Nikola Jokic's dominant return shows why he's the MVP in Denver
The Nuggets’ offense revolves around their center, and his return on Monday perfectly demonstrates this.
Typically a tad gruff, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone allowed for a moment Monday that even he described as “corny.” It came in the wake of his squad snapping a six-game losing streak with a 120-111 triumph over the Miami Heat.
Reigning Kia MVP Nikola Jokic returned from an injury-induced four-game hiatus to help rescue Denver from its longest skid in almost six years, ripping a shorthanded Miami Heat team for 17 points in the first half on the way to 24 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists as the Nuggets captured their first victory since November 14. Rookie Nah’shon “Bones” Hyland only enhanced the good vibes in his own return from a two-game absence, scoring a career-high 19 points off the bench for a Nuggets squad mired in injury, sitting at ninth in the West on the first leg of a seven-game road trip.
“I don’t know if relief is the right word, but there was definitely some joy, some smiles, some hugs,” Malone said of the postgame locker room. “As corny as that sounds, man, winning is a great pain reliever. We’ve all been down in the dumps and to get this win tonight kind of just stops all of that and allows us to get back to feeling good about ourselves.”
It also provides somewhat of a respite from feelings of despair as a result of this season’s onslaught of injuries. Already missing Jamal Murray (knee), P.J. Dozier (knee), and JaMychal Green (elbow), Denver received more bad news on the injury front Monday when multiple reports surfaced saying forward Michael Porter Jr. will undergo surgery on his lower back with an uncertain timetable for recovery.
However, Denver managed to push those thoughts aside, at least for one night.
Nikola Jokic returns, scoring 24 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
Jokic undeniably played his role in making that possible.
“Truthfully, this entire team is structured around Nikola,” stated Malone. “He’s the linchpin of our offense and the cornerstone of our defense. Therefore, we grappled with challenges when he was absent. I believe that’s an issue any team would face when you remove an MVP.”
It’s evident that Denver could clinch the two-game season series against the Miami Heat for the second consecutive year when Jokic is back in the lineup. The Nuggets, with Jokic’s return, managed a season-high 32 assists on 43 successful field goals, recording season-best shooting percentages from the field (58.1%) and 3-point range (51.4%). Seven players, including Jokic, Hyland, Aaron Gordon (20 points), Will Barton (14), Jeff Green (12), Monte Morris (11), and Facundo Campazzo (10), scored in double digits.
While looking at the box score on the postgame lectern, Jokic tallied them up.
“He commented, ‘The energy was positive, particularly after six consecutive losses, and our performance today was strong. I believe that was the most crucial aspect. Everyone played well. We had seven players scoring double figures. Hence, the ball was shared and touched by everyone.'”
Jokic says, “We play our best when we share the basketball.”
The same couldn’t be said for Miami, playing without Jimmy Butler (tailbone), Tyler Herro (soreness) and Markieff Morris (neck), who hasn’t touched the floor since his Nov. 8 dustup with Jokic, which resulted in a suspension for the Denver center and a fine for the Heat forward. With a weakened supporting cast, Bam Adebayo put up 24 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, pouring in 15 points in the third quarter.
Jokic confessed that he has not communicated with Morris since the incident on Nov. 8, and every time he handled the ball, Miami fans showered him with boos.
Despite the challenges, the Nuggets went on a 12-0 run in the second quarter, leading to a 63-43 advantage at halftime. This was fueled by Jokic, Green, and Hyland, who together scored 26 of Denver’s 31 points in that period. Hyland had a great performance, shooting 3-for-4 from deep in the second quarter and ending the game 5-for-8 from range.
When Hyland scores in double digits, the Nuggets now have a record of 4-0.
“Entering the locker room after the game was a great feeling,” said Hyland. “Witnessing the smiles, faces, and the enthusiasm we had at the start of the season was pleasant. Seeing everyone cheerful again in that locker room was indeed uplifting. With Jokic’s return, we’re a complete team now. Playing alongside him definitely feels good.”
Bones Hyland is selected by the Nuggets with the No. 26 overall pick.
Jokic, who had been sidelined for four games due to a sprained wrist, left the game without any ill effects, declaring that “it’s healed.”
The question remains if Denver (10-10) can bounce back after losing six of their last 10 games against a competitive Western Conference. The team’s away schedule continues Wednesday in Orlando, followed by games against the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls on December 4 and December 6 respectively. Subsequently, Denver will travel to New Orleans to face off against the Pelicans, before wrapping up their trip with encounters against the San Antonio Spurs on December 9 and December 11.
“Maintaining our mentality has always been our pride,” stated Malone. “We’ve endured countless injuries over the years. This is the first instance where we’ve had to make do without Nikola, marking a slight difference. However, we’re also without Jamal Murray, P.J. Dozier, and Michael Porter Jr. for an indefinite period.”
“I deeply appreciate my teammates in the locker room, and I’m ready to face any challenge with them. Certainly, tonight’s victory is just one win. Even though we’ve experienced a six-game losing streak, we have not decided to alter our objectives. With 62 games remaining, there’s still a lot of basketball to be played. Thus, we will move forward and prepare for the next match.”
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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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