The Denver Nuggets secured another crucial win on Tuesday night, edging out the Brooklyn Nets 144-139 in overtime. After starting their season 0-2 at home, the Nuggets bounced back with consecutive overtime road wins against the Raptors and Nets.
However, even with these wins, it’s clear that not everything is fully on track. Both games were hard-fought against teams that aren’t projected to make the playoffs this year. Wins are valuable, but this approach isn’t sustainable long-term.
Preserving Jokic for the Playoffs
The Nuggets’ starters are shouldering too much of the workload early in the season. Nikola Jokic, in particular, has played over 40 minutes in back-to-back games, and it’s only game four of the season. Last season, the Nuggets’ playoff hopes ended amid fatigue, as the starters’ heavy minutes took a toll. This season, the goal was to use the team’s depth to keep Jokic and other core players rested, but just one week in, that strategy seems abandoned.
The Denver bench has struggled significantly, and the Nuggets have needed maximum minutes from their starters to secure these early wins. Jokic, the league MVP, has borne the biggest load.
Jokic’s Incredible Early-Season Performance
On Monday against Toronto, Jokic scored 40 points for the second game in a row. Then, in Tuesday’s win, he recorded an impressive 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists.
Historically, this stat line is rare, achieved only six times in NBA history by players like Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, and Russell Westbrook. This marks Jokic’s 7th career game with 25+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 15+ assists — more than all other active players combined. Additionally, Jokic is the only player to record a 25/15/15 game, a 40+ point game with 1 or fewer free throws, and a game with 7+ made three-pointers.
What Jokic has accomplished in just three consecutive games this season is astonishing. Each time he seems to hit his ceiling, he finds another level. At this rate, Jokic is on track to win his fourth MVP title.
Managing Jokic’s Minutes for a Title Run
While Jokic’s brilliance is undeniable, this level of play and workload cannot continue if the Nuggets want a serious title run. The team needs to find a way to manage Jokic’s minutes to avoid burnout during the regular season, while still performing well enough to stay competitive by the season’s end. It’s a delicate balance that the Nuggets must address quickly.
