The Denver Nuggets didn't have a great win, but what matters is that they are now moving to the second round.
Denver took down the San Antonio Spurs in their do-or-die Game 7 showdown, taking a 23-13 lead in the first half and never looking back to win 90-86.
On to the next!#MileHighBasketball https://t.co/jCZbl9upIy
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 28, 2019
Nuggets head Michael Malone said before the game that he was not afraid to play Nikola Jokic for 48 minutes, and true enough, he almost didn't give the Serbian big man any break after playing him for 43 minutes. It paid off big time, however, as Jokic finished with a triple-double of 21 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.
Jamal Murray led all Nuggets scorers with 23 markers. He shot 47.4 percent from the field and had five rebounds and four assists to go along with his scoring tally.
The Spurs were doomed right from the start after they allowed themselves to go down to a 17-4 hole in the opening frame. They managed to cut Denver's lead to single digits heading to the payoff period, but they were never able to recover.
Rudy Gay scored 21 for San Antonio, but he was the only player to reach the 20-point mark. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 and 16 respectively, though both players shot below 40 percent from the field.
The Nuggets lost Game 1 at home, but that was the only match they lost to the Spurs at Pepsi Center. They won their other three home games — including Game 7 — proving that homecourt advantage counts for something.
Denver will now face the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round. Portland beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. Game 1 of their second round series starts on Monday, April 29.
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