Nikola Jokic didn’t get the chance to win it in regulation. Granted an overtime session, Jokic didn’t waste the opportunity.
The Nuggets consistently fed their superstar center, who delivered once again. And as the Nuggets were putting the finishing touches on their dramatic 130-126 win over the Suns on Friday night, his star counterpart, Jamal Murray, landed the knockout.
Now 8-7 on the year, the Nuggets will get a chance to double-down against Phoenix in Saturday’s back-to-back affair. The win puts the Nuggets above .500 for the first time all season and offered an encouraging start to their five-game road trip.
Jokic had four of his 31 points in overtime, while Murray’s late jumper helped seal the game. Murray finished with 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, coming alive after a lackluster first half. Jokic fell two assists shy of his sixth triple-double of the season, adding 10 rebounds, eight assists and three steals to his stellar night.
“(Jokic) is one of the best closers in the game,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “… Jamal and Nikola have proven time and time again to never be afraid of the moment. … Nikola’s our best player. We’re going to play through him.”
And Will Barton saved eight points, including six clutch free throws, for the extra session.
But Jokic, whose overtime steal helped secure the victory, might not have needed an all-encompassing overtime effort to win. Tied at 114 with just two seconds left in regulation, Murray missed a long jumper that could’ve given the Nuggets the victory.
Instead, it was their defense in the second half and overtime that ultimately earned them the game. After scoring the nets in the first half, Phoenix shot just 43% in the second half with 11 turnovers.
Chris Paul finished with 11 points and 15 assists, while Devin Booker paced the Suns with 31 points, though he sat to close the game with an apparent injury.
Monte Morris was invaluable off the bench, finishing with 17 points and three assists in 32 minutes.
“It’s not surprising,” Malone said. “Monte’s been incredible off the bench for us.”
The Suns were threatening to run away with it early in the third before the Nuggets’ energy and effort arrived. Down 71-57, Denver reeled off an early 14-3 run built off swarming defense and increased pace. Murray started attacking, which opened up the rest of the offense around Jokic. Gary Harris chipped in a team-high nine of his 19 in the quarter.
But every time the Nuggets drew within a possession, the Suns caught a break. Whether it was a banked 3-pointer, or a timely offensive rebound by DeAndre Ayton, the Nuggets had a hard time eclipsing them. But with improved urgency came some measure of resolve. The Nuggets outscored Phoenix 37-27 in the quarter and entered the fourth down just 95-91.
Following Michael Porter Jr.’s three-week absence due to the NBA’s health and safety protocol, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said the team would closely monitor his minutes as he ramped up his conditioning. In his first game since Dec. 29th, Porter finished with seven points and six rebounds in 20 minutes.
“Being away from the team, not being allowed in the facility, what is his cardio?” Malone said. “What is his conditioning like? … You want to be smart. You’re not going to go out there and put him in a situation where you overload him in his first game back.”
In the meantime, Malone continued to rave about Jokic’s production. On Friday, he spoke about how rarely you come across a player of Jokic’s talents.
“I look at it as a blessing,” Malone said. “How many guys have the opportunity to coach a great player, a high character person, on and off the court, a guy that every day when he comes to the facility is in a good mood. There’s not many superstars. Let’s be honest. Nikola Jokic is a superstar. He’s one of the top-five players in the world.
“And for him to have the attitude, the unselfishness, doesn’t want anything to do with the limelight,” Malone said. “… Not once have I ever felt pressure of coaching Nikola.”
Now if the rest of the Nuggets would pick up their production, perhaps they’d find some rhythm.
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Five different Suns players drained 3-pointers, led by five from sniper Mikal Bridges. Denver’s ball containment and communication were nearly non-existent as they hit 11 in total before the break.
Offensively, despite Porter’s return, Jokic was the team’s primary source of scoring. His 16 points on 15 shots kept it relatively close without getting much else from his fellow starters. Only Morris, whose steady play has been integral to forging cohesion on the second unit, and Porter added a scoring punch off the bench. Their 17 points combined helped offset Phoenix’s blistering outside shooting.
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