Jokic and Murray Rescue Nuggets in a Thriller for the Ages to Beat Hawks 134-133
If you walked away from your television screen during the third quarter of this Nuggets and Hawks game, you probably thought the story was written. You probably figured the Atlanta Hawks, buoyed by a historic first half from Jalen Johnson and shooting that felt magnetized to the rim, had buried the visitors. You would have been wrong.
In a league where no lead is safe and momentum is a fickle beast, the Denver Nuggets proved once again why they are never truly out of the fight. Down 23 points and looking lethargic against a hyper-active Hawks squad, Denver flipped the switch in the fourth quarter, staging a furious rally to steal a 134-133 victory that left the State Farm Arena crowd in stunned silence.
It wasn’t just a win; it was a reminder of the heart beating inside this championship-proven core.
The Joker’s relentless brilliance
Nikola Jokic is often described with words like “efficient” or “genius,” but tonight the word was “inevitable.” The big man poured in 40 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out eight assists.
With the Nuggets gasping for air, Jokic simply refused to let the game slip away. He bullied his way into the paint, hit impossible fadeaways, and calmly sank free throws when the pressure was at its absolute peak. He scored the go-ahead free throw with 15 seconds left, capping off a performance that felt less like a basketball game and more like a masterclass in resilience.
“He’s the security blanket,” a courtside observer noted.
The Comeback: A Fourth Quarter to Remember
Let’s talk about that fourth quarter. The Nuggets opened the final frame with a 23-3 blitz that erased the deficit faster than you can say “momentum shift.” What made this run even more improbable? They did the bulk of the damage with Jokic sitting on the bench.
The second unit, often a question mark for Denver, became the exclamation point. Tim Hardaway Jr. was electric off the bench, splashing four crucial three-pointers on his way to 17 points. Bruce Brown chipped in a gritty 13, and veteran Jonas Valanciunas battled inside. They didn’t just hold the line; they pushed it forward, setting the stage for the starters to close it out.
Cam Johnson also found his stroke at the perfect time, draining three triples during that pivotal run. Suddenly, a Hawks team that had been strutting in the first half looked tight, nervous, and steps slow.
A Historic Night for Jalen Johnson
Despite the loss, it would be criminal to ignore what Jalen Johnson did for Atlanta. The young star was nothing short of spectacular, recording a triple-double by halftime—the first time a Hawks player has done that in the play-by-play era. He finished with a monster line of 21 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists.
The Hawks came out swinging, hitting 13 of their first 15 shots. Nickeil Alexander-Walker was torching the nets with 30 points, and Kristaps Porzingis added 25. They looked like a juggernaut. But basketball is a 48-minute game, and the Nuggets forced them to play every single second of it.
Murray’s Defensive Gem Seals the Deal
Jamal Murray had a solid offensive night with 23 points and 12 assists, acting as the perfect co-pilot to Jokic. But his biggest play didn’t show up in the scoring column.
With the clock winding down and the Hawks desperate for a winner, the ball found Nickeil Alexander-Walker. He rose for a 3-pointer that would have sent the Atlanta fans home happy. Nowhere to be found on the scouting report as a rim protector, Murray rotated over and swatted the attempt with five seconds left. It was a play born of pure effort and desperation—the kind of play that separates good teams from great ones.
Why this win matters for the Nuggets
In the grand scheme of an 82-game season, one game in December might seem insignificant. But wins like this build character. They reinforce the belief that no deficit is insurmountable.
For the Nuggets, escaping Atlanta with a win after trailing by 23 points isn’t just about the standings. It’s about identity. It sends a message to the rest of the league that even on their off nights, even when the opponent is playing historic basketball, Denver finds a way.
As the buzzer sounded and the Nuggets walked off the floor, exhausted but victorious, the message was clear: You have to kill this team to beat them. And tonight, the Hawks just couldn’t finish the job.
