Michael Porter Jr., Nuggets ride four-game winning streak into break with win over Pacers – The Denver Post

Michael Porter Jr.’s primal scream rang all the way to Denver on Thursday night.

When Jamal Murray elevated for a fourth-quarter jam — a sequence which started when Porter blocked a Pacers shot off the backboard — it was a perfect example of the joy the Nuggets have found over their last four games.

They closed the first half of the season with a 113-103 win over the Pacers on Thursday night to extend their winning streak to four and improve to 21-15 on the season. Because of the All-Star break, they won’t play again until next Friday at Memphis.

No matter. They can carry the good vibes into their first extended break of the season.

Porter poured in 24 points and 11 rebounds, marking his fifth double-double in his last six games. His five 3-pointers helped ease the scoring burden on Denver’s other two stars.

Murray had 21 points, including two seismic breakaway jams, and Nikola Jokic finished with 20  points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. He also had seven of Denver’s 19 turnovers — one of the few blemishes on an otherwise promising night.

Off the bench, PJ Dozier was invaluable, tying a career-high with eight assists. His overall playmaking and defensive presence helped offset a difficult night for Will Barton.

Indiana got huge performances from Myles Turner (22 points, 12 rebounds) and Domantas Sabonis (10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) though the Pacers shot just 44% from the field. The Nuggets hit on 58% of their looks.

The first half of the third quarter was a comedy of errors, including a few baffling turnovers from Jokic and Barton. Within minutes, the Nuggets’ double-digit lead evaporated, opening the door for an Indiana comeback.

But when PJ Dozier and Vlatko Cancar checked back in, the game tied at 68, the Nuggets’ energy changed. Instead of giving the ball up, Denver actually forced some turnovers and flipped the momentum entirely. The Nuggets reeled off a 14-6 run to close the quarter, featuring ball movement on offense and desperation on defense. With the spurt, Denver carried an 82-74 lead into the fourth.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone spent some of Thursday’s pregame working on the court with Zeke Nnaji and Bol Bol, two reserve forwards whose minutes have either fluctuated or been non-existent.

“To work with them, to sweat with them, just to pass them a ball, it’s just another way for me as a head coach to connect with a player,” Malone said. “It doesn’t change. This league is all about relationships.

“If I can get on the floor and work with a couple of our young players, maybe that allows them to think, ‘Wow, coach is really invested in my success,’” Malone said. “’He’s not just some coach that is distant. He’s actually with us.’ That’s something that, especially this season because of all the restrictions that we have and how limited we are together, if I can steal some time on the court with our guys, I might as well.”

Riding their three-game winning streak entering Thursday, Malone identified the three areas of recent success.

“Defense, rebounding and taking care of the basketball,” he said. “Sometimes you can get so analytical looking at things, but it’s a simple game. And for us, our identity, defend, rebound and value and share the ball. When we do those things, we’re a really good basketball team.”

Despite an uncharacteristically sloppy first half from Jokic, and 10 turnovers as a team, the Nuggets took a 61-52 lead into the break. Even with the miscues, the Nuggets didn’t let the Pacers burn them in transition.

Outside of Jokic, who had 11 points and four of the turnovers himself, Barton and Porter offered a huge boost to the offense. Together, they connected on four 3-pointers and finished with 22 points over the first half.

Denver’s contributions extended even further down the bench. Isaiah Hartenstein, Cancar and Nnaji all provided valuable minutes that maintained Denver’s lead when Jokic went to the bench.

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