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3 big things from Denver Nuggets games post All-Star Break

By Trevor Sherman

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 24: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against the LA Clippers on February 24, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 24: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots the ball against the LA Clippers on February 24, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets went 2-0 in their first week back from the All-Star game. And though it was just two games, the Nuggets showed promise. Here are 3 takeaways.

The Denver Nuggets closed out their first week back from the All-Star break well, winning both their games.

Players like Isaiah Thomas and Jamal Murray are getting healthy at the right time and the Nuggets are making a push for home court advantage for the playoffs in a top-heavy Western Conference.

Here are 3 big takeaways…

Isaiah Thomas’s expanding role

Coming into the season, one question for the Nuggets was the health of former Celtics hero Isaiah Thomas and his role within the team, and for the most part it seems like his role in the team has been figured out.

Thomas has been coming off the bench and fitting into the second unit with players like Mason Plumlee, Monte Morris and Garry Harris to surround Thomas with defensive effort, and play making to let IT get open shots at the 3-point line or looks at the rim where he can finish.

In limited but growing minutes, IT is shooting 39 percent from the field, and 35 percent from the 3-point line and scoring 11 points per game.

The Nuggets defensive intensity is back

The Nuggets defense before the All-Star break was one of their biggest liabilities going forward into the season. But since the break, the Nuggets have been looking better on the defensive side of the ball.

Good offensive teams and players are still putting up good scoring numbers against the Nuggets, but they are taking a lot of shots to get there. The Kings young upstart guard Buddy Hield had 25 points in their last game against the Nuggets, but Hield had to take a lot of shots to get those 25 points — shooting just 9 of 23 from the field.

The Nuggets were able to hold opponents to under 100 points in two of their last four games, as well as holding a Luka-less Mavericks team to under 100 points until the final minute of the 4th quarter until Will Barton fouled Courtney Lee on a 3-point attempt that missed but sent Lee to the line.

Nikola Jokic stuffing the stat sheet

Nikola Jokic had a very quiet All-Star break participating in the skills challenge and getting only 13 minutes in the All-Star game, but now that Big Honey is back in Denver, he is looking more like the player we have become so accustomed to seeing.

Since returning from the All-Star break, Jokic has been averaging 20.5 points per game and 14.5 rebounds per game while also averaging 5.5 assists.

The Nuggets will need Jokic to keep putting up good numbers as they enter a tough stretch next week with a 3-game home stand against the Thunder, Jazz and Pelicans with the Western Conference playoff race looking as tight as ever.

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