The Denver Nuggets ended up with a comfortable 124-105 victory vs the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.
Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook each achieved a triple-double in the same game for the second time in the last two weeks. It’s the second time in NBA history that a duo has had two matching triple-doubles in the same game, done previously by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo with the Miami Heat.
“That’s pretty crazy,” Michael Malone shared his genuine reaction to the stats with media postgame. “We’re watching history, folks.”
Jokic, coming back from a two-game absence due to illness, played 38 minutes and finished the game with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 15 assists. Jokic also had four steals on the evening. The Nuggets were +33 in those 38 minutes, and it was surely good to have their superstar back in the lineup.
“I felt a little bit more tired [tonight],” Jokic shared postgame. “Second half was much better than the first half. First half I almost died.”
NOT AWESOME, but glad he got through it. It certainly didn’t look like he was struggling too badly out there.
Westbrook, not to be outdone, had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists of his own. It was his 202nd triple-double of his career and his third with the Nuggets this season. The production and the impact are clearly felt, and the chemistry between Westbrook and Jokic seems to be growing every single night.
“Nikola’s the best player in the world,” Westbrook shared postgame. “He does a hell of a job making the game easier for everyone. Since I’ve been here, I’ve been trying to do the same thing, make the game easy for him and other guys.”
“When we’re both doing that, our team is really good.”
In this game, Jamal Murray played just 16 minutes, never reemerging after halftime from the Nuggets locker room due to left knee soreness. Perhaps that aided in the production accumulated by both Jokic and Westbrook, but it’s still an incredible connection those two have formed.
The Nuggets as a whole didn’t get out to a great start in this game, losing the first quarter 36-32. After that, they held the Nets to just 69 points, including 23 in the second quarter, 20 in the third, and 26 in the fourth. Denver locked in more frequently, and the only times when they let the lead slip a little was when they struggled to score themselves.
Ultimately, they got enough production across the board. All four of Michael Porter Jr. (17 points), Julian Strawther (12), Christian Braun (11) and Peyton Watson (10) finished in double figures. In addition, Watson had a great all-around performance with 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. There were five turnovers to go with it, but it was a nice step for Watson’s entire game, playing nearly 35 minutes in a moment of need for the Nuggets.
It also probably helped that D’Angelo Russell, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, and Bojan Bogdanovic were all out, that’s for sure.
Wear and Tear
On Murray’s status, Malone confirmed that it was precautionary and it was Murray’s call to sit.
“It was just acting up. Didn’t feel right. Didn’t feel great,” Malone shared. “I think Jamal felt, because it was his decision, he goes ‘I just don’t feel right right now,’ and that’s going to happen with that knee. It’s going to act up every once in a while.”
It’s not necessarily a great sign that the knee is acting up, but it’s also not surprising. The Nuggets have played a lot of games, and Murray a lot of minutes, in a short amount of time. He wasn’t moving well in the first half of this game, and while he tried to gut it out, it’s important for him to be as healthy as possible when the playoffs come around.
This is also why it’s important to have a player like Westbrook, comfortable with assuming responsibility in the regular season and helping guide Denver through these 82 games. he’s been an invaluable pickup, and if the Nuggets feel like they need to rest Murray, they can do so with confidence knowing that Westbrook can step up. Also, that Jalen Pickett can step up. Pickett played just under 10 minutes tonight, but he’s been showing good signs of production and capability in a limited role.
Fortunately for Denver, it seems like they might be getting back Aaron Gordon relatively soon. He was doubtful on the injury report entering tonight, which is a step up for out. If the Nuggets can get Gordon back, it will give them some more flexibility for Murray and the rest of the rotation. Something to think about when the time comes.
Final Rotations
