DENVER — Darrell Arthur turned back the clock Monday night at Pepsi Center. On Denver’s first possession of the fourth quarter, he set a screen at the top of the three-point arc, rolled to the rim and threw down a vicious one-handed alley-oop dunk.
On Monday morning, it was unclear if Arthur would even be able to play. The 10-year NBA veteran didn’t participate in shootaround due to right knee soreness. Yet there he was hours later throwing down his first dunk of the season as his team rolled past Charlotte 121-104.
“That was like the Bud Light Play of the Game,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I asked the team in the locker room, ‘When’s the last time anybody saw Darrell dunk in a game?’ Paul Millsap said, ‘When he was at Kansas.'”
Arthur finished the game with 10 points in 14 minutes of playing time. He sunk a pair of threes, dropped in a layup and threw down the dunk. After spending most of this season in a bench role, Arthur has found his way into Denver’s rotation in three of the last four games.
Mason Plumlee’s calf injury against the Boston Celtics on Jan. 29 meant Denver needed another big to step up. Arthur, who was not available for comment after the game, has. He got the start against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. He scored 10 points and did an admirable job defending LaMarcus Aldridge. Three nights later against Golden State, Arthur played 14 minutes and chipped in with five points and three assists. Monday, he scored in double-digits again.
“We don’t win the Golden State game without D.A.,” Malone said. “We don’t win tonight without D.A. That’s what’s nice. It’s not like one guy’s carrying this team. It is everybody contributing to the cause. I’m proud of Darrell and happy for him because been waiting for this moment. He’s being patient. He’s been a great veteran leader. And now he’s having a chance to impact the game on the floor, and he’s taking advantage of it.”
Nuggets coaches and players have commended Arthur for the leadership he’s offered this season. Thanks to a crowded frontcourt and persistent knee issues, Arthur is logging single-digit minutes for the first time in his career. Even when he wasn’t getting in, Arthur, who cut his teeth on the Grit ‘N Grind Grizzlies teams, was still on the most valuable voices in the room.
“Everybody in that locker room respects the hell out of Darrell Arthur,” Malone said in January.
“I love to see him play well because he works so hard,” said swingman Will Barton. “He’s one of our leaders. Great teammate. Just a great guy. Any time you see that guy out there playing well, you’re just happy for him because he works so hard.”
Barton and Arthur were two of seven Nuggets players who finished in double figures in the thrashing of the Hornets. Barton scored 18 points and handed out eight assists. His sixth helper of the game was the lob pass that Arthur hammered home. Barton was surprised when told that it was Arthur’s first dunk of the season.
“For real?” Barton asked. “He hasn’t really got that many opportunities to have some. But shit, he took advantage tonight.”
