Miked Up: Jokic, Beasley lead Nuggets in game of year against #1 Raptors

My heart is racing like I had too many cups of coffee at work after this Denver Nuggets game.

The Denver Nuggets went into Toronto tonight as the #1 seed of the West going against the hosting Toronto Raptor who held the comparable #1 in the East ranking.

Only three teams in the NBA rank both in the top 10 for offensive as well as defensive ranking, Denver and Toronto were two of those teams (Milwaukee the other).

This game as a result, had a playoff feel and the result didn’t disappoint between two of the best in the NBA this season.

Both teams went into this evening on NBA leading win streaks.  Toronto with 8 wins in a row.  5 wins in a row for Denver following losing 6 out of the previous 7 games.

What we saw:

• Obvious big key to tonight’s win was Nikola Jokic‘s second triple double of the season and the impact he had on the game in the final seconds of this buzzer beater. The Joker posted 23 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds on the night.  He even had a double double going into half time, showed himself as an aggressive leader that the team needs him to be tonight.  He still hasn’t honed in on that 3 point shot yet, but his passing was nothing short of breath taking.  Our resident mouth breather is truly transcending the game.
• Canada’s very own, Jamal Murray, posted an equally impressive evening with his own 21 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds tonight in his own backyard north of the wall (Game of Thrones reference).  Though Jamal nearly put up his own triple double, it’s time to discuss Jamal playing point guard.  He just isn’t that good at bringing the ball down the court.  Equally reckless with 7 turnovers throughout the game.  Is it time to start Monte Morris at point guard?  Have Murray come off the bench and figure out what to do with Isaiah Thomas when he gets healthy?  Might be.  Jamal was saved by the win tonight but most of the evening (and past games) has had me yelling through the TV at Jamal.  Kid needs to tighten up.
• Malik Beasley might have slipped into the most electric player coming off the bench on the Nuggets, all respect to 6th man of the year candidate, Mason Plumlee.  Malik hands down is the most violent dunker so far on this team.  So much energy and can tell he really has benefited by the Will Barton injury.  Silver lining of Barton going down the past month or so has been both Malik and Juan Hernagomez earning the respect of their coach, teammates and our esteemed fan base.  The Altitude broadcast crew during the game shared that in warm ups, that the team huddled around Malik and soon returning Isaiah Thomas.  They didn’t saw who won but they did share neither missed from all across the court. Malik surely carried that heat into tonight’s game and is my player of the game.

Not mentioned above but who equally had a highlight game was Altitude’s Chris Marlowe.  Forever the pro typical “dad” with New Balances and “dad” one liners, Marlowe had one for the books tonight.  There were 4-5 times the fiancee and I looked over each other through the broadcast with a “….wait, what did he just say?” before I thought to start writing them down.

“Nearly even Steven here, as my dad might say” “he might get an acting award but not the foul” (as the ball gets stuck in the rim) “andddd we have a wedgie here”

Although the Nuggets went ice cold once the fourth came, knocking their 10 point lead to a tie most of the quarter, the Best In The West came out with the W tonight in Toronto against the Beasts of The East.  (See how I rhymed that? Clever, I know.) 

More from Nugg Love

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• Denver Nuggets NBA Training Camp report, other preseason dates to know

The Nuggets firepower was hot all game but it was their defensive their ultimately saved them tonight in Toronto.  Last three minutes of tied play cemented the fact they are indeed focused on defense this year.

This will go down as the new best game of the year, replacing either the Golden State win or the Boston win.

The second youngest team in the NBA are now 7-4 on the road this season, which used to be a huge weakness for them winning on the road in previous seasons.

The Nuggets currently sit at the top of the West, having best every single team above them on ESPN’s Power Ranking.

No love in fly over cities, no love.

Next stop, Orlando on Wednesday, another early one at 6pm MTN on Altitude.

Love this team.

Twitter: @mwilsonco