The Denver Nuggets captured their eighth victory of the young season on Wednesday night, as they outlasted the Golden State Warriors, 108-105. Wednesay’s win marked their second-consecutive game without star guard Jamal Murray, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
In Murray’s absence, veteran guard Reggie Jackson stepped up in a big way against Golden State. After the game, he gave a shoutout to star center Nikola Jokic, who is known for making things easier on his teammates.
“He’s so damn good,” Jackson told reporters (h/t Harrison Wind) “He’s making me look like I know what I’m doing out there.”
Reggie Jackson on Nikola Jokic: "He's so damn good. He's making me look like I know what I'm doing out there."
— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 9, 2023
Jackson finished the night with 20 points and 6 assists against the Warriors. He logged 32 minutes in the start and shot the ball efficiently, knocking down 8-of-17 attempts from the field.
The former Boston College standout has started in each of the last two games in which Murray has missed with his ailment. It looks as if he’ll be a solid fill-in while the Canadian star recovers.
Nikola Jokic continues to look dominant for the Denver Nuggets
Teams around the association just don’t have an answer for Jokic. Through nine games, he’s led the Nuggets to eight wins, and has looked like he’s ready to capture a third MVP award.
The star center has averaged 29.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game, while shooting 62.2% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
In the win over Golden State, he was once again superb. The Joker poured in a game-high 35 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out five assists.
Jokic’s unselfish playstyle has continued to allow the Nuggets to thrive, even in Murray’s absence. Players like Jackson, Michael Porter Jr., and even rookie forward Julian Strawther have been able to see their games benefit from Jokic’s vision and gravity.