Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant was the team’s x-factor in their Game 3 win.
Jerami Grant had a playoff career-high of 26 points in Game 3 and the Denver Nuggets needed every bit of his effort.
Grant’s 26 points — the second-highest total on the team in Game 3 — came in unfamiliar fashion as the 26-year-old was unusually aggressive offensively. Usually seen spotting up behind the line, waiting for a pass from Jamal Murray or Nikola Jokic, Grant attacked the rim ferociously in Game 3 and it paid dividends for the Nuggets.
With 10 points in the paint (second only to Jokic) and 6 fastbreak points (a team-high), Grant shooting 2-5 from 3-point range was just icing on the cake.
He was able to get six fouls called, where he would capitalize by going 10-12 at the line (his 12 free-throw attempts were a game-high). In addition, the Nuggets were able to outscore the Los Angeles Lakers by nine points at the free-throw line, in large part because of Grant.
The Lakers seemed less tempted to defend him or others aggressively for fear of giving them easy points while they were in the bonus, which Grant’s aggression helped them get to while also made the Lakers’ players wary of picking up extra fouls.
Already tasked with guarding two All-NBA players in LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Nuggets’ forward — whom the team traded for last July for a top-10 protected 2020 draft pick — Grant has his work cut out for him on the defensive end. As with any player of LeBron and AD’s caliber, nobody is expecting a player to single-handedly lock them down defensively, particularly in an era of basketball where the rules favor the offensive player.
However, Grant as defended both reasonably well given their talent, making it more difficult for them to convert a shot if they do. His athletic ability does him well in this aspect, as does his length (he has a 7’3″ wingspan).
Game 3 was Grant’s best playoff performance and it didn’t come a moment too soon. The Nuggets can’t expect him to score 26 points in every game but playing with the aggression that he had in Denver’s win is something he can do without question.
He’s going to be a free agent this offseason but the way he’s played, the Nuggets will surely try to bring him back.