonight, with 9-7-3 already. The Pacers bench unit starting to cut into the lead against the Denver starters, so they make a line shift, with only Chandler remaining. He's the first Nugget in double figures with 12. Nuggets lead 34-26 after 1.
Qtr2- Coach Miller looking rather dapper in his dnpcd suit. Murray is 0-3 shooting thus far, all from the perimeter. Me-thinks he may be one of the many shooters in Nugget's history that gets his stroke going after a successful drive. The Nuggets 2nd unit is not as successful as they have been lately, as Indy cuts it to 4 at the 8 minute mark. Barton is also playing too perimeter, but Murray is starting to penetrate, and has 2 nice assists in a row, as a result. Jokic replaces an ineffective Plumlee at the 7 minute mark. Offensive rebounding is keeping Indy in this one. Jokic is the 2nd Nugget in double figures with 11. PG13 nabs his 2nd foul at the 5 minute mark. "Hey, Shut up!" -Marlowe to Hastings. Jokic, an astounding +24 TPM with a 2d, already! He has almost single-handedly turned everything around, and the Nuggets are up 17 with 3 to play. Only 3 Nuggets have even fouled yet, all with 1 per. How nice would it be to have the shot blocking stretch 4/5 Turner next to Jokic in a Nuggets uni? 21-12-4 and a +26 TPM for Big Honey in the 1st half, as the Nuggets lead 64-53 at the half.
Qtr3- Jokic makes the mistake of thinking that Jameer would hustle after a ball in his zone, and is credited with a TO as a result. Chandler is cooking, and joins Jokic in the 20 point club. Only PG13, and Teague with 11, are in double figures for Indy. Teague picks up his 3rd foul. Gallo is doing an excellent job drawing fouls tonight, and he's the 3rd Nugget in double figures. Denver, up 16, is already in the bonus after just 4 minutes! SICKENINGLY FILTHY 2-hand, reverse, over-head assist from Jokic to Chandler. Far prettier than his previous two because it was immediate, but still a shade below his 20 foot bounce pass between the legs of Freaky Greeky, Imho. This could be Jokic's best game of the year; right up there with the last time these teams faced off. PG13 picks up his 3rd, defending who else? Gallo. Starters are visibly fatigued at the 4:30 mark, but the Nuggets still lead by 18. Denver is 20-21 at the FT line tonight, to Indy's 2-3! Murray just doesn't have it from outside tonight. I really wish he'd drive. 6 TO's, most of the perplexing variety, by Indy in the period. Miles nabs his 3rd when Murray finally decides to take it to the rack. Brooks is now the 5th pacer in double figures, to Denver's 3. Big Honey has 23-17-5 and Denver is up big, 94-75 after 3.
Qtr 4- Still no Nuggets with more than 2 fouls. Beautiful assist by Murray, to Faried. Gallo draws the 4th foul on Miles. The 2d unit for Denver is back to their usual effective selves in the 2nd half, extending the lead to 23 at the 9 minute mark. Barton is the 4th Nugget in double figures. Teague with his 4th foul at the 8 minute mark. Plumlee's FT stroke looks much improved tonight. Nuggets, once again in the bonus with 8 to play, as PG13 nabs his 4th on a Gallo drive, and the crowd begins to chant "these refs suck"; Meanwhile Jokic checks back in to tack on to his possible career game. Two straight 3s by PG13 cut it to 16. George is the first Pacer to 20. Gallo needs to stop shooting 3's tonight. Another 3 by PG13, and it's down to 13, on 11 straight points by George. Gallo draws ANOTHER foul, PG13's 5th and heads to the line. George FINALLY misses from deep, and then again from 15. Gallo now has a 2d with 17-10, and the Nuggets top 3 scorers have lead them tonight.
The Nuggets are getting sloppy in the face of physical play, and the lead has shrunken to 8 The Nuggets are chucking, and basically refusing to involve Jokic in the half court, playing right into the momentum shift. Stop shooting 3's Denver! Gallo misses his 5th this qtr. The lead is down to 6 at the 2 minute mark, when Jokic finally touches the ball, heads to the FT line as a result, and calmly drills 2. Indy is on a 25-7 run after PG13 drills yet another 3, cutting it to 5. With ice in his veins and Turner right in his face, Jokic drills one of his own, extending the lead to 8 at the 1:30 mark. Plumlee is in for Jokic as Denver goes defense for offense, and they draw a 5 second inbound violation as a result. Jokic checks back in, and drills a hook. No time to go offense defense on the next obsession, and Turner gets an and one on Jokic. Nuggets up 7 with a minute to play. Gallo attempts to dunk and gets 2 FT's, as the centers switch offense/defense again, up 9. Ill Wil advised foul on Chandler with the ball out of bounds, and Indy gets a FT plus the ball, but thankfully they miss the FT. Unfortunately they drill a 3 subsequently. Kudos to the Pacers for showing grit in the 4th qtr! Gallo draws a 5th foul on Miles with :32 to play, up 8. Miles fouls out on a Plumlee rebound, and that should do it. Nuggets make 40-43 Ft's to the Pacers 8-11, and hold on to survive in Indianapolis, 125-117
Final Thoughts- END THE JANIGHTMERE! Free Mudiay!
