Malik Beasley's "statement performance" finally gets the Nuggets over the hump

Five nuggets for the number of consecutive wins the Nuggets have strung together. They beat the Rockets 136-122 Friday on national TV.

1. The Nuggets are Grand Canyon deep. Their starting backcourt was on the sidelines in street clothes Friday, and they still put up 136 points. Nikola Jokic (31 points on 12-of-15 shooting) was otherworldly, but the Nuggets got major contributions from three players who normally fill out the back end of the rotation. Malik Beasley was unconscious, pouring in a career-high 35 points. Torrey Craig was a Monster Energy Drink personified, dunking his way to 22 points. And then there was Monte Morris, who held his own against the Point God himself and had 18 points.

“One guy did not play last year,” Michael Malone said. “Two guys were G League players, and they come out here and have this performance. Couldn’t be happier for those guys.”

Jamal Murray (left ankle) and Gary Harris (right abductor) were unavailable. It didn’t matter. Beasley, Craig and Morris combined for 75 points.

“I feel like whoever tuned in saw the different ways the Nuggets can beat you,” Morris said. “It’s not one guy.”

2. Michael Malone delivered a straightforward message to Malik Beasley at his exit interview last summer: “‘Simply stated, I said, ‘Malik, this is a make or miss league. You’re a shooting guard in the NBA. Your greatest challenge is you have to prove you’re a consistent player. That’s making shots.'”

Beasley’s talent was apparent; what Malone needed from him was consistency. Beasley responded by going to work on his jumper. Beasley’s emphasized shooting with better balance, which is paying off handsomely for him this season. The 23-year-old is up to 42.9 percent shooting from 3 after going 5 of 9 from distance Friday.

“I definitely think this is a statement performance to show the world who I am,” Beasley said. “I’m not just out there on the bench. I’m not just on this team with a lot of great players. I am a player.”

Beasley can jump out of the gym. The Nuggets are stocked with excellent transition finishers, and Beasley is the best one. Now that he’s paired a picture-perfect jumper with that leaping ability, look out.

3. Nikola Jokic has been one of the NBA’s best crunch-time performers this season. He’s scored 70 points on 52.9 percent shooting when there are less than five minutes to go and the score is within five. One reason for that success? His reliance on bully ball to get high-percentage looks.

Jokic lowered his shoulder into Marc Gasol and hit the game-winning baby hook in Memphis on Monday. On Friday, he put the game out of reach by bowling over P.J. Tucker like he was a tackling dummy.

“He’s a really good defender just because he has a low center of gravity,” Jokic said. “He’s pushing you in your hips. It’s hard to push a guy like that. He’s really strong. But I can say I won that battle.”

Jokic shot 11 of 13 in the restricted area overall. He demolished Kenneth Faried and Nene around the basket.

4. The last time the Nuggets beat the Rockets, Malik Beasley was a freshman at Florida State. It’d been more than three years since the Nuggets toppled The Beard. Houston had won the last nine meetings until Friday. That streak came to an end. Harden’s run of 30-point games didn’t, though. Harden hit a contested stepback 3 with 1:05 to go that ensured he hit 30 for the 25th game in a row.

“I wanted to hold him under 30,” Craig lamented.

At least Craig can take solace in the fact that he played the best game of his NBA career. His tip slam in the second quarter nearly popped the roof off at Pepsi Center.

5. Suddenly, there’s something fairly significant at stake in Saturday’s back-to-back in Minnesota. The Nuggets are tied with the Warriors for the best record in the West at 36-15. If the Nuggets beat the Timberwolves, Michael Malone and his staff will coach Team LeBron at the All-Star Game on Feb. 17 in Charlotte. Jokic, who broke an eight-season All-Star drought for Denver this week, will be there. It’d be pretty cool if Malone got to be a part of the game, too.