We’re counting down the 50 best moments of the Denver Nuggets’ 2018-19 season. So many great things happened with the Nuggets over the last 365 days so the Stiffs wanted to go back and re-live some of the very best shots, games, quotes, and memorable events along the way. Catch up on all 50: 50-46 | 45-41 | 40-36 | 36-31 | 30-26 | 25-21 | 20-16
15. The Nikola Jokic – Mason Plumlee 5-5 pick-and-roll
This was one of those moments that happened completely randomly and organically. Plumlee and Jokic found themselves near the right elbow with the clock winding down and just went for it – a pick and roll between two centers. Equal parts funny and awesome, Jokic naturally goes into a handoff and rescreen action before floating toward the rim for the lob. A true masterpiece between the most unlikely front court (or is it back court?) duo in the league.
14. Jokic dominates Jusuf Nurkic, goes for 40 points
The Jokic-Nurkic rivalry has been a fun one, even if Jokic himself has never really leaned into the animosity that the fanbase feels for the former Nuggets center. Nurkic owned that matchup early on but over the last two seasons, Jokic seems to have figured out how to attack his old friend. This season, Jokic straight up took Nurk to school, dropping 40 points on him and leaving poor Nurk flustered and lost.
13. Jokic channels his inner Jackie Moon
One of the funnier moments of the season. Jokic didn’t like something about his post position so he kicked it out to Gary Harris. Then Harris gave it back. Then Jokic kicked it back out. Back in. Back out. “He was like Will Ferrell in the Flint Tropics,” Michael Malone said. Thanks to the very talented Ryan Greene of CBS Denver we got the mashup of the year.
12. The Nuggets defensive improvement was the stuff Michael Malone “dreamed about.”
The Nuggets finished the year ranked inside the top 10 in defensive efficiency, up from 23rd last season, according to nba.com. They also ranked 1st in 4th quarter defensive efficiency by a WIDE margin. The year over year improvement was arguably the most impressive statistical achievement of the season for the Nuggets as a team.
11. Paul Millsap cleaned up the glass and gave the Nuggets the win in Chicago
That first couple of weeks of the season were pretty fun. Big time wins, a 9-1 start, and of course, this Paul Millsap clutch rebound and putback to lift the Nuggets over the Chicaco Bulls. Did Millsap get away with a little shove? Sure, why not. But that’s just dad strength teaching the young Bulls how the vets play in this league.
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