NUGGETS: Coach Michael Malone likes what he is seeing from blossoming guard Gary Harris.
Gary Harris shot 9-of-10 from the field in Wednesday’s first quarter against the Suns, unleashing a combination of “easy” cuts and finishes, jumpers from all over the floor and transition buckets.
So when Nuggets teammate Nikola Jokic glanced up at the scoreboard and saw 20 points next to Harris’ name, any initial surprise quickly subsided.
“I was like, ‘What? That’s a lot,’ ” Jokic recalled after the game. “You see how he’s aggressive. That’s how he’s supposed to be.”
That was the start of the latest offensive gem for Harris, who finished a blistering 14-of-17 from the floor and tied his career high with 36 points. And that offensive gem was the latest example of the fourth-year guard’s blossoming offensive repertoire, which is now stretching well beyond his reputation as an outside catch-and-shoot threat and benefactor of back-door passes from Denver’s big men.
“He’s a different player, and he’s got $80 million to showcase that,” said coach Michael Malone, referring to the contract extension Harris signed before the season. “And he’s earned every penny of it . ... He’s not just a shooter. He’s not just a guy that can guard his position. He can make plays off the dribble. He can make his teammates better.”
Harris began taking on a more versatile scoring load in December with Jokic sidelined for seven games because of a sprained ankle and Paul Millsap out indefinitely because of wrist surgery. Harris began to assertively turn the corner to drive, absorbed contact inside and consistently finished at the rim with both hands. In a Dec. 22 win at Portland, for example, he scored 17 points and his longest make from the field was a 5-foot floater.
That brewing confidence with the ball has also made Harris a better creator for teammates, the area Malone has called Harris’ biggest improvement this season and another void that needed to be filled without Jokic and Millsap. Harris is averaging a career-best 3.3 assists per game,.
“Knowing when to be aggressive, when to try to score, when to pass,” Harris said. “Just having the ball in my hands a lot more, you just kind of figure it out as you go.”
This is all part of Harris’ natural progression, Malone said. After his first season as head coach, Malone asked Harris to work on his ball handling and reads in the pick and roll. Now Harris has expanded his game to the skill set he displayed against Phoenix.
Late in the second quarter, he sent a layup in traffic high off the glass and through the net. In the third, he drew the defense inside before kicking out to Wilson Chandler for a 3-pointer from the left corner. On the Nuggets’ next possession, Harris pirouetted in the lane and dished to Mason Plumlee for a two-handed dunk.
Then Harris reached 36 points by converting a four-point play in the final minutes.
“I’m just all about making the right play,” Harris said. “If somebody’s open, I’m going to make that pass or try to get them the ball.”