Denver Nuggets: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Spurs

DENVER, CO - APRIL 13: Jamal Murray #27 and Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets high five during Game One of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs on April 13, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3 of 4

(Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

2. Mixed reviews defensively

The Nuggets put forth a solid defensive effort in their Game 1 loss, holding San Antonio to just 101 points with only seven makes from beyond the 3-point line. LaMarcus Aldridge shot just 6-of-19 from the field. DeMar DeRozan wasn’t much better at 6-of-17 overall as well.

The two combined for just 33 points on the evening, a far cry from the 42.5 they averaged together during the regular season. Limiting these two All-Stars seemed like the key to victory for Denver, except that it failed to cover others on the Spurs roster.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1117279386388983808

As they tend to do down in Texas, it was the role players who stepped up for San Antonio. Rudy Gay scored an efficient 14 points in 26 minutes off the bench. Derrick White dropped 16 points on 70.0 percent shooting along with five assists and Bryan Forbes put in 15 points of his own.

DeRozan and Aldridge are the leaders of the Spurs, but as we’ve come to find out, Greg Popovich is a master at finding contributions from every inch of his roster. Keeping those two at bay will play a crucial role moving forward, but the Nuggets also have to make sure everyone on San Antonio is accounted for in order to secure a victory. Otherwise, they’ll find more of the same performances in Game 2.

Home/Denver Nuggets