Nuggets Surge as West Playoff Race Heats Up

The Western Conference playoff picture is ramping up as we approach the All-Star break.

It’s been all Oklahoma City at the top, as they’ve raced to a league-best 43-9 record. We’ve seen a nice bounceback from the Memphis Grizzlies who currently hold the No. 2 seed. The young Houston Rockets have fallen a bit after a quick start, but that’s to be expected from a team that hasn’t made the playoffs together just yet.

The trade deadline saw the Lakers, Mavericks, Spurs, Kings, and Warriors make major changes that they hope carry them into the postseason. And, teams like the Clippers, Timberwolves, and Suns are still lurking in the hunt.

A team that opted for no changes at the deadline was the Denver Nuggets, who happen to be currently riding the longest winning streak in the NBA. The Nuggets capped off its seventh straight victory Monday in a 146-117 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers. Nikola Jokic poured in 40 points while the team shot nearly 66-percent from the field.

After a sluggish 11-10 start to the year, the Nuggets have begun to establish a groove. Jokic’s play has held steady while the supporting cast has gained confidence. Jamal Murray has snapped out of his early season funk. He’s been excellent since Jan. 1 (20.9 PPG, 5.8 APG, 49.7 FG%, 37.5 3PT%).

Perhaps more importantly, the Nuggets are finally starting to get real contributions from some of their young players. Christian Braun (26 points, 8 rebounds, 12-for-14 from the field), Julian Strawther (18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), and Jalen Pickett (14 points, 9 assists) all came to play against Portland. This is what Denver was hoping for when they allowed guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown to walk in free agency.

Jokic-led offenses will always be lethal, but they’ve turned it up a notch this year. The Nuggets are playing faster than ever with their three-time MVP. Denver hasn’t finished higher than 19th in pace since 2019. This year, the Nuggets are fifth in pace. As a result, they rank 5th in PPG, 1st in FG%, and 4th in 3PT%.

Their offense is operating at a high level because their best players are willing to move the ball. They average 31.4 APG as a team, which ranks first in the league and would be tied for first all-time with the 1985 Showtime Lakers. Jokic ranks 2nd in assists (10.4), while Murray and Russell Westbrook are in the top-20. Aaron Gordon has always been a solid passer, and even Michael Porter Jr. is sporting a career-high assist rate this season.

The Nuggets’ familiarity could end up being a boost in the playoffs. Other teams will spend the next several weeks assimilating new pieces to their game plan. Denver has played together, won together, and still boast the No. 1 player in basketball. The Nuggets are shaping up to be a true contender, once again.