12 DEFINING MOMENTS
On the Nuggets’ journey to the
JAZZ 123, NUGGETS 102 All smiles
Oct. 19: Jamal Murray scored just 12 points in a season-opening loss to Utah, yet after the game, you couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. For the first time since tearing his ACL in April of 2021, Murray was back on the court for a regular-season game. “I’ve never smiled in a loss before,” he said after the game. Murray considered returning late in the regular season during the prior year but knew he needed to allow his left knee to recover longer. His return served as a landmark moment for him and one that had been 18 months in the making.
NUGGETS 122, THUNDER 117 MPJ buying in
Oct. 22: Michael Porter Jr., back after missing most of last season following his third back surgery, showed early signs this season that he was committed and willing defensively. After racking up a handful of steals and blocks a few games in, not to mention diving on the floor, it was a noticeable development that drew praise from head coach Michael Malone. “What Michael showed me is that, will he ever be Scottie Pippen? Probably not. … I want him to be the best version of Michael Porter Jr. he can be, and right now what he’s showing me is that he cares.” Porter’s buy-in can’t be overstated.
NUGGETS 126, BULLS 103 Bouncing back
Nov. 13: Michael Porter Jr. rained in a season-high 31 points in just 24 minutes of work at Chicago, including burying 6 of 9 from 3-point range. His bounce-back game followed an awful showing in Boston and prompted a text from Porter to Malone where he apologized for not being engaged. After torching the Bulls, Porter showed immense maturity when discussing accountability. “You gotta grow,” he said. “You can’t always blame other people.”
NUGGETS 121, TRAIL BLAZERS 120 Game-winner in Rip City
Dec. 8: With time ticking down in the fourth quarter at Portland, Jamal Murray leaned into old habits. Murray drained a game-winning corner 3-pointer in the face of former teammate Jerami Grant to remind everyone in the league just how clutch he was. It was a moment Nuggets coach Michael Malone has often cited when asked when he knew Murray was back. “There were so many doubts of, ‘Am I gonna be different? Am I gonna play the same? Am I gonna be worth it?’” Murray said from a cramped locker room that night.
NUGGETS 119, HORNETS Matching Wilt
Dec. 18: Nikola Jokic assembled points, 27 rebounds, 10 assists against the Charlotte Hornets, player to do so since Wilt
“That was good,” Jokic mused By halftime, Jokic had consumed “Nikola is a generational talent,” Michael Malone said. It was
double of the nascent
NUGGETS 128, SUNS 125, Christmas night jam
Dec. 25: Aaron Gordon called Landry Shamet the best in- had. Jamal Murray deemed year … and there were still regular season. Gordon exploded dunk over the Phoenix Suns that was as powerful as it Nuggets, thanks to Gordon’s survived the Suns in overtime, viral moment from the season.
NUGGETS 119, MAGIC 116 “Are you not entertained?”
Jan. 15: The game tied at seconds left, Nikola Jokic again. He caught the ball arc and sunk a game-winning the visiting Magic. “Are you Nuggets coach Michael Malone franchise centerpiece came yet again. In another show it happened to be the Nuggets’ at Ball Arena.
NUGGETS 133, ROCKETS
No stat-padding here Feb. 28: Nikola Jokic had franchise’s all-time record
but his 100th career- with a bit more spice. After triple-double, this time in win over the Rockets, Jokic for a stat-padder.” He was, to the wild claims that he was one of the few times to his critics.