The Denver Nuggets are 9-2, second-best in the West behind the Thunder, after their 130-116 win over the Clippers on Wednesday behind Nikola Jokić's 55 points. Aaron Gordon contributed 18 points, and Murray had 15. Denver's two other starters, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun, combined for only eight points, and neither played after halftime due to injuries.
Johnson hurt his arm in the first quarter while going up for a rebound against Ivica Zubac, which the Nuggets referred to as a right arm sprain. He exited the game with two points and three rebounds in eight minutes.
Injury aside (the severity is still unknown), Johnson hasn't shot the ball nearly as well as fans thought he would. He's averaging 7.2 points per game on 37.2% shooting from the field and 21.1% from three through the team's first 11 games. You can't spin those numbers as a positive thing, but there is a silver lining: the Nuggets are still playing well despite Johnson's struggles.
Imagine what it will be like when (not if) his shots start falling.
Nuggets are rolling despite Cam Johnson's early-season struggles
Johnson is coming off his best statistical season as a pro, averaging a career-high 18.8 points per game on 47.5% shooting from the field and 39% from deep on an average of 7.2 threes per game. His situation in Brooklyn was completely different than the one he is in now. He averaged 13.1 shots with the Nets last season, and so far this season, he's averaging 7.1.
That's what happens when you go from a bottom-dweller to a contender with established stars like Jokić and Murray.
Denver traded for Johnson not just because of the value he brings to the team, but also to finally part ways with Michael Porter Jr.'s contract. Doing so helped the Nuggets sign Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. The added financial flexibility has already paid off.
All that Denver needs is for Johnson to find his shot. That's not too much of an ask, right? In all seriousness, it's not as if Cam is cookied, and the Nuggets shouldn't have made the trade. That's not it at all. Johnson is a career 38.8% shooter from three. He'll figure it out, but hopefully, he'll do so sooner rather than later. When he does, the Nuggets will become that much scarier.
Currently, the main hope is that the injury he is dealing with isn't serious and that if he does miss time, it will be only a couple of weeks. The same goes for Braun. At least Denver has the depth to mitigate the impact of injuries.