In an exhilarating showdown, Tim Hardaway Jr. lit up the scoreboard with 25 points, while Aaron Gordon contributed an impressive 23, leading the Denver Nuggets to a hard-fought victory over the Milwaukee Bucks with a final score of 108-104 on Sunday night.
Peyton Watson also shone brightly for the Nuggets, recording 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Over the last seven games, this fourth-year guard has been on fire, averaging an impressive 23.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Zeke Nnaji stepped up as well, notching his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Despite their recent struggles, the Nuggets faced this game without five of their top eight scorers, including superstar Nikola Jokic, who is sidelined due to a bone bruise in his left knee, and Jamal Murray, who is out with a sprained left ankle. The absence of these key players has significantly impacted the team, as the five injured players typically average around 84.6 points combined each game this season.
On the opposing side, Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered a stellar performance for the Bucks, scoring 31 points while also providing 11 assists and grabbing eight rebounds. Myles Turner added 16 points to the mix, with Bobby Portis and AJ Green each contributing 14 points. Unfortunately for Ryan Rollins, he could only muster two points, ending a remarkable streak of 37 consecutive games with at least 10 points.
Following a robust start to the season with a record of 22-8, the Nuggets have hit a rough patch, losing five of their last eight games. This slump includes a 3-4 record since Jokic's injury during a loss to the Miami Heat on December 29.
The Bucks found themselves trailing by as much as 15 points in the first half and entered the fourth quarter down by 11. They managed to close the gap to 105-102 but missed crucial opportunities to tie the game with two 3-point attempts from Rollins and Green in the closing moments. Gordon, the only regular starter remaining for the Nuggets, calmly sank three free throws in the last nine seconds to secure the win.
Prior to this matchup, the Bucks had shown signs of life, winning five of their last seven games after starting the season poorly at 12-19.
Looking ahead, the Nuggets will be traveling to New Orleans for their next game on Tuesday night, while the Bucks are set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on the same evening.
