Resilient Nuggets keep defying odds behind Nikola Jokic’s brilliance, unlikely but empowered supporting cast

Disappointment. Devastation. In all probability just a few tears. When Jamal Murray went down with a torn ACL in mid-April, it was a gut-punch for thus many causes. Not solely is Murray one of the vital thrilling younger guards within the NBA — notably in a playoff setting — however the Denver Nuggets have been trying each little bit of a real championship contender after the acquisition of Aaron Gordon shortly earlier than the commerce deadline.

With Murray out, nonetheless, these title possibilities plummeted to zilch. Nada. Bubkes.

Apparently, that message is taking some time to succeed in the Mile Excessive Metropolis.

Thursday evening’s 126-115 Recreation 6 street win over the Portland Path Blazers despatched the Nuggets to the second spherical for the third consecutive 12 months. They received the sequence not solely with out Murray — who averaged 26.5 factors, together with two 50-point video games, on 45 p.c 3-point taking pictures final postseason within the bubble — but in addition with out Will Barton and PJ Dozier, leaving Denver’s guard rotation in shambles.

Enter Austin Rivers, who sat patiently by his telephone for six weeks earlier this season after being waived by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder earlier than a determined Denver entrance workplace got here calling. Enter Facundo Campazzo, a “5-foot-10,” 30-year-old Argentinian rookie who may nonetheless be connected to Damian Lillard’s hip on the time of this writing. Enter Monte Morris, a former second-round choose and an overqualified backup who averaged greater than 15 factors and almost six assists on 42 p.c 3-point taking pictures within the opening-round sequence win over the Blazers.

And, in fact, they’re anchored by probably the most unlikely of stars: A plodding but swish 7-footer who can’t soar, possessing one of the vital distinctive ability units we’ve ever seen on a basketball court docket. Sure, the MVP is a daily season award, however Nikola Jokic simply confirmed a nationwide viewers why he’s doubtless going to win the consideration in just a few months. Jokic averaged 33 factors, 10.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists towards the Blazers on laughable 53/43/92 taking pictures splits. 

“You possibly can take anyone away from our staff, but when we have now Nikola, you’ll be able to put me, Wes Unseld, Ryan Bowen, Charles Klask and we’re going to discover a strategy to compete as a result of that’s how nice he’s,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned after the Recreation 6 win, invoking the names of three of his assistant coaches. “That’s in all probability a little bit of an exaggeration.”

Perhaps not by a lot.

Defying the chances is nothing new for Malone, Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. Final 12 months within the bubble, they famously grew to become the primary staff in NBA historical past to come back again from two 3-1 deficits in the identical postseason — and so they did it in consecutive rounds, no much less. Following Murray’s season-ending damage on April 12, the very second most eradicated them from the championship dialog, the Nuggets had the league’s second-best file at 13-5. Of their first-round win over the Blazers, the Nuggets had a plus-40 (!) web score in 15 clutch minutes (inside 5 factors with 5 minutes remaining), together with an 18-7 run to shut out the deciding Recreation 6.

“No person can take the struggle out of us,” Jokic mentioned after the win. “We will simply go on the market and struggle, and that’s what we’re doing. … We’re simply gonna go on the market and struggle each sport.”

Jokic additionally mentioned that the Nuggets have been taking part in “staff basketball,” and nothing epitomized that greater than what came about on Thursday evening. Michael Porter Jr. had the most effective quarter of his NBA profession (perhaps his life) with 22 factors on 6-for-7 3-point taking pictures to open Recreation 6. He understandably cooled down as the sport progressed, and Malone left Porter on the bench for the ultimate six minutes of the sport in favor of veteran reserve JaMychal Inexperienced, who grabbed two enormous offensive rebounds with a minute remaining to assist seal the sport for Denver.

“JaMychal, the way in which he introduced us house, getting these rebounds, being aggressive,” Porter mentioned after the sport. “Like I informed coach — I believe I got here out with 5 or 6 minutes left and I noticed what he was doing on the market and I used to be like, ‘Man, let him rock.’ Simply because I noticed how laborious he was taking part in and what he was doing. So I’m tremendous blissful for him and the sport he had. And I’m simply actually blissful for the entire staff.”

This is identical Porter who, simply 9 months in the past within the bubble, publicly criticized Malone for not calling sufficient performs for him after a Recreation 4 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The truth that he’s now imploring his coach to go away him on the bench for the great of the staff speaks volumes to not solely his private progress but in addition the angle and selflessness engrained on this Nuggets staff.

Denver will transfer on to face the Phoenix Suns, who simply pulled off an underdog efficiency of their very own by sending house the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Even with Chris Paul at lower than one hundred pc, the Suns will doubtless be the favourite within the sequence. But when there’s one factor we’ve discovered during the last two years, it’s to by no means rely out the Denver Nuggets.

“Our aim is far larger,” Malone informed his staff after advancing to the second spherical. “We’re gonna get more healthy. We’re gonna get higher. … It doesn’t matter who’s subsequent. It’s all about us. All about us.”