Two MVP contenders squared off in Denver. But the biggest highlight came from a 36-year-old veteran.
Jeff Green threw down a huge dunk over Giannis Antetokounmpo to start the fourth quarter as the Western conference-leading Nuggets blew out the Eastern conference-leading Bucks in Denver.
Antetokounmpo and Denver’s Nikola Jokic have won the last four NBA MVP awards, and they battled all game. But after Denver allowed 66 points in the first half, they locked down the Bucks after the break, holding them to just 40.
Denver looked like one of the league’s top defensive teams Saturday night, not the Bucks. While Antetokounmpo had 31 points, nine rebounds, and four steals, he and the Bucks had no answer for Denver’s offense, and the Nuggets shot 52.8 percent for the game.
Jokic also had 31 points and 11 assists. Fans have come to expect that from him, but the surprise was Green and the rest of the Nuggets bench. They’ve struggled recently, but Saturday night they scored and defended, anchored by a backup big man playing on his 11th NBA team.
And he can still throw it down.
While the MVP battle is glamorous, the Nuggets’ playoff success will depend on getting contributions outside their excellent starting five. At least for one night, Green and company provided.
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