LAS VEGAS – Twice in two games the Denver Nuggets have used one monster quarter to pull away. This time, the Nuggets outscored the Memphis Grizzlies by 27 in the second quarter and used that to finish the game, 106 - 62, at Cox Pavilion on Saturday night.
With Emmanuel Mudiay taking the night off, Jamal Murray got his first crack at being a starting NBA point guard, finishing with six points and four assists.
Murray had plenty of help.
Two players in particular, came out trying to assert themselves early – Jimmer Fredette and Petr Cornelie.
“[I want to prove] I can still play,” Fredette said after the game. “I feel really confident in how I’m playing right now. I’m just trying to do anything I can to help the team win.”
Fredette displayed his shot-making ability, dropping in 19 of his game-high 26 points in the first half. He shot 50% from the field and also added three assists, two rebounds, and four threes. Cornelie added 19 points and seven rebounds, continuing a solid Summer League showing.
Juan Hernangomez also continued his aggressive play, crashing the offensive boards and getting a nice steal early in the first quarter. With Fredette, Cornelie, and Hernangomez all playing well, it was a solid start for the Nuggets. However, the Grizzlies fought back with some good shooting and solid rebounding to the tie the game after one, but that was the closest they would get.
The Nuggets kept their foot on the gas pedal through the rest of the game and continued to pour in the buckets, finishing with eight threes and racking up 24 fast break points. Denver’s bench also contributed 39 points to the effort.
On the defensive end, the Nuggets were able to limit the Grizzlies’ Wade Baldwin IV and Andrew Harrison to 22.2% shooting and the Grizzlies to 31.5% overall.
Multiple players also got their first Summer League minutes this year, including local players Josh Scott, Antwan Scott, and Josh Adams, Antonio Barton, Darius Carter, and Ondrej Balvin.
Denver’s third Summer League game is on Monday night at 6:00p.m. MST against the Miami Heat.
The Denver Nuggets defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 106-62 during their second 2016 Summer League game held at the Thomas And Mack Center in Las Vegas, NV.