THE Philadelphia 76ers, who were decimated to seven players due to the coronavirus pandemic, were just no match for the fully-loaded yet tentative Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets, however, took advantage of the opponent’s handicap as they cruised to an easy 115-103 victory in their 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) Season at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines).
Gary Harris drained five triples and finished the match with 21 points while Nikola Jokić flirted with triple-double 15 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds as the Nuggets hiked their record to 4-5.
Will Barton and Jamal Murray contributed 14 markers each while Jamychal Green and Monte Morris ended up with 12 markers apiece for the Nuggets, which played sans quarantined Michael Porter Jr.
The 76ers were also reduced to seven players with Seth Curry testing positive for COVID-19 and close contacts Tobias Harris, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, and Vincent Poirier held as part of NBA protocols.
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons also sat out of the match due to injuries. Mike Scott, who was activated to meet the league’s eight-man requirement, was also not inserted due to injury.
The 76ers were still able to keep in step in the opening period and went down 26-28 before Denver created separation in the second period for a 58-51 halftime score. The lead grew further for the Nuggets in the second half en route to an easy triumph.
Tyrese Maxey finished the game with career-high 39 points while fellow rookies Isaiah Joe and Dakota Mathias added 13 and 12 markers respectively as the 76ers slid to a 7-3 win-loss slate, still on top of the East.
Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball became the youngest player to record triple-double as the Charlotte Hornets (5-5) walloped Atlanta Hawks (4-5), 113-105. The 19-year-old Ball finished the match with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
In other results, Milwaukee Bucks (6-4) toppled Cleveland Cavaliers (5-5), 100-90; Miami Heat (4-4) drubbed Washington Wizards (2-8), 128-124; Phoenix Suns (7-3) eclipsed Indiana Pacers (6-3), 125-117; and San Antonio Spurs (5-4) prevailed over Minnesota Timberwolves (2-7), 125-122.
BOX SCORE:
DENVER 115 – Harris 21, Jokić 15, Barton 14, Murray 14, Green 12, Morris 12, Millsap 9, Hartenstein 6, Dozier 5, Campazzo 3, Nnaji 2, Hampton 2, Cancar 0, Bol 0, Howard 0.
PHILADELPHIA 103 – Maxey 39, Joe 13, Mathias 12, Howard 11, Green 11, Bradley 11, Reed 6.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 28-26; Q2, 58-51; Q3, 93-72; Q4, 115-103./PN
