Nuggets vs. Hawks: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions
Game Time: 7:30 PM EST on Friday December 17, 2021
Denver Nuggets 133, Atlanta Hawks 115 (Final)
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Denver Nuggets @nuggetsEnded the week with a W 🙌
Goodnight, Nuggets Nation. pic.twitter.com/9XRIAwb79N – 1:20 AM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
There was no cooling down our offense tonight!
Key takeaways from the W 👇
nba.com/nuggets/news/n… – 12:45 AM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
The Nuggets are one game out of 5th in the West. – 12:43 AM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
NEW episode of Pickaxe and Roll, presented by @DKSportsbook:
My thoughts on the Nuggets 133-115 win over Atlanta
—Joker just 26 minutes, lifts up bench in 4th quarter
—Bones career high 24 points
—Big time night from Uncle Jeff
—On playing with confidence denverstiffs.com/2021/12/17/228… – 12:42 AM Dane Moore @DaneMooreNBA
Timberwolves absolutely dominate the Lakers (again)
Wolves 110, Lakers 92
On tonight’s show:
– KAT beats Nurkic, then Jokic, now Davis
– The still understated value of Vanderbilt
– DLo stirrin the drink
– Finch’s growing credibility
– Success with Ant in the protocols – 12:41 AM Sean Highkin @highkin
Chauncey Billups: “Ish Smith is a tough little joker, man.” – 12:37 AM Chris Dempsey @chrisadempsey
“Having those 2 weeks off, kind of just gave me a chance to just get back to being myself and enjoying the game again.”
Austin Rivers is just so real, so honest and so authentic. This is a must listen as to how he describes working through a tough start to this season. #Nuggets pic.twitter.com/TeVZYrVdVG – 12:33 AM Michael Singer @msinger
Michael Malone wouldn’t divulge any details. Bones Hyland kept his answers short and compact. But both said Wednesday’s team violation was a “lesson learned” for Hyland, who scored a career-high 24 in his return Friday night. Here’s why.
denverpost.com/2021/12/17/nug… – 12:29 AM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Bones Hyland returns pic.twitter.com/BhPWqLC4BE – 12:25 AM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Gonna be scary for years to come 😈 pic.twitter.com/dsnseFKncj – 12:15 AM Chad Ford @chadfordinsider
Top Rookies on Fri
Franz Wagner, 27 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl
Bones Hyland, 24 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk, 4-5 3P
Herb Jones, 17 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk – 12:00 AM Michael Singer @msinger
Can confirm the #Nuggets are planning to sign Davon Reed to another hardship exception, source says. @Shams Charania had it first. – 11:56 PM Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
The Denver Nuggets are re-signing forward Davon Reed via hardship exemption, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Reed played six games (two starts) in his first stint with the Nuggets this season. – 11:51 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Can you tell that @Facundo Campazzo was happy to be tonight’s DPOG 😂 pic.twitter.com/FxfM9npwoA – 11:45 PM Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA
Tonight, Nuggets rookie Bones Hyland had a career-high 24 points in the team’s win over the Hawks.
With his electric style of play and big personality, it’s only a matter of time until @BizzyBones11 becomes a fan favorite – in Denver and beyond. basketballnews.com/stories/nugget… – 11:28 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
The kid is special 🦴
Have yourself a night, @BizzyBones11! pic.twitter.com/MMdfngVe0O – 11:15 PM Onyeka Okongwu @BigO21_
🙏🏾🙏🏾 – 11:12 PM Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Austin Rivers on his COVID experience: “It was hard. I actually got sick, so I had a couple nights where I was struggling breathing a little bit and was nervous with that. The COVID stuff is really no joke.” – 11:04 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
The “on” half of the Hawks’ on/off splits over the course of their 6-game losing streak. pic.twitter.com/SHJYEMg98t – 10:52 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
A career night for @BizzyBones11 in the ATL!
🔥 24 PTS
🔥 72.7 FG% pic.twitter.com/5ebY2pTbSu – 10:50 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Austin Rivers: “We’re a playoff team or bust. There’s no other options” – 10:45 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Austin Rivers said he came into this season “not mentally right.” Said the quarantine allowed him to reset and find that joy. – 10:42 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Trae said that he rolled his ankle twice. The one on Capela’s foot was the second one, and he got it re-taped shortly after. – 10:42 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
John Collins on if the Hawks gave enough effort on defense tonight, which Nate McMillan questioned:
“Usually I’d say yes, but tonight, hell no. We’ve got to do a better job.” – 10:40 PM Chris Dempsey @chrisadempsey
Bones said he “just wanted to be aggressive” tonight. And he was. As serous a performance as I’ve seen him have; and right from the start. Played with a ton of pop and explosiveness. – 10:36 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
MOOD pic.twitter.com/Xa2nnfQChl – 10:30 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Final numbers 📊 pic.twitter.com/QCF0ykK67Z – 10:27 PM Michael Singer @msinger
That’s a career-high 24 points from Bones Hyland, as the #Nuggets soar past the Atlanta Hawks.
denverpost.com/2021/12/17/nug… – 10:27 PM Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Final score: Warriors 111, Celtics 107. Golden State wins its third straight, and finishes its East Coast trip in Toronto tomorrow night. Boston, meanwhile, is now tied with Atlanta for ninth in the East at 14-15 – one game ahead of tomorrow’s opponent, the Knicks, in 12th. – 10:16 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Nate McMillan on Onyeka Okongwu:
“Was good to get him out on the floor, and I thought the minutes that he played were good minutes for us.” – 10:15 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Michael Malone on the Nuggets getting 35 assists tonight:
“The assists are just off the charts, the turnovers are way down.”
“Last couple of games our ball movement has made us really hard to guard. And that’s the best way to play.” – 10:14 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Always a show when these two are on the floor 🍿 pic.twitter.com/2Q5X1ekj4U – 10:13 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Nate McMillan on the Hawks’ defense vs. the Nuggets:
“As I said to them, I haven’t questioned their effort, but tonight, there’s a concern. I didn’t like what I saw out there tonight. We’ve got to commit to defending or playing defense out there, it can’t be about scoring.” – 10:11 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Malone on Bones: “We missed Bones last game. … We’re a better team when Bones Hyland is available.” – 10:11 PM Michael Singer @msinger
That’s a career-high 24 points from Bones, a season-high 133 points from the #Nuggets and a welcomed light-ish night from Nikola Jokic.
Now 15-14, they’ll take this show to Brooklyn. – 10:03 PM Chris Dempsey @chrisadempsey
This was a heckuva statement by the #Nuggets after being beaten by Minnesota on Wednesday.
Bones was brilliant, and it seems the Nuggets are A) slowly finding more consistent production from the bench, and B) are clicking on offense the way they used to. Season high 133 tonight. – 10:02 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Can’t spell weekend without W!!
#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/znbxnHUZpA – 10:00 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
Trae Young finished tonight’s contest with 34 points and 10 assists, recording his NBA-leading seventh 30+ point, 10+ assist outing of the season. Since the 2018-19 season, Young leads the league with 38 such games. – 9:58 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Final Rotations for the Nuggets as they beat the Hawks 133-115 to begin their 3-game road trip.
-A complete team effort. 10 of 11 players positive +/-
-Jokic plays 26 min, gets 20-10-7-3. Ho hum
-Bones a career high 24 points
-4 Nuggets with 20+, including Morris and Jeff pic.twitter.com/9boAJSFaBN – 9:57 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Hawks went 17-2 at home after Nate McMillan took over last season.
They just lost 6th-straight at home.
(They also have a 5-game road winning streak.) – 9:57 PM Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Nuggets improve to 15-14 with a 133-115 win over the Hawks. Bones Hyland leads six Nuggets in double figures with 24 points, a new career high. Jokic finishes with 20-10-7-3. Trae Young leads Atlanta with 34 on 12-27 from the field. – 9:56 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Good road win for the Nuggets. Lots of guys contributed. Bones, Facu, Gordon, and Jeff Green stand out. – 9:55 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Dominant win from Denver tonight to open a 3-game road trip. The biggest positive: Bones Hyland is back and looked as good as he’s looked all year. When the Nuggets’ second unit plays well, Denver’s very hard to beat. – 9:55 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Bad loss for the Hawks, who fall to the Nuggets, 133-115, and have now lost six straight at home.
Poor defensive effort (Capela had a pretty good night but the perimeter was rough).
Hawks fall to 14-15.
Trae Young: 34 pts, 10 ast
John Collins: 20 pts, 10 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl – 9:55 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
NUGGETS WIN pic.twitter.com/BOFTyaMGU5 – 9:54 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Hawks lose their sixth straight home game and fall to the Nuggets 133-115.
Young: 34/10, 12/27 FG
Collins: 20/10, 7/13 FG
Capela: 15/11, 7/10 FG – 9:53 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
The rookie is cool, calm and collective.
Bones Hyland with a new career-high of 24 points.
He went 4-5 from beyond the arc and also got to the FT line. When he plays well, the Nuggets have seemed to roll. – 9:52 PM Jason Walker @JasonWalkerNBA
Jalen Johnson fixing to hit the transfer portal 🤣🤣🤣 – 9:51 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Going to be a great Winner’s Lounge tonight
– Bones
– Facu
– The bench
– AG
– Jokic
youtube.com/watch?v=a0BrOe… – 9:50 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Extremely rude of Bones to look at Sharife on that fall lol – 9:50 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Almost had him…
smooth moves, @BigGameTae 😂 pic.twitter.com/fx4whG9iPX – 9:48 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
John Collins has registered his second straight 20+ point, 10+ rebound outing and his sixth such double-double of the season. Collins leads his 2017 NBA Draft class with 50 career 20-or-more point, 10-or-more rebound games. – 9:47 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Really strong performance for the Nuggets tonight. They struggled to get stops but were unstoppable offensively. Pretty cool to see. – 9:47 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nikola Jokic has recorded 10+ rebounds in 12-straight games. He hasn’t had fewer than 10 rebounds since Nov. 14 vs. Portland, when he had 9 in only 28 minutes in a blowout win. – 9:46 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Sharife Cooper checking in for the Hawks with 3:44 to play (Hawks down 20). – 9:45 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Deep bench is at the table with 3:44 left, including Sharife Cooper. – 9:44 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
Clint Capela (currently with 15 points, 11 rebounds) has tallied his team-leading 18th double-double. – 9:44 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
Trae Young (currently with 28 points and 10 assists), has poured in 25+ in a career-high 12 straight games, tying the third-longest such streak in franchise history. It’s also the longest active such streak in the NBA. – 9:37 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
True to form, in his first game back from an absence, Bones Hyland has set a new career high with 21 points. – 9:37 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
New career-high for @BizzyBones11 🚨 pic.twitter.com/GblB2DVX9z – 9:34 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
SHOWTIME 🤩 pic.twitter.com/QjrfJiBR5a – 9:31 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Campazzo steals inbound pass from Okongwu to Williams after a Hawks timeout. Jokic gets a 3-point play. This one is a wrap. – 9:30 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
That Bones-Jokic two-man game when Bones is on is like Murray-Jokic lite. – 9:30 PM Michael Singer @msinger
You can’t even say Nikola Jokic was off tonight. He’s got 13 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
But for the first time in forever, they just haven’t needed him to be herculean. – 9:29 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nikola Jokic’s most average passes are your favorite player’s best. – 9:28 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
THE MAGICIAN SEES EVERYTHING pic.twitter.com/w726kw3DrK – 9:26 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
Trae Young has recorded his 100th career points/assists double-double, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to do so (23 years, 89 days). Young tallied his 100 points/assists double-doubles in 233 career games, the fifth-quickest in NBA history (@EliasSports). – 9:26 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Jokic starting the fourth quarter. Bet Malone wants to end this and then rest him. – 9:25 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
The Nuggets have won each of the first, second, and third quarters. They lead by 19, and Jokić should be coming back in soon. – 9:23 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Closing time pic.twitter.com/0alYJ0PORx – 9:23 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Facu lobs it
AG throws it pic.twitter.com/PbMuci6NWI – 9:22 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Really good game for Austin Rivers in his return to the lineup after a bout with COVID. Love to see it. – 9:22 PM Jason Walker @JasonWalkerNBA
You aren’t coming back on defense with Gallo out there fellas – 9:22 PM Michael Singer @msinger
That’s Cornelie, Murray, Morris, AG and Jokic all standing for the bench unit’s effort. pic.twitter.com/QjPkPz626p – 9:22 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Nikola Jokic didn’t play for the final 10:43 of the quarter after picking up his fourth foul. Denver led by 21 at the time.
The Nuggets will take a 19-point 106-87 lead into the fourth. – 9:21 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Hawks will take a 19-point deficit vs. the Nuggets into the fourth quarter. – 9:21 PM Jason Walker @JasonWalkerNBA
Austin Rivers parking lotting us – 9:20 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Austin Rivers hasn’t played in nearly three weeks, and he’s making a noticable impact on this game. – 9:20 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Welcome back Austin Rivers! – 9:19 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
pic.twitter.com/4JO99lTDF4 – 9:19 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
that’s coooold @Aaron Gordon 🥶 pic.twitter.com/4Qvgyaqmmo – 9:16 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Monte Morris said a few games back that it’s taken him a while to adjust to being Denver’s full-time starter. But 25+ games into the season he’s now comfortable running that group. It’s showed as of late. He’s been playing at a really high level. – 9:15 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Malone should put Jokic back in right here. 2:21 in the 3rd. Hawks have to play small to close out the quarter. – 9:14 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Really need to be giving a lot of credit to Jeff Green. Has been fantastic today in his opportunities on both ends. – 9:14 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Onyeka Okongwu checking in for the Hawks again. – 9:13 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Monte/AG/Jeff saving the #Nuggets‘ bacon right now. All have hit timely shots with Joker on the bench. – 9:11 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Denver taking out Bones to go with a bigger, more defensive lineup, probably isn’t a great idea without Jokić. Just try to score as many points as you can. – 9:04 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Clint Capela has played well since Jokic left with a 4th foul. – 9:02 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Really heady play by Bones. He was deep, probably thought about launching from near the logo, drew Huerter out and instead drove and found Monte in the corner. Nuggets now 13-of-25 from 3-point range. – 9:01 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
This game will get weird now that Malone is taking Jokic out with 4 fouls.
Capela vs. Green for extended minutes
Jokic likely vs Gallo for extended minutes later in the game – 8:58 PM Jason Walker @JasonWalkerNBA
The Hawks have to work harder at denial on defense – nuggets putting the ball wherever they want to – nobody working at denying them – 8:56 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
With his third offensive rebound tonight, Clint Capela has reached 1,500 career offensive boards. Since entering the NBA in 2014-15, Capela is the seventh player to pull down 1,500+ offensive rebounds. – 8:55 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Nikola checks out with his fourth foul … and in comes Bones with 10:43 left in the third. – 8:55 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Nuggets assistant coach Charles Klask credited Zeke Nnaji saying the team has asked him to roll more even though he’s more of a pick-n-pop guy. – 8:53 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
As the teams warm up for the 2nd half, Jamal Murray is getting some practice (in civvies, of course) posting up Facu Campazzo. – 8:49 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
We like the look of those numbers 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8Z6ZPGumVF – 8:48 PM Chris Dempsey @chrisadempsey
This is the shooting chart for the #Nuggets bench in the first half. Overall 11/16 shooting, including 4/7 from the 3-point line pic.twitter.com/ykKZoqgJOh – 8:46 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Halftime rotations for the Nuggets as they lead the Hawks 72-54:
-Jokić with a strong interior performance
-Bones/Facu have shot lights out
-ATL 3/13 from 3. Regression incoming. pic.twitter.com/d8TZmFAKNt – 8:45 PM Chris Dempsey @chrisadempsey
A fantastic first half for the #Nuggets here in Atlanta
– 72 first half points
– 10 3-point makes
– 30 bench points
– 18 assists (on 27 made shots)
– Bones Hyland w/ 15 points on 5/7 shooting
– Trae Young 11 points on 12 shots (5/12 shooting)
Must keep this energy in 2nd half – 8:42 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
The Nuggets have come out and blitzed the Hawks and lead 72-54 at the half.
Bones Hyland leads all scorers with 15-points & helped provide a spark.
Jokic is at 13 pts 5 asts and 7 rebs and both Aaron Gordon & Jeff Green have 10 apiece.
What’s your message to the team? – 8:40 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
The Hawks were out-rebounded by the Nuggets 28-19 in that first half. – 8:40 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
43 points in the second quarter pic.twitter.com/JVYxVD3nWq – 8:40 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
I really love the Aaron Gordon – Jeff Green combo – 8:38 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Nikola Jokic’s first half: 13 points (5-6 FG’s), 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals. That half-court heave was his only miss of the game so far. – 8:38 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
The Hawks trail the Nuggets 72-54 at the end of the first half. Uninspired defensive performance tonight from the Hawks.
Denver scoring 1.36 points per possession. – 8:38 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Hawks gave up 43 points (😬) in that second quarter.
They trail the Nuggets 72-54.
Denver is shooting 58.7% FG, 50% from 3 (10-20). – 8:38 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Hawks 6-0 run to end the half to cut the deficit to … 18. – 8:37 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
AIR G🚫RD🚫N pic.twitter.com/hcadGjGXjh – 8:35 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Aaron Gordon with back-to-back pull-up 3-pointers and the Nuggets suddenly lead by 22 points in the 2nd quarter.
Bench unit and Gordon have carried the way and that has helped allow the lead to balloon to 20+ points. – 8:34 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Aaron Gordon looking like prime Kawhi Leonard tonight – 8:34 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Aaron Gordon is in a groove on both ends. – 8:34 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Nuggets’ lead up to 22 after back-to-back Gordon 3-pointers. Crushing Atlanta 70-48 late in the second quarter.
Denver’s bench is going wild at every nutmeg/3-pointer/swat. – 8:34 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Aaron Gordon’s passing has leveled up since arriving in Denver. – 8:31 PM Michael Singer @msinger
That’s 17 assists on 24 field goals. #Nuggets offense is rolling, with 62 points and three minutes left in the first half. – 8:30 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Hawks have given up 29 points to the Nuggets in this second quarter, with 4:05 still to play – 8:29 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
The Hawks have to figure this defense problem out. Can’t just expect to outscore teams every night. – 8:28 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
FACU NUTMEG pic.twitter.com/7RHb6LtgRG – 8:26 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Trae just got hurt a bit trying to defend a back cut. Paused for a minute before inbounding the ball. – 8:25 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
From the Boneyard 👌 pic.twitter.com/14ZPn6cHRF – 8:23 PM Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
Jokic left up 2. Denver is up 10 with 5 minutes gone in the second. Denver’s guards scoring again is a welcome thing. Rebounding is also nice – Denver needs this kind of thing to be regular, but one stint at a time. Excellent output in the 2nd quarter for the bench. – 8:23 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Already 27 points for the Nuggets’ bench about midway through the second quarter. Bones Hyland has 12 of them. He’s 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from 3-point range. Playing with a ton of confidence right now. – 8:21 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Facu nutmegs Gallo because it was the only passing window and the Nuggets bench is ROLLING. – 8:21 PM Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
There’s hot and then there’s Bones Hyland 🔥 takeovers.
Right now he’s feeling it. He’s up to 12 points and has knocked down both 3-pointers he’s taken.
Bones alongside Facu Campazzo has the Nuggets second unit humming and up 10 points in the 2nd quarter. – 8:21 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Great minutes from the Nuggets’ bench.
Bones hitting deep 3s, Facu finishing at the rim. Good stuff. – 8:20 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Bones hits from the logo … in Trae’s house. Rookie’s up to a game-high 12 in 9 minutes. – 8:20 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Jokic has taken a long break and the Hawks have not prospered. – 8:20 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Big time performance from Bones Hyland. – 8:19 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
he’s getting Bizzy 👀 – 8:19 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Onyeka Okongwu looked great in his first stint tonight — good activity/awareness, nice finishes around the rim, 2-2 from the line.
That’s a really, really good sign for the Hawks and their bench lineups. – 8:17 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Bones with a team-high 9 points in 7 minutes. #Nuggets missed him badly last game. Dude is so slippery. – 8:16 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Bones Hyland so far tonight: a team-high 9 points (3-3 shooting) and 1 assists. That’s an important early bounce-back from him after missing the Minnesota game. – 8:16 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Blink and you missed him 🦴 pic.twitter.com/k4V0ijAQjj – 8:15 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Looks like Onyeka Okongwu is picking up right where he left off in the playoffs. – 8:13 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Six points for Onyeka Okongwu in his first four minutes back.
2-2 FG, went 2-2 from the line on his first trip.
Bringing some good energy. – 8:10 PM Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
Ball was poppin to start the game
Barton still looks 80% to me
Zeke had some nice defensive possessions
Good to see Bones knock down a 3 early – 8:07 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Nuggets bench hits multiple three-pointers and the vibes become pretty good with that group. Several great Zeke Nnaji possessions on defense forced turnovers too. – 8:06 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Slight lead after one pic.twitter.com/NqTAIYWGKQ – 8:05 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Ten points from Denver’s bench gives #Nuggets a 29-26 lead after one. Eight assists on 12 FGs is a great number, and Denver owns a 13-7 rebounding edge. – 8:05 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Nuggets started the game with a 15-3 run, Hawks answered with a 21-6 run. It’s Nuggets 29, Hawks 26 at the end of the first quarter.
Collins: 10 points
Young: 7 points, 4 assists – 8:05 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Denver’s bench has some life tonight. Bones Hyland already has a 3. So does Facu Campazzo. Austin Rivers had a nice drive to the rim that quarter. Zeke Nnaji already shut down a Trae Young ISO and bothered his shot. Strong opening stint for that group. – 8:05 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
After the first quarter: Nuggets 29, Hawks 26
John Collins: 10 pts, 2 reb
Trae Young: 7 pts, 4 ast – 8:05 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Jokic gets a breather.
Hawks need to frolic like the substitute teacher showed up. – 8:02 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Austin Rivers is back in after his bout with COVID. Told me before the game there’s no chance he’s going to have his wind back. – 8:00 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Onyeka Okongwu got a nice ovation from the crowd as he makes his season debut – 8:00 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
With his 10th point of the night, John Collins has extended his 10+ scoring streak to 17 straight games – tied for the third-longest such streak of his career. – 8:00 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Onyeka Okongwu has checked in for the first time this season. – 8:00 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
For the first time this season, Onyeka Okongwu is checking into a game for the Hawks.
He’ll join a lineup of Delon Wright, Lou Williams, Cam Reddish and Danilo Gallinari. – 8:00 PM Michael Singer @msinger
That’s a ridiculous contest by Zeke Nnaji on Trae Young. That’s 6-10 Nnaji. – 7:54 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Former Nuggets Danilo Gallinari is going to get a turn guarding Jokic here. – 7:52 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Two nice blocks from Clint Capela already. – 7:50 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
A Joker dime of the bounce pass variety 😍 pic.twitter.com/OmUnLdLPh8 – 7:49 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
UNCL3 J3FF – 7:47 PM Michael Singer @msinger
#Nuggets open with four assists on five made field goals. Ball is flying around, and Denver out to a 12-3 lead. On the Green corner three, Malone popped off the bench and applauded the unselfishness. Encouraging start. – 7:45 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Good stuff from the Nuggets offense. Save for a couple isolations, the offensive and defensive process has been excellent. – 7:45 PM Vinny Benedetto @VBenedetto
Nikola Jokic hits a 3 to get the Nuggets started in Atlanta and sets up a Monte Morris bucket to get the Denver out to an early 5-0 lead. – 7:43 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Aaron Gordon has drawn Trae again on defense, it seems. – 7:41 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
JOK3R gets us started! – 7:41 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
It’s that time again 😤 pic.twitter.com/06DzPv59HW – 7:34 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Some pregame tunes courtesy of @BizzyBones11 🎶 pic.twitter.com/kdp3C1H6Ua – 7:23 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Starting 🖐 vs. @Jaryd Wilson
#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/YSXBOcNKxj – 7:12 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Hawks starters tonight: Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, John Collins, Clint Capela – 7:07 PM The Ringer @ringernba
How did last year’s MVP, Nikola Jokic, get even better this year?
@Kevin O’Connor explains on #TheVoidNBA: https://t.co/FeGSzDCoG1 pic.twitter.com/zaGAWKFjuG – 7:04 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Hoopin’ 🔜 pic.twitter.com/5fKmf0S2vg – 6:59 PM Kevin Chouinard @KLChouinard
Per Hawks PR, Trae Young has scored 25 or more points in 11 straight games, a feat no Hawk has done since Dominique Wilkins did it in 1988. – 6:56 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
Trae Young comes into tonight’s tilt riding a career-high 11-game 25+ scoring streak, the longest active streak in the NBA and the longest streak for a Hawk since Dominique Wilkins (14 games 1/30/88-3/1/88). Over those 11 games, he’s averaging 30.6 ppg and 9.4 apg in 34.1 mpg. – 6:55 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Friday night fits 💧
#ULTRADrip x #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/ua9hMbQ5Ta – 6:16 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
McMillan said he doesn’t want to put many expectations on Okongwu, which makes sense, since he’s been out with injury and this is just his second season.
Main thing he wants Okongwu to do is bring energy, rebound and get that chemistry back with Lou/Gallo/2nd unit. – 6:08 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Nate McMillan on Onyeka Okongwu:
“We’ll put him out there. Get him some minutes tonight at that backup 5 position. And hopefully he can bring that energy that he brought to us last year.” – 6:01 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
“He was feeling a little under the weather this morning, but he’s available,” Nate McMillan says of Clint Capela, who was listed as questionable with a non-COVID illness but will be available – 6:00 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
John Collins is coming off his fifth 20+ point, 10+ rebound outing of the season on 12/15 at Orlando. Collins enters tonight as the only player in the NBA this season to be averaging 17.0 ppg on at least .550 FG% and .400 3FG%. – 5:59 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Clint Capela is available for Atlanta tonight, Nate McMillan says. So is Hawks, backup five Onyeka Okongwu. – 5:48 PM Chris Kirschner @ChrisKirschner
Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela are available for tonight’s game, per Nate McMillan.
Said Okongwu will come off the bench and he said this morning that he will be on a minutes restriction. – 5:48 PM Sarah K. Spencer @sarah_k_spence
Onyeka Okongwu (right shoulder injury recovery) is AVAILABLE, Nate McMillan says.
Clint Capela (non-COVID illness) is available as well. – 5:47 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
As a team in the month of December, Atlanta is averaging 15.0 3FGM (2nd most in the East, 5th in NBA) on .418 3FG% (1st in the East, 2nd in NBA).
Forward Danilo Gallinari is the only reserve to be averaging 14.0+ ppg on at least .500 FG% in December (min. 5 games). – 5:16 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Over/Under 42 rebounds for the squad tonight?
Sign up with @PointsBetUSA to receive your first bets risk-free up to $2K: bit.ly/3DlZTq7
#MileHighBasketball – 4:43 PM Tom Haberstroh @tomhaberstroh
🏀 HABERSHOW w/ @Amin Elhassan 🏀
@Ethan Strauss joins the show to unpack the MVP race and why Nikola Jokic can’t get traction; NBA’s Covid situation; lots of Stephen A.
🍎: https://t.co/TAa2e6spQv
: https://t.co/XILQE0pnmU pic.twitter.com/8nJ2W4RgXt – 4:43 PM Atlanta Hawks PR @HawksPR
The Hawks, who own a 36-9 (.800) all-time home record against Denver, will welcome the Nuggets to State Farm Arena for the first and only time this season.
Game Notes vs. Denver: nba.com/gamenotes/hawk… – 4:37 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Facu Campazzo has a higher TS% than Will Barton right now. – 4:13 PM Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
9 NBA teams, by my count, have at least three players in the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols
Lakers (6 players)
Knicks (5)
Bucks (4)
Magic (4)
Celtics (4)
Kings (5)
Bulls (8)
Nets (7)
Nuggets (3)
(Current as of 4:05pm) – 4:06 PM Solomon Hill @solohill
adam silver: who can play tonight? pic.twitter.com/3m9CCsXtN7 – 3:58 PM Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Nuggets: Markus Howard (knee) to be re-evaluated in six weeks sportando.basketball/en/nuggets-mar… – 3:22 PM Gordon Gross @GMoneyNuggs
Report: Markus Howard will miss at least 6 weeks with a knee sprain, and I get a little uppity when it comes to injury language and recovery denverstiffs.com/2021/12/17/228… – 3:03 PM The Ringer @ringernba
Not only is Nikola Jokic in the best shape of his life, but he’s playing the best defense he ever has. #TheVoidNBA pic.twitter.com/0ZpZsQifWv – 2:07 PM Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Markus Howard has been diagnosed with a left knee sprain. He’ll be reevaluated in six weeks, Nuggets announce. – 2:03 PM JD Shaw @JShawNBA
Nuggets guard Markus Howard suffered a sprained left knee and will miss at least six weeks of action, the team says. – 2:02 PM Michael Singer @msinger
Michael Porter Jr., who didn’t travel with the #Nuggets to Atlanta, has also been entered into the NBA’s health and safety protocols as he rehabs his back surgery. – 2:01 PM Denver Nuggets @nuggets
Nuggets guard Markus Howard suffered a sprained left knee in the fourth quarter of Denver’s home game on Wednesday night.
He will be re-evaluated in six weeks. pic.twitter.com/qezEIMa31Q – 2:00 PM Michael Singer @msinger
As reported yesterday, Markus Howard didn’t suffer a major knee injury.
An MRI confirmed a left knee sprain, a league source told @denverpost. He’ll be re-evaluated in six weeks.
Opens up a possibility of another hardship exception for the #Nuggets. – 1:59 PM Solomon Hill @solohill
urban meyer could always head coach at Arizona if he wants to try college again… pic.twitter.com/aZeR5Ifq2Q – 1:35 PM