DENVER — In the modern NBA, the script for a team losing its superstar is predictable: You survive. You tread water. You pray for a .500 record and wait for the cavalry to return. When three-time MVP Nikola Jokic hyperextended his left knee earlier this month, the league prepared to write the Denver Nuggets’ obituary for the next few weeks.
Analysts penciled them in as “finished.” Opponents relaxed their scouting reports. The consensus was clear: Remove the sun around which the Nuggets’ offense orbits, and the solar system collapses.
But over the last week, the Denver Nuggets have not only shredded that script—they’ve set it on fire.
In one of the most improbable and gritty stretches of basketball seen this season, a depleted Denver squad has stunned the NBA elite, knocking off championship contenders while missing their entire starting five. What was supposed to be a funeral procession has turned into a rebirth, and the rest of the league might soon regret waking a sleeping giant.
The “Denver G-League” Miracle
The turning point arrived in a game that, by all rights, shouldn’t have been competitive. Facing the Philadelphia 76ers—a team riding a three-game winning streak and featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George—the Nuggets were decimated. Seven rotation players were out. The situation was so dire that players jokingly referred to themselves as the “Denver G-League.”
Vegas odds likely had the Sixers as double-digit favorites. It was a “scheduled loss.”
Instead, chaos ensued. Head Coach David Adelman “duct-taped” a lineup together, forcing 6’9″ Zeke Nnaji to play center against the reigning MVP Embiid. The result? Nnaji delivered 21 points and 8 rebounds. Jalen Pickett, a player most casual fans couldn’t pick out of a lineup, exploded for 29 points and 7 threes, drilling a step-back triple over Embiid that became the defining image of the night.
The Nuggets didn’t just hang around; they won 125-124 in overtime, capped by a Bruce Brown game-winner. On the sidelines, an injured Jokic was seen screaming defensive instructions, disbelief written on his face—not at the struggle, but at the sheer audacity of his teammates.
Breaking the Celtics
If the Philadelphia win was a fluke, the Boston game was the confirmation. Two days later, Denver walked into TD Garden to face a Celtics team that had won eight of its last nine. There was no element of surprise this time; Boston knew Denver was dangerous.
It didn’t matter. In a grueling contest featuring 26 lead changes and 9 ties, Denver refused to break. Down three points in the fourth quarter, they launched a 14-0 run that sucked the life out of the building.
The catalyst? Peyton Watson. The 23-year-old wing, often viewed as a “project,” erupted for 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting. He hit daggers from deep, defended Jayson Brown, and looked every bit the star the Nuggets hoped he would become.
“This wasn’t reckless scoring,” analysts noted. “This was controlled, confident, purposeful.”
Jamal Murray’s Evolution
While the role players shined, the engine of this run has been Jamal Murray. Without his MVP running mate, Murray hasn’t just scored; he has evolved into a pure point god.
Against Boston, Murray dished out a career-high 17 assists—more than the entire Celtics team combined (16). He followed up a 16-assist performance against Brooklyn with absolute mastery, manipulating defenses and finding shooters before they even realized they were open.
“He’s not just scoring; he’s running a full NBA offense and elevating everyone around him,” the report highlights. “Murray is proving he belongs in the All-Star conversation.”
The “Nightmare” Scenario
This stretch has answered the biggest question plaguing Denver since their championship run: Depth.
Last season, the Nuggets were bounced in the second round because they ran out of trusted bodies. The front office spent the offseason retooling, trading Michael Porter Jr. for depth pieces like Cam Johnson and bringing back Bruce Brown. Critics wondered if it was enough.
Now, we know. By being thrown into the fire, Denver’s bench hasn’t just survived; they’ve thrived. Watson has emerged as a legitimate third option. Nnaji and Pickett have proven they can contribute in high-pressure minutes.
This creates a terrifying reality for the rest of the NBA. When Nikola Jokic returns—likely around the All-Star break—he isn’t coming back to a desperate team clinging to a playoff spot. He is returning to a squad that has discovered a new identity.
“He’s walking back into a completely different situation,” the analysis warns. “Add this version of Murray. Add a confident Watson. Add a battle-tested bench… That’s not just dangerous; that’s a nightmare waiting to happen.”
The league made a mistake by relaxing when the Joker went down. They assumed the Nuggets were a one-man show. They forgot that champions, even wounded ones, have a habit of fighting back. And now, Denver knows exactly who they are—with or without their MVP.
