As no surprise to anyone, the Denver Nuggets arrived at the NBA playoffs again in 2024.
Many NBA predictions included Oklahoma City Thunder clinching the top spot in the Western Conference, their identical win/loss record with the Denver Nuggets (57 wins, 25 losses) was aided by a 5-match winning run to see out the regular season.
The Nuggets secured second spot to set up a Round 1 match up with the Los Angeles Lakers which saw a game 2 comeback of epic proportions. Down 20 points, Jamal Murray found himself the star of the show with the most important shot of his career earning the Nuggets a 101-99 win at the buzzer with a 16-foot jump shot to give his side a two-game lead in the series.
Throughout the season, with generational talent Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets have provided fans with exceptional play on a regular basis and finished the regular season as strong candidates to repeat on their championship winning season last year.
Defending a title can be tough, and Denver has looked to provide for the future as well as support their superstar Jokić. Players in the rotation have contributed valuably this season and some key figures have stood out once again on the court.
Nikola Jokić
Let’s kick off with the superstar. Jokić is once again showing why he is one of the true greats of the NBA, a player who will be remembered for generations.
The 2023/24 season will become one of Jokić’s busier seasons, breaking his 80 games played record with 79 already registered by Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs first round. After 79 games, his total of 26.4 points per game average is only bettered in 2021/22, although his 27.1 points per game average was across 74 games.
Jokić has been on fine form from deep, jumping from 9.4 to 10.4 field goals made on average from 2022/23 to this season.
With an athlete like Jokić, the Denver Nuggets will always be highly respected and compete to a high level in the NBA. He continues to prove he is one of a kind and a player who could help take his team to another finals.
Jamal Murray
Prior to his heroics at the buzzer in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers, Jamal Murray has been an incredibly productive player this regular season.
The regular season saw Murray improve across almost all of his vital statistic lines from the 2022/23 season highlighting just how valuable he is to this team. His 21.2 points per game average is up from 20 last season, eight field goals made is up from 7.3 and he has his best ever three-point success percentage in his career with 42.5%.
Murray taking the step forward this season again has been perfect for the Nuggets fanbase seeing the progression of players across the court and dominating games so frequently throughout the year ensuring they headed into the playoffs with overflowing confidence.
Michael Porter Jr.
The small forward drafted back in 2019 from Missouri has built on his impressive development to start 81 games by the time of Game 2 in the NBA Playoffs.
Porter Jr. has become a key part of the side jumping up from his 62 games last season and has an impressive 83.6% free throw percentage success rate along with 5.7 defensive rebounds per game.
Leading into the playoffs, the buildup had been tough for Porter Jr. who has had one brother sentenced to six years in prison after a deadly drink driving crash and another handed a lifetime ban from the NBA amid a betting scandal.
ESPN analyst JJ Redick has been hugely impressed with Porter Jr. this season, and while there are stars like Jokić and Murray on the roster, he is quoted on ESPN stating Michael Porter Jr., the way he’s played, the way he closed last night, that’s what it’s about to me”.
Path to Success
With the young, hungry draftees on the roster building impressive depth, stars like Jokić have been given quality around them in numbers rather than a thin, top-heavy roster.
The way Jokić plays the game, he can read it to perfection and nullify most attempts to limit his effect on games from opposing sides.
Bettors will once again see a safe bet with the Nuggets who, as you’d imagine, come with short odds as one of the favorites to claim the title once again this season and make it two in a row.
The culture of play being grown in Denver ensures it gives the best platform for its stars to dominate their opponents, while their young players have the ability to contribute importantly to the side and develop alongside generational talents.
It’s hard to look past the Nuggets again this season and it will take near perfect games from their opponents to slow them down.
