Denver Nuggets vs Memphis Grizzlies – First Half Analysis
On Tuesday night the Denver Nuggets took to the court knowing for sure that their star forward Carmelo Anthony would no longer be in their ranks.
They didn’t seem to be too perturbed about that though.
J.R. Smith was quick to fill the shoes of Anthony, as he led the Nuggets with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists at the break. Ty Lawson backed him up with 12 points and four assists as the Bronchos led the Memphis Grizzlies 61-42 at half time.
The Nuggets started the game with a series of layups and three pointers as they sprinted towards an 11-6 lead within the first three and half minutes of play. Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, who started as power forward in place of the injured Rudy g*y, was
in full flow though. By the midway mark of the opening frame, Allen had already netted seven points, as the Grizzlies closed the gap to 11-13.
The Nuggets however, retaliated with a 10-2 run in the ensuing minutes, taking their lead to double figures for the first time in the game. The home team continued to overwhelm the Grizzlies back line throughout the rest of the period and eventually went
into the second quarter with a 32-23 lead. J.R. Smith scored 10 points in the half to marshal the Nuggets.
The Grizzlies started the second quarter more positively by scoring on their first three possessions. Al Harrington though, pulled it back quickly for the Nuggets, who led by 41-31 with eight minutes left until the break. The Nuggets missed four long-range
efforts in the next two minutes but were lucky to get away as the Grizzlies offence also went cold.
The turning point of the first half came with nearly five minutes to go in the second quarter, as the Bronchos reeled off a 14-point unanswered run. The burst which completely tore the Memphis defence apart, was capped by two free throws from Nene, giving
the Nuggets a 58-34 lead with two and a half minutes to go.
Allen rallied somewhat for the Grizzlies with six points in the next two minutes but an upbeat Nuggets offence ensured that the Grizzlies headed to the locker room trailing by 61-42.
Tony Allen finished the first half with a game high 16 points and seven rebounds. The Grizzlies however, turned over the ball 13 times in the first 24 minutes, and shot at only 72 percent from the charity stripe to go behind by 17 points at the break.
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