Another night, another live in-game blog.  Tonight we have the Denver Nuggets squaring off against the Utah Jazz.  I (JB) will be recapping this game live as it unfolds.  Check back every quarter to check out what has been happening in this sure to be exciting game.  I apologize in advance, my recap will be from my point of view and 100% from my thoughts and opinions throughout the game.  Let the fun begin!

Jazz 31, Nuggets 25 (End of the 1st Quarter)

As the Spurs take a decisive 3-1 series lead against the Mavs, I’m ready (hoping) that the Nuggets come out here and even the series at two games a piece, giving them the momentum to win this series for George Karl.  Carmelo Anthony comes out gunning and scoring the first five points of the game.  If the Nuggets are going to win tonight Melo is going to have to carry this team.  A great start by the Nuggets as Aaron Affalo lay-up, plus the foul, gives them  a 10-2 lead.

Deron Williams is cold blooded.  With Chauncey Billups all over him, his three still hit nothing but net.  Uh oh, Melo is doing work with 9 points early.  With another lay-up, Melo (11 points) is on pace to score 86 (totally kidding).  The pace of this game favors the Nuggets.  Any time they can run up and down the floor, they can beat anybody.  My only concern is that Nene seems passive although he has Kyrylo Fesenko (…exactly) guarding him.

Wesley Matthew’s runner helped the Jazz close the gap to five (18-13).  Just as I tell Nene to be more aggressive, he misses dunk and then allows Carlos Boozer to score (SMH).  The Nuggets have quickly turned from red hot to ice cold as an 8-1 by the Jazz knots the game up at nineteen points apiece.  Nene is playing like what his name means in Brazilian, a big baby.  He is not complaining, but he is letting Carlos Boozer do whatever he wants inside.  Kyle Korver’s three erupted EnergySolutions Arena and the Jazz erase an eight point deficit early to lead the Nuggets 31-26.

Jazz 54, Nuggets 45 (End of the 2nd Quarter)

Ty Lawson comes out and misses both free throws to start the second quarter.  The Jazz shot 60% in the first quarter.  If the Nuggets don’t start finishing shots soon, and picking it up on defense, this game will get out of hand quickly.  Ladies and Gentlemen we can a Birdman sighting.

Finally Nene!!! Starting playing basketball big fella.  Nene’s lay-up cuts the Jazz lead to three.  After have their lead cut to three the Jazz answer back with a 7-0 run (capped by Wesley Matthews’ three) to go up 42-32.  There seems to a lid on the Denver Nuggets basket.  Even when they are getting good looks, Carmelo Anthony is the only person to get a shot to fall.  Melo is beasting with 19 of his team’s 38 points.

Nice J.R.!  J.R. Smith records his second steal, misses a lay-up, and then gets his own rebound to make the basket while drawing a foul on Boozer.  Smith sinks the free throw to cut the lead back down to three (44-41).  Whenever the Nuggets close the gap, the Jazz push it back to seven or eight.  Deron Williams’ three pointer gives the Jazz their biggest lead of the at 54-43 and the Nuggets are falling apart.

Jazz 74, Nuggets 55 (End of the 3rd Quarter)

The 3rd quarter started off just like the second half ended.  A C.J. Miles three pointer put the Jazz up 14 early.  The Jazz have four players who have scored at least 10 points, while the Nuggets only have one.  Wesley Matthews just missed a breakaway dunk and the Nuggets respond by stepping out of bounds to turn the ball over.  If the Nuggets don’t turn it on within the next few minutes they will be down 3-1.  Back-to-back baskets by Milsap and Boozer put the Jazz up 69-51.  Boozer is manhandling Nene on every rebound right now.  Boozer’s and one gives the Jazz a twenty point lead and with 5:30 left to go in the third quarter, things look bleak for the Nuggets.

Jazz 117, Nuggets 106 Final

The Utah Jazz knew they had a chance to put the Denver Nuggets on the ropes, and they did just that.  Melo (30 points) is still the only player on the Nuggets to score in double figures.  Melo is really doing everything he can to make this game close.  His three pointer cut the lead to eleven, but Boozer answered right back with a lay-up.  Carlos Boozer is playing out of his mind.  With nine minutes to play Boozer has 29 points while going 12 of 15 from the floor.  The Nuggets have no answer for the Jazz in the half court.

Somehow the Nuggets are getting back in this game.  With 5 minutes to go the Nuggets have cut the lead eight points (98-90) on a 19 to 8 run.  Feeling the pressure by the Nuggets, Deron Williams (17 points), drew a foul on Billups to slow the pace down and hit both free throws.

Dagger.  C.J. Miles falling away jumper, followed by a Nuggets turnover, should seal the deal for Jazz with less than four minutes to play.  On top of that Chauncy Billups (6-14, 14 points) fouled out, leaving the comeback solely up to Carmelo Anthony.  Boozer joins the fade away party to give the Jazz an eleven point lead.  Melo (39 points) has ice water in his veins as his two three pointers put the Nuggets within seven with a minute left, but it is too little too late.  Besides the stellar play of Williams and Boozer (read below), C.J. Miles and Wesley Matthews combined for 39 points.  The Jazz take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

Here is what you need to know after this game:

1.  The Nuggets are in trouble. The Nuggets cannot stop the Jazz in a half court and Carlos Boozer and the rest of the Jazz big men are dominating on the boards.  Giving up easy lay-up and second points will ensure that you do not make it out of the second round.

2.  Boozer and Williams are ballin’. Deron Williams (24 points, 13 rebounds) is stepping up big time in the playoffs.  He is distributing the ball extremely well while limiting his turnovers.  Carlos Boozer (31 points, 13 rebounds) is making Nene look like a “big baby” on both ends of the court.  If they continue to play like this their second round match-up better look out.

3.  I wish George Karl a speed recovery. Whether or not the Nuggets win this series, we need to see George Karl coaching from the Denver bench next year.

Here’s Shooter’s wrap-up of the Spurs/Mavs Game 4 from San Antonio:

Spurs 92, Mavericks 89 (Spurs lead 3-1)

“Never underestimate the heart of a champion.” – Rudy Tomjanovich

He said it a decade and a half ago when the Rockets won a championship, but it still holds true today. Yes, the Spurs are still a championship caliber team because of Tim Duncan, but they didn’t sell me as a legit contender until Sunday’s game in San Antonio.

The ironic thing is that Duncan was a compete non-factor in Game 4 – and it was his 34^th birthday. The Spurs franchise player only played 26 minutes, going 0-7 from the floor in the first half and only 1-9 for the game. He finished the game with 4 points and 11 rebounds, despite Chris Webber predicting 19 and 11 at halftime on TNT, haha. Also, Manu Ginobili, playing with a bandaged up fractured nose, was completely ineffective on the offensive end. He shot only 4-16 from the floor, but had 17 points, mostly on free throws.

Lucky for the Spurs, they had a whole bunch of other guys who were willing to step in and play a big role:

George Hill: He played the game of his life. He shot 11-16 from the floor and 5-6 from 3-point range. His 29 points are a playoff career-high. He was hitting the corner three like it was his day job. His intensity with the ball was incredible and his passion for drilling the open shot was inspiring.

DeJuan Blair: When Duncan sat most of the third quarter, Blair came in a provided the energy that the Spurs desperately needed. He was all over the floor, finishing the game with 7 points and 7 rebounds in only 11 minutes of play. Without him and McDyess stepping up down low, the Spurs flat out would not have won.

Richard Jefferson: When Jefferson attacks the basket and plays well, his teams normally win. Well, RJ attacked the basket and played well, and the Spurs won. Jefferson shot 6-9 for 15 points. He brought energy into that arena as well.

The Spurs played a stagnant first half and found themselves down by 11 at the half. They were down by 15 in all, but came back to take the lead with 2:39 left in the third quarter. They outscored the Mavs 29-11 in the third quarter, and closed out the quarter on a 19-2 run. From that point on, they held a close, but somewhat comfortable lead. Not at one point in the fourth did I think they would blow it.

Game 5 returns back to Dallas with the Mavs on the brink of elimination. Which team will show up? Will it be the 60-win potential team that Mark Cuban traded for in February, or will it be the 50-win team that they had before the trade (which had no shot of winning)?

Then again, if Duncan and Manu play better, it might not matter.

-Shooter