Nuggets unable to go running with the Bulls

Back spasms sideline KMart in 2nd Quarter

The shorthanded Chicago Bulls utilized a seven-man rotation and literally ran away with a 116-99 win over the beat-up, sluggish, one-on-one, jump shooting Nuggets. 

Things in Chicago started off well for Denver. They held a 31-21 lead at the end of the 1^st Quarter, but Denver gave up 33, 29, and 33 points in each of the next three quarters to a team that was playing energized ball despite the fact that they only used two subs off their bench. 

Let’s throw some stats around! Chicago shot 31-34 from the foul line to Denver’s 14-21. Chicago outscored Denver 22-4 on fastbreak points. Chicago out rebounded Denver 45-36. These stats all indicate that the Bulls just outworked the Nuggets.  

You can say that not having KMart for the second half probably hurt Denver quite a bit and Melo’s thigh bruise also slowed him (5-18 shooting, 12 points), but the Nuggets had a chance to win this game in the 4^th Quarter.

With the game tied 87-87 and the Nuggets seemed to be gaining a touch of momentum and it looked promising. Denver has used late runs all season to come back and win games they had no business even being in and this one looked like another one of those. The Bulls however, were the team that sprung ahead at the crucial moment … not Denver. Chicago continued to attack the rim and it served them well as they went on a 10-0 run and finished the game on a 29-12 after finding themselves tied at 87. 

Ben Gordan led the Bulls with a season high 37 points and recorded a team high +20 in 40 minutes of action.

These types of games happen. It was unusual to see Denver fight their way back into things late and be unable to finish … it was perplexing and that’s a good thing. We (Nuggets fans) are coming to expect our team to be able to win every game they play and that’s the mark of a good team.