The great Denver Nuggets team that is perhaps the biggest surprise in the NBA has an excellent opportunity tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder to put distance between themselves and the teams that currently sit behind them in the Western Conference. They currently hold a 3.5 game lead over division foe and three seed OKC. A win tonight would be paramount as 4.5 games puts the pressure on while 2.5 suggests they’re nipping at the Nuggets heals.
Luckily for Denver the stars are aligning as Paul Millsap has looked like an all star again averaging 21 pts and 14 rebounds in his last three games. That paired with Nikola Jokic doing Joker things (averaging 21.8 PPG and 12.8 RPG in February) has provided a dynamic duo that makes Denver a tough out for anyone. Mason Plumlee supplies them with tough defender and terrific effort every night that would earn him a starting role on several NBA teams. He is part of a supporting cast whom have found a way to overcome injuries and rotation changes are regaining some health and now look to find chemistry down the stretch.
The team also welcomed back to Isaiah Thomas to what’s become one of the deepest and talented backcourts in the NBA. This makes the Nuggets at least 10 deep if they need to be and that should create problems for opponents with lesser supporting casts in this superstar era. So if the Nuggets can stay healthy and win some important games they should remain at or near the top of the West. That starts with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Where does it ends if the Nuggets can keep it up? Who knows, but even the mighty Golden State Warriors are probably hoping they don’t have to face a full strength Denver Nuggets squad in a 7 game series. The sky is the limit.