Denver Nuggets: 3 takeaways from the Game 6 loss vs. Spurs

3. Nuggets need better bench play

After some solid play in Games 4 and 5, Will Barton played terribly in Game 6. He shot just 1-of-7 on the night, including an 0-of-4 mark from 3-point range. Unfortunately for him, his fellow bench players, Monte Morris and Malik Beasley, also struggled as they were a combined 3-of-12 for six points. The Nuggets got a combined 13 points from all of their bench players. That’s not enough in a tight series like this.

The Spurs got 19 points from Rudy Gay alone. He was an efficient 7-of-11 from the floor and played some good defense as he tied for the team lead with two blocks on the night. In a game where the Spurs’ starters were rolling, Gay’s offense was more than enough to push them over the top in the bench battle, and it looked even worse for the Nuggets with the way that they struggled.

In Game 7, if the Denver’s starters aren’t scoring well, it will need the bench to help carry them. Barton needs to bounce back to the production he’s been giving the team all year. The Nuggets need the offensive spark plug that can give them instant offense whenever he’s in the ballgame. He didn’t provide that in Game 6, and it showed in the final score.