Denver Nuggets: Good on Michael Malone for finding IT minutes

Isaiah Thomas has recently found himself out of the Denver Nuggets rotation. But it was nice to see Michael Malone get IT some minutes when they went to Boston.

He didn’t burn TD Garden down. He didn’t even find the bottom of the net. But Boston fans sure were glad to see Denver Nuggets guard Isaiah Thomas take the floor.

Not long after an emotional tribute video, Thomas — wearing bright green shoes that matched the sideline — checked in for the first time since a loss to Golden State March 8.

Thomas played just seven minutes — going 0 for 2 and dishing out two assists — but those minutes were well deserved.

Maybe he didn’t earn them with how he’s played this season. But he’s earned them in everything he’s done recovering from a hip injury. And he definitely earned them in Boston hurting that hip in the first.

So, it was nice to see. Isaiah Thomas deserves his moment in the sun. And it always helps when he can have that moment in a win.

Good for Michael Malone making a point to get IT some minutes when it mattered.

So does it mean anything moving forward?

Honestly, probably not. This seems like a one-game move — and it would have took a Herculean effort for Thomas to cut himself out a spot in the rotation.

Most likely come Thursday, Thomas will find himself back on the bench. And his main contributions will again come as a veteran prescence in the locker room and a hype guy off the bench.

And there’s value in that. He’s been a steady voice behind the scenes for a very young Nuggets team.

It’s likely Isaiah Thomas won’t make much of an impact in a Nuggets uniform. He’s on just one-year deal and it’s unlikely the Nuggets will look to extend his contract.

Surely another team will be willing to take a risk on the two-time All-Star. It would be surprising if there wasn’t still a home in the NBA for the former MVP candidate.