Jake Shapiro
@shapalicious.bsky.social
analyst for denver sports dot com, university of colorado adjunct professor and graduate. mostly buffs and nuggets, other stuff too! previously with the denver post. jake@denversports.com
It was the first game out of the All-Star Break for Denver, but it mirrored so many of the issues the Nuggets had in the first half of the season. The Nuggets committed 17 turnovers, didn’t close out quarters, made huge mental mistakes in the clutch, and missed an important free throw at the line
Jamal Murray's missed free throw seals another Nuggets collapse
On a night Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray missed so many shots, the Blue Arrow ended it with one final miss as the Denver Nuggets came up short in Los Angeles
denversports.com
February 20, 2026 at 7:21 AM
It was the first game out of the All-Star Break for Denver, but it mirrored so many of the issues the Nuggets had in the first half of the season. The Nuggets committed 17 turnovers, didn’t close out quarters, made huge mental mistakes in the clutch, and missed an important free throw at the line
Jamal and Joker's shooting first three quarters tonight... they missed SO MANY easy ones.
February 20, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Jamal and Joker's shooting first three quarters tonight... they missed SO MANY easy ones.
David Adelman says THJ apologized to the team after the game for his take foul in the fourth quarter.
February 20, 2026 at 6:28 AM
David Adelman says THJ apologized to the team after the game for his take foul in the fourth quarter.
David Adelman says "(Jamal Murray) did his job late. That's what he's supposed to do."
Murray had a big dunk and three to get the Nuggets close, but man that's an interesting quote given the last shot of the game...
Murray had a big dunk and three to get the Nuggets close, but man that's an interesting quote given the last shot of the game...
February 20, 2026 at 6:26 AM
David Adelman says "(Jamal Murray) did his job late. That's what he's supposed to do."
Murray had a big dunk and three to get the Nuggets close, but man that's an interesting quote given the last shot of the game...
Murray had a big dunk and three to get the Nuggets close, but man that's an interesting quote given the last shot of the game...
The Nuggets and Clippers shot 41 free throws in the fourth quarter tonight.
February 20, 2026 at 6:19 AM
The Nuggets and Clippers shot 41 free throws in the fourth quarter tonight.
The Nuggets are 14-14 in clutch games this season. Their NET rating coming into tonight -8.6, which is sixth worst in the league. Below is Brooklyn, Memphis, Pels, Kings and the Wizards... so it's worse than you thought.
February 20, 2026 at 6:15 AM
The Nuggets are 14-14 in clutch games this season. Their NET rating coming into tonight -8.6, which is sixth worst in the league. Below is Brooklyn, Memphis, Pels, Kings and the Wizards... so it's worse than you thought.
I can't even tell you how much I hate DA putting Jonas in for that last free throw. You're just messing with Jamal. The ONLY reason he's checked in is in case of a miss. Believe in your players!!! DA has done this a few times this year, and it's cost the Nuggets.
February 20, 2026 at 6:13 AM
I can't even tell you how much I hate DA putting Jonas in for that last free throw. You're just messing with Jamal. The ONLY reason he's checked in is in case of a miss. Believe in your players!!! DA has done this a few times this year, and it's cost the Nuggets.
Jamal Murray misses a free throw in the clutch again, Nuggets loss
February 20, 2026 at 6:12 AM
Jamal Murray misses a free throw in the clutch again, Nuggets loss
That can't be the play for the last shot of the game... but that foul just bails the Nuggets out. Can Murray actually hit the three free throws this time? He missed the last time he was in this spot.
February 20, 2026 at 6:09 AM
That can't be the play for the last shot of the game... but that foul just bails the Nuggets out. Can Murray actually hit the three free throws this time? He missed the last time he was in this spot.
it's unreal how bad the Nuggets have been in the clutch this year. A massive red flag.
February 20, 2026 at 6:06 AM
it's unreal how bad the Nuggets have been in the clutch this year. A massive red flag.
Jamal's best play of the night by far, a dunk, keeps the Nuggets in it... can steal this inbounds from the corner, maybe
February 20, 2026 at 6:04 AM
Jamal's best play of the night by far, a dunk, keeps the Nuggets in it... can steal this inbounds from the corner, maybe
Anther costly mistake there in crunch time, a rushed two for one with a contested shot followed by a foul when it wasn't needed.
February 20, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Anther costly mistake there in crunch time, a rushed two for one with a contested shot followed by a foul when it wasn't needed.
Biggest shot of the game so far, Jokic makes. Nuggets have a chance here.
February 20, 2026 at 5:58 AM
Biggest shot of the game so far, Jokic makes. Nuggets have a chance here.
horrendous foul by Jokic
February 20, 2026 at 5:54 AM
horrendous foul by Jokic
Jokic grabbing his right wrist again
February 20, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Jokic grabbing his right wrist again
I'll post this anytime I get an excuse to
February 20, 2026 at 5:22 AM
I'll post this anytime I get an excuse to
Call it rust, fatigue or whatever, but something has been off with the Nuggets for a while — and we just saw it again there to end the third quarter, just like the end of the first quarter.
February 20, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Call it rust, fatigue or whatever, but something has been off with the Nuggets for a while — and we just saw it again there to end the third quarter, just like the end of the first quarter.
I actually think the Nuggets are playing pretty well, Jokic and Jamal just look very tired and can't shoot. Some issues with the turnovers like I said earlier but good effort out of most guys so far tonight.
February 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM
I actually think the Nuggets are playing pretty well, Jokic and Jamal just look very tired and can't shoot. Some issues with the turnovers like I said earlier but good effort out of most guys so far tonight.
Nuggets lead by eight... meanwhile Jokic and Jamal are a combined 3 for 17 from the field.
February 20, 2026 at 4:29 AM
Nuggets lead by eight... meanwhile Jokic and Jamal are a combined 3 for 17 from the field.
This half has not done much to quell the main concern of the last two playoff series losses for the Nuggets: struggling to get it up court and make plays out of ball pressure.
February 20, 2026 at 4:21 AM
This half has not done much to quell the main concern of the last two playoff series losses for the Nuggets: struggling to get it up court and make plays out of ball pressure.
I know a lot of folks were frustrated with Bruce Brown's start but he's been the team's ironman, played different roles a bunch and has played really well now for quite a while. Good to see a beloved player find his game like this again.
February 20, 2026 at 4:16 AM
I know a lot of folks were frustrated with Bruce Brown's start but he's been the team's ironman, played different roles a bunch and has played really well now for quite a while. Good to see a beloved player find his game like this again.
Jokic's touch just hasn't been there since coming back from the knee injury. Both the shooting and passing just isn't at the perfect level we're used to.
February 20, 2026 at 4:07 AM
Jokic's touch just hasn't been there since coming back from the knee injury. Both the shooting and passing just isn't at the perfect level we're used to.
Well if Cam and Julian look like this the entire second half the Nuggets will never lose
February 20, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Well if Cam and Julian look like this the entire second half the Nuggets will never lose
German Marquez: “I’m excited to play with a team that wants to win. When I was young, I had team that liked to win, and it was a cool feeling.”
Notebook: Padres need motivated Germán Márquez; implementing ABS strategy; slow-playing Ethan Salas
Friday is the Padres’ spring training opener, and that will bring a focus on how they go about using their ball-strike challenges
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
February 19, 2026 at 9:13 PM
German Marquez: “I’m excited to play with a team that wants to win. When I was young, I had team that liked to win, and it was a cool feeling.”