With the injuries that the Denver Nuggets have sustained this month, the team has truly needed to embrace the “next man up” mentality. Considering the fact that the Nuggets were able to go 13-3 in April, despite injuries to key guards Will Barton, Jamal Murray, and Monte Morris, I think it’s safe to say that everybody is stepping up in order to allow the team to stay afloat during this challenging time.
There’s no better example than the game Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. The team got outstanding performances from the usual suspects, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr., who scored 24 points and 31 points, respectively. The role players all came to play, as well, however. Aaron Gordon had 15 points and 5 rebounds, Paul Millsap had 12 points in only 14 minutes, and Facundo Campazzo had 7 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals as he continues to showcase his skills as a starter. In addition, the newest members of the team, Austin Rivers and Shaquille Harris, also played significant minutes and brought a lot of energy to the bench unit. All of this helped the Nuggets earn a 120-96 victory against a good Grizzlies team.
If there’s anybody that knows the value of having a win in which multiple players get involved in the action, it’s 15-year NBA veteran Paul Millsap. He took to Twitter after the game to explain why that win meant so much.
If there’s one positive that can come out of the devastating injuries that have plagued the Nuggets in April, it’s that other players get the opportunity to shine. Regardless, hopefully Barton and Morris have a speedy recovery and can help the Nuggets make a push in the playoffs.
