Everyone exhale. Take a deep breath.
Nikola Jokic was back in the lineup Monday after a four-game absence. Soon enough, the Nuggets’ six-game losing streak — Denver’s longest since 2015 — was over.
Extinguished.
Doused.
Finished.
Jokic had the Heat in his back pocket by halftime. Denver led Miami 63-43 at the break behind 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists from the reigning MVP. The Nuggets ended up winning by just nine, but it wasn’t that close. Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists and coasted to the final buzzer. His wrist looked fine too. Jokic wanted to play Friday at home vs. Milwaukee, but his wrist stiffened up and postponed his return for one more game.
But here’s the big takeaway from Monday: Gone is the concern around Denver’s losing streak. Gone is the fear that it could cascade even further with the news that Michael Porter Jr. is due for another back surgery this week and could be done for the season. Gone is the worry about this team losing its morale as they searched for healthy bodies to fill their rotation. Gone is any thought for now that the Nuggets would willingly throw in the towel on this season.
“I don’t think any of us doubted that we’re still a good team,” Michael Malone said. “… There was definitely some joy (in the locker room). Some smiles. Some hugs. As corny as that sounds, winning is a great pain reliever.”
↪️ READ: Nuggets Roundtable – Adam, Harrison and Brendan reacts to the MPJ injury news and what’s next for Denver ↩️
I don’t know if the thought of punting on this season had crept into the mind of Denver’s front office over the last 24 hours. I’m guessing it didn’t. But it did filter onto Twitter. It did fill my mentions.
Should the Nuggets pack it in? Porter is likely gone for most of, if not all of the season. Jamal Murray is due back in a few months, but could Denver really make a deep playoff run with him coming off an ACL tear? Defensive ace PJ Dozier is already lost to an ACL injury of his own. Jokic is exhausted, mentally and physically from the Nuggets’ deep playoff runs and quick turnaround in-between seasons. Let him chill with his family and daughter. Let him rest up for next season when Denver would have a better shot at contention.
But it’s not in Jokic or this team’s nature to back down like that. No way would Malone willingly coast through a regular season either. The only way I could ever see the Nuggets punting would be if Jokic was lost to a season-ending injury. You never tank when you have an MVP on your roster. Jokic is just too good, and his prime years are too valuable. You’d have to be crazy to not push on forward behind a player like this.
“By no means have we said we’re going to change our goals now,” said Malone. “There are 62 games left. So much basketball to be played.”
The crazy part about this group — and a key reason why Denver won’t be deploying anything close to a tank this year — is that with Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Will Barton, plus Murray returning from injury, that this roster is miles better than the one Denver beat Portland with in six games last playoffs.
Gordon has really found his groove since Porter left the lineup. He’s averaging 15.8 points (50.9 FG%, 44 3P%), 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over his last 10 games. Gordon’s two-way play makes him the best four-man that Jokic has played next to throughout his career.
With no Porter, even more of an onus falls on Barton to keep producing night-in night-out like he’s absolutely done this season. Barton’s one of 25 players averaging at least 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists right now. Only six players are posting that line with a higher Effective Field Goal percentage than Barton’s 53.7%: Jokic, Steph, KD, Giannis, LeBron and Fred VanVleet. The once concerning trend with Barton is his minutes. Barton’s averaging a career-high 33.5 minutes per game. With his injury history, it’s something to monitor.
Another important development: Jeff Green is a very good Porter replacement. He doesn’t raise Denver’s championship ceiling, but he raises the Nuggets’ floor from where it was earlier this season with Porter. Jokic loves playing with Green and has publicly stated so already this year. Green’s high basketball IQ and role recognition is a really strong fit in the Jokic Ball system.
Bones Hyland is also back after a short two-game absence due to a tweaked ankle. Hyland wanted to return Friday at home vs. Milwaukee, but Denver’s medical staff made him wait another game. It was worth it. Hyland poured in a career-high 19 points and went 5-8 from 3-point range. His signature moment was a swished 3 from right in front of the Heat bench off a beautiful Jokic feed.
What a pass from Nikola Jokic. Lofted it right over the defense. Hit Bones Hyland in the numbers. pic.twitter.com/7cyxS4cfR8
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 30, 2021
Hyland hit the shot, turned to Miami’s sideline, and offered some friendly trash talk to Markieff Morris. “You know that, Kieff!” Hyland shouted at Morris, who he’s considers a big brother and has known for years. Denver missed his spark, spirit and swagger.
“You were seeing smiling faces,” Hyland said of the mood in the locker room postgame. “And the energy we had to start the season.”
There was no drama between the Nuggets and Heat, a matchup that came three weeks after Denver and Miami’s first meeting of the season in Denver and ended with the dustup between Jokic and Morris. Strahinja and Nemanja Jokic were in the building Monday night as they promised and seated right behind the Nuggets’ bench. Their youngest brother, who said he hasn’t talked with Morris since the incident (Jokic apologized that night after the game), took the air out of the building in the first quarter.
Jokic was booed throughout Monday’s win but laughed off a question postgame about playing through the extra noise.
“I played in Serbia, brother,” Jokic said. “I wish you guys could feel that.”
“It’s always nice to play in Miami. It’s always a nice atmosphere.”
All Monday’s victory turned out to be was a run-of-the-mill win over an Eastern Conference contender to start a seven-game road trip for a team that has no interest in giving up on their season.
It’s time to feel good about Nuggets basketball again.
“Starting off with Miami, it gave us a different level of a confidence boost,” Hyland said. “We know they’re a great team offensively and defensively. We want to keep this going.”
