RealGM

Hornets are against all odds the same seed on the East as Denver is at the West at this point, and they are in 4 games winning streak, but for me, the Nuggets are overwhelming favorites to win this game. And somehow this is a "must-win game" if we want to hunt TOP4 seed (plus McCollum is back and Nurkic will be back soon, so even TOP5 status is still not secured with expected Portland improvement).

But I'm much more relaxed and optimistic now than during 1st half of the season when I lost so many nerves on the way how Malone used Porter and Barton. So I'm not surprised at all with the latest 6-1 record since both problems are finally solved.

With Jokic continues playing constantly on MVP level, and Porter playing time and status are not in question anymore, the players to watch today are at least equally the other starters. Murray played like all-star before the all-star game, but not so much after the ASG break. Will Will Barton's 3pt% March honeymoon continues? What expects from Millsap (or will Morris back today)?

Hornets are a team with rising confidence, not a team to underestimate IMO. If Murray has his head on and PM does indeed come off the bench I can see a victory tonight, definitely help with our climb in the playoff standings.

It's about 1, 2, 3 as in PG, SG, SF --- we need to win those and we ought to win 4 & 5.

Our starters can't score 3pt in the first half (3-14) but all ways of 2pt scoring were excellent (15-20!) which combined with very good defense gives Nuggets a double-digit lead at halftime. Let's hope no "3rd quarter collapse" this time, but routine win scenario in 2nd half after +12 on halftime. The bench also deserved some credit.

Blowout win after 30+ in 3 quarters! We should way more often play 3rd quarters like this after comfortable leads on halftime. Jokic was passive with taking just 7 shots (including 0 3pt and 0 FT) but still managed triple-double after just 3 quarters. MPJ double-double 22-11 is impressive for 3 quarters. Barton with 1-7 damaged his great 3pt% this month but was still very useful. Murray was efficient, and Dozier deserves credit for 3&D performance. The defense was great overall.

That was an absolute beat down.

Notable, we're now only ONE game behind the LA Clippers for 4th spot in the playoffs, a nice climb.

Secondly, a question: is MPJ steadily climbing into the number 2 spot behind Jokic, overtaking Murray who is very inconsistent ??

I loved two things:

1. The Nuggets didn't let up when they had a big lead (until the 4th quarter).

2. I noticed, more than once, when a guard (especially Campazzo) was switched onto a big guy; one or more other players came to switch back fairly quickly. IMO that has been a weakness on our team. I loved seeing that.

Such a smooth victory.

Also, MPJ is avg. 20.6 PPG and 10.1 Rebounds shooting 50% from 3 in March, and the Nuggets are 6-1.

Jamal has also regained his form after a rough 3 game stretch.