Wednesday, December 22, 2004
GAME 24: SUPERSONICS 98, NUGGETS 83
SuperSonics 98, Nuggets 83
Basically the story tonight other than Ray Allen playing with bronchitis/flu/upper respiratory infection (wasn't he sick on the east coast swing too?) was the bench scoring, namely that of Vlad Radmanovic and the full-on return of Ron Murray as a bonafide offensive threat. Murray stepped in nicely for Antonio Daniels, who was out with tonsillitis.
I don't have much for game notes tonight, on account of a sprinkle of Christmas shopping. However, I did see most of the first quarter and a good portion of the fourth quarter.
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Ridiculous half-court play in the beginning minutes...ball saved from backcourt violation and out of bounds on the same possession. Offensive boards looking good in the early going. Sonics let Nuggets get back in it after building 10-2 lead.
Fortson fouls out at 10:12 of 4th quarter.
---
Yeah, I didn't take much for notes, but I do know that the Sonics shook the cobwebs after the first half.
This next part, well, it's thanks to some play-by-play.
The Sonics jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start the game thanks in part to two offensive boards and a basket from Reggie Evans. The Nuggets got to within four at 14-10 before the Sonics reeled off the next seven points thanks to a three by Allen and free throws by Rashard Lewis and Radmanovic.
The Nuggets were within six at 34-28 after the Sonics had given up ten points in the first 2:08 of the second quarter after giving up 15 points in all of the first quarter. The Sonics dealt with this by going on a 12-0 tear. The Sonics led 53-38 at half.
[Add-on from Danny O'Neil's piece -- the Nuggets got within three at 28-25 before the last paragraph.]
Denver reeled off a 10-2 run which included a Kenyon Martin high-flying dunk (I really need to catch the replay of this) to bring themselves within six once again (64-58) in the third quarter before Vlad Radmanovic stuck a basket on the next possession. Andre Miller laid one in on the other end of the floor, but Vlad drained a three on the ensuing possession. The Nuggets never got closer after that run.
PEEK AT THE BOXSCORE
starters: Rashard Lewis 21 pts/4 reb (7-15 FG, 5-5 free throws), Ray Allen 20 pts/5 reb (7-20 FG, 4-4 free throws), Luke Ridnour 4 pts/5 ast (2-11 FG), Reggie Evans 6 pts/12 reb/3 ast/3 stl
bench: Vlad Radmanovic 19 pts/9 reb (7-14 FG, 3-6 3pt), Ron Murray 15 pts/5 reb/4 ast (6-13 FG, 27 mins), Nick Collison 6 pts/8 reb, Danny Fortson 3 pts/3 reb (10 mins, fouled out)
Jerome James Watch: 4 pts/2 stl (17 mins)
team: shot 37-for-85 from field (43.5%), shot 7-for-21 from downtown, outrebounded Denver 48-35, bench outscored Denver's bench 43-34
Reggie Evans did his best impression of Andrei Kirilenko Lite, filling up everything on the stat sheet, though without any blocks. Murray and Ridnour combined for 25 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and zero turnovers. What a great line put in by Collison to pick up for Fortson, and Jerome James isn't a defensive slouch this year. He's using his height and width here and there and is chipping in a basket or two here and there. Amazingly, he didn't get a rebound in this game. I saw him almost get one early in the game, but Evans wrestled it away from him.
The only unfortunate notes are that Danny Fortson got fouls left and right for locking horns with Nene (Hilario) and the rest of the Nuggets' frontcourt, and that Luke Ridnour is now 6-for-37 (16.2%) over the last four games.
Basically the story tonight other than Ray Allen playing with bronchitis/flu/upper respiratory infection (wasn't he sick on the east coast swing too?) was the bench scoring, namely that of Vlad Radmanovic and the full-on return of Ron Murray as a bonafide offensive threat. Murray stepped in nicely for Antonio Daniels, who was out with tonsillitis.
I don't have much for game notes tonight, on account of a sprinkle of Christmas shopping. However, I did see most of the first quarter and a good portion of the fourth quarter.
---
Ridiculous half-court play in the beginning minutes...ball saved from backcourt violation and out of bounds on the same possession. Offensive boards looking good in the early going. Sonics let Nuggets get back in it after building 10-2 lead.
Fortson fouls out at 10:12 of 4th quarter.
---
Yeah, I didn't take much for notes, but I do know that the Sonics shook the cobwebs after the first half.
This next part, well, it's thanks to some play-by-play.
The Sonics jumped out to a 10-2 lead to start the game thanks in part to two offensive boards and a basket from Reggie Evans. The Nuggets got to within four at 14-10 before the Sonics reeled off the next seven points thanks to a three by Allen and free throws by Rashard Lewis and Radmanovic.
The Nuggets were within six at 34-28 after the Sonics had given up ten points in the first 2:08 of the second quarter after giving up 15 points in all of the first quarter. The Sonics dealt with this by going on a 12-0 tear. The Sonics led 53-38 at half.
[Add-on from Danny O'Neil's piece -- the Nuggets got within three at 28-25 before the last paragraph.]
Denver reeled off a 10-2 run which included a Kenyon Martin high-flying dunk (I really need to catch the replay of this) to bring themselves within six once again (64-58) in the third quarter before Vlad Radmanovic stuck a basket on the next possession. Andre Miller laid one in on the other end of the floor, but Vlad drained a three on the ensuing possession. The Nuggets never got closer after that run.
PEEK AT THE BOXSCORE
starters: Rashard Lewis 21 pts/4 reb (7-15 FG, 5-5 free throws), Ray Allen 20 pts/5 reb (7-20 FG, 4-4 free throws), Luke Ridnour 4 pts/5 ast (2-11 FG), Reggie Evans 6 pts/12 reb/3 ast/3 stl
bench: Vlad Radmanovic 19 pts/9 reb (7-14 FG, 3-6 3pt), Ron Murray 15 pts/5 reb/4 ast (6-13 FG, 27 mins), Nick Collison 6 pts/8 reb, Danny Fortson 3 pts/3 reb (10 mins, fouled out)
Jerome James Watch: 4 pts/2 stl (17 mins)
team: shot 37-for-85 from field (43.5%), shot 7-for-21 from downtown, outrebounded Denver 48-35, bench outscored Denver's bench 43-34
Reggie Evans did his best impression of Andrei Kirilenko Lite, filling up everything on the stat sheet, though without any blocks. Murray and Ridnour combined for 25 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and zero turnovers. What a great line put in by Collison to pick up for Fortson, and Jerome James isn't a defensive slouch this year. He's using his height and width here and there and is chipping in a basket or two here and there. Amazingly, he didn't get a rebound in this game. I saw him almost get one early in the game, but Evans wrestled it away from him.
The only unfortunate notes are that Danny Fortson got fouls left and right for locking horns with Nene (Hilario) and the rest of the Nuggets' frontcourt, and that Luke Ridnour is now 6-for-37 (16.2%) over the last four games.
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