After a six day layoff it took the Nuggets a few minutes to get back in sync after an especially slow start from Nikola Jokic who almost had more turnovers than points in the first half inside of a raccous Ball Arena.
During that brief hybernation by Jokic the rest of the Nuggets led by Jamal Murray slowly but surely worked the game back in the favor of the now streaking and healthy Denver Nuggets. As is usually the case with the former champion Nuggets their offense primarily works through the two man game of Nikola and Jamal.
Jamal lead all scorers in this game with 30 points and was a game best for either team at +13. It was a Shai like Free-Throw Merchant game as Jamal went 15-15 at the line. The free throws were huge in that they kept Denver in the game until Jokic became un hybernated (word?) in the second half and displayed why he’s the best player in the league with a 25, 12, 13 triple double.
Remember this…both Shai and Jamal played for Coach Cal at Kentucky. These Kentucky guards in the league are special for certain. Both Canadians as well. Porter Moser needs to start recruting Canada…just MJ thinking out loud a bit as he just looked at the Sooners roster for next season off the Portal Tracker.
When Nikola the Big Bear gets going he’s virtually unstoppable and the best player in the league. But I did vote for Shai as the regular season MVP. These two guys are special and we can only hope as fervent NBA fans it’s an OKC vs. Denver Western Conference Final.
Hope Alex Caruso doesn’t get maimed this year from the Big Bear in that I’m fairly certain Big Bear still remembers that rugby match in Game 7 last spring when the apparently blind Scott Foster lost his whistle in the second period.
But there he is right now…on my screen…Scott Foster being allowed to ref yet again in these NBA Playoffs.
Coach David Adelman appears to have a fluid nine man rotation in place which from my view looked pretty darn good yesterday with Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cam Johnson finally all healthy and rounding into the type of playoff shape I’ve been waiting to see all season to date from this team.
I would also add when Denver has to go those non-Jokic minutes with Tim Hardaway, Bruce Brown, Spencer Jones, and Jonas V with Jamal out there I thought they were solid yesterday for the most part.
As was the case last spring, Peyton Watson would appear to be the 10th man depending on the opponent and situation. There will be a time though when he’s needed once he’s totally healthy.
The Minnesota TWolves…they will go as far as Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle’s offensive production will take them. Yesterday AE went 7-19 and Julius went 7-16. Do the math…14-35 versus a dynamic offensive team like the Nuggets will get you a 116-105 Game 1 road loss. These two guys simply didn’t get it done.
Amazingly, my TWolve player of the game was Rudy Gobert who played one of the most nuanced offensive games I’ve ever witnessed from a guy I’ve described on here multiple times as an offensive slug. Rudy G went 8-9 from the field and scored 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds. It’s a shame the TWolves wasted that virtuoso performance on a double didgit Game 1 loss.
My Three Stars of the Game went…1 Jamal, 2 Big Bear, and 3 Aaron Gordon.
Game 2 on Monday night inside of Ball Arena.
Love and kindness always, MJ.