Upon reaching the postseason, the Nuggets will undoubtedly be relieved to have endured a difficult contest such as this one.

Due to the fact that opposing teams frequently enter Ball Arena, score a few runs, and then wane away. Conversely, not Milwaukee Bucks. Not when they play their first game under new coach Doc Rivers on Monday night.

The Bucks tested Denver’s limits, propelled by sensation Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 29 points and center Brook Lopez’s five 3-pointers.

Ultimately, the Nuggets delivered outstanding performances during crucial junctures and maintained a tenacious defense to earn a thrilling 113-107 triumph. With 4 minutes and 23 seconds remaining in the game, there was no greater play than Peyton Watson’s steal and lead pass to Michael Porter Jr. for a breakaway layup and a 102-97 Denver lead.

Especially in the first half, when Denver required innovative one-on-one offense, it turned to guard Jamal Murray, who finished first among scorers with 35 points.

In Denver, head coach Michael Malone recorded his 400th career victory.

Naturally, there was also Nikola Jokic. In the contest against Milwaukee, he accumulated 25 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists for a 14th career-double and sixth career triple-double. With 3:46 remaining, his exquisite pass to Porter for a slam gave Denver the lead, 104-97.

The Bucks, possibly bolstered by the return of Rivers to their bench, got off to a strong start. Intended pun. In addition, they initially outhustled Denver, taking a 17-6 lead on Damian Lillard’s long three-pointer. Milwaukee led the game 26-13 with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter, propelled by its 64.7% shooting.

The Bucks’ tight interior defense threw the Nuggets’ offense entirely out of sync, and the team demonstrated little flow without the ball, attempting only 29.4% (5 of 17).

However, Denver, with Jokic on the sideline, closed the gap at 28-27 with a 15-point run. The game fluctuated until halftime, where Murray revitalized the Nuggets’ offense to a 56-56 stalemate. In the first half, he accumulated 21 points by sinking nine of his fifteen attempts.

Antetokounmpo is experiencing a breakthrough season. As of Monday, his career-high 61 percent field goal percentage was credited with 31 points per game. In addition, he accumulated 11.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. Following a relatively subdued first half (10 points on 5-of-7 shooting), the opponent made an effort to seize control in the second. He was nearly successful.

The second half, however, was too deep and too strong for the Nuggets. With a record of 19-4 at home this season, Denver has won its fifth consecutive contest and improved to 33-15 overall.

From afar, the Bucks have gone just 11-10.