At 11:00 a.m. Beijing time on January 30, the NBA regular season ushered in a high-profile matchup, with the defending champion Denver Nuggets hosting the Milwaukee Bucks. There is a huge disparity in quality between the two sides, but this match is destined to be extraordinary. The Nuggets sit at home and look to continue cementing the top spot in the West, while the Bucks are looking to make a splash in Rivers Sr.'s debut.
The Bucks have undergone a massive transformation this season, transforming from a defensive team to a formidable offensive force. The shift was not accidental, but it came with the arrival of Doc Rivers Sr. after coach Griffin's departure. After Griffin left, the Bucks waited for four games, waiting for Rivers Sr. to build his roster and usher in his debut with the Bucks.
The arrival of Rivers Sr. has caused a huge change in the team, and he said in an interview that he will not accept a job lightly and will only consider the right opportunity. The game was the beginning of Rivers' tenure with the Bucks, but it didn't go as smoothly as expected.
As the defending champions, the Nuggets have not performed well this season, but they still occupy the fourth position in the West. The team failed to maintain absolute dominance in the regular season, but the road to defending the title was not smooth. Jokic is in his prime, and Murray's scoring ability is quite good, which makes them a formidable threat in the playoffs.
Against a tough opponent like the Bucks, the Nuggets will be hoping to prove that they are still a strong contender to defend their title with this game. Malone is increasingly demanding of the team, believing that the Nuggets are on track to defend their title in the playoffs, but he is unhappy with the team's current defensive situation. Therefore, for the Nuggets, this game is not only an ordinary regular season game, but also an opportunity to test their strength.
The Bucks have undergone a complete transformation this season, transforming themselves from a defensive powerhouse to an offensive team. With Lillard, the Bucks rank second in the league in points per game and offensive efficiency. This change was not an easy task for the team, but it was in this environment that Rivers Sr. took over the Bucks.
Lillard applauded Rivers' arrival: "We know what Coach Rivers can bring to the team. We know that he has had successes. He played in this league and went to school in the city. He's been a coach for a long time and he's coached a lot of great players. I think Rivers is the perfect person for us as a manager. ”
The game became Rivers' debut in charge of the Bucks, but it didn't get off to the desired start. The arrival of Rivers Sr. has undoubtedly injected new energy and expectations into the Bucks, but the team still needs time to adapt to the new tactical system and coaching style.
At the start of the game, the Bucks showed their strong side. Antetokounmpo and Middleton hit back-to-back shots, and the Bucks took a 13-point lead at one point. However, the Nuggets did not admit defeat lightly, and the outstanding performances of Murray and Reggie helped the team gradually close the gap. At the end of the first quarter, the Bucks took a narrow one-point lead.
At the start of the second quarter, Jordan Jr.'s performance injected vitality into the Nuggets. Connaughton and Reggie hit three-pointers in quick succession, and the Nuggets gradually took the initiative in the game. However, as the game entered the middle stages, the Bucks regained their form, and the excellent play of Crowder and Lopez Da Lopez put the game in a stalemate again.
At half-time, the two sides were tied at 56, and the score was very close. The Bucks' offensive firepower and the Nuggets' consistent performance made this game even more gripping.
At the start of the second half, the Bucks showed a strong desire to fight back. Portis and Payne's play helped the Bucks blast a 13-4 shockwave to complete the comeback to the score. However, the Nuggets did not show weakness, and the tacit cooperation between Murray and Porter Jr. quickly stabilized the situation.
In the decisive battle of the fourth quarter, the two sides launched a fierce battle. Pope's step-back jumper and Murray's breakaway layup set the stage for the Nuggets to take the lead again. In the end, the Nuggets won the thrilling game by beating the Bucks 113-107 at home.
In the game, the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 29 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists, while Chris Middleton and Brook Lopez also performed well. The Nuggets' Jamal Murray became the focus of the game, scoring 35 points and 5 assists, and Nikola Jokic perfectly illustrated his all-round strength with a triple-double of 25 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists.
This game is not just a regular season game, but a reflection of the current state of the Bucks and Nuggets. Rivers Sr.'s promotional debut may not have been as victorious as one had hoped, but it was just the beginning. The team will need time to adapt to the new changes, and the Bucks will gradually reach their greater potential under Rivers' leadership.
For the defending champions, the Nuggets not only meant an important step in their regular season season, but also a testament to their path to defending their title. Malone is demanding more and more from the team, and they will need to continue to improve their form for the rest of the season to defend their championship in the playoffs.
Overall, although the game is over, the journey of basketball never stops. The matchup between the Bucks and Nuggets on the court is just the beginning of many fierce competitions this season, so let's wait and see more exciting NBA moments.