The Denver Nuggets started their season off on a bad note. They started off with two losses, and after that, the Nuggets were questioned and counted out by some. They were written off by many, and a lot of pundits wondered if they were still contenders. It also brought up questions around Russell Westbrook, and if signing him was the right decision. The Nuggets won their first game of the season, when they beat the Toronto Raptors in an overtime win. Denver improved to 1-2 and right after their 127-125 win, they picked up another overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets. The Nuggets quickly jumped from 0-2 to a .500 team at 2-2, and things started to turn around. This turn around shows how fast-paced the NBA is, and at any moment, a team can climb out of a hole. With that said, were the Nuggets counted out too soon?
Were The Nuggets Counted Out Too Soon?
The Nuggets’ season has been interesting so far. After their back-to-back wins over the Raptors and Nets, they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves are not only a division rival, but the team that knocked them out of last season’s playoffs. While a win over Minnesota would have kept Denver’s momentum going, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves had other plans. The Nuggets will have other opportunities to get their revenge over the Timberwolves throughout the season, but for now, Minnesota is up 1-0. Denver fell to 2-3 after the loss, but quickly bounced back with a win over the Utah Jazz. They beat Utah 129-103. That win was the start of a winning streak, as they are currently on a four-game winning streak. They picked up wins over the Raptors, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Miami Heat.
Denver is now 6-3 and they have climbed to fifth in the Western Conference. Things have turned around for the Nuggets, and they are once again looking like a team that can compete.
Denver is back to their winning ways. They had two historic performances in their last game as both Westbrook and Nikola Jokic made history in different ways. Jokic joined Wilt Chamberlain as the second player in NBA history to have 30 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds while shooting at least 80 percent from the field. In Westbrook’s case, he had his 18th career game recording at least 10 assists off the bench. He now has the seventh-most games in league history with this stat. Westbrook had six points in this game, which is different from his previous two games of 21 and 29 points respectively, but he still made an impact and got teammates involved.
Are the Nuggets Back For Good After Rough Start to Season?
The Nuggets are now having a solid season. They are back on track, and in a conference where teams like the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Thunder are off to excellent starts, the Nuggets’ current winning streak is essential. The West race is tight and every game counts. The Nuggets are winning, and they are doing it while encountering a few injuries. Aaron Gordon is out multiple weeks with a calf strain. Jamal Murray was in concussion protocol, but he returned in their win over the Heat. The Nuggets will have to adjust without Gordon, but early on, they have adjusted well.
Jokic and the Nuggets’ season up to this point is a reminder that the season is still young. There is plenty of time to get going and all it takes is a few good wins. The Nuggets have stepped up and their effort has paid off. Can they keep up this momentum?
