Most of the attention is going to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray after the Nuggets’ alarming Game 3 no-show loss to the Timberwolves, 113-96, on Thursday night, and rightfully so. They were both well below their standard, especially Joker, who is shockingly having one of the worst playoff stretches of his career.
The superstars simply have to be a lot better for the Nuggets to have a chance, even more so if Aaron Gordon misses any more time, or is compromised, health-wise (which, sadly, seems quite likely).
But when you get past the duds by Jokic and Murray, it’s fair to point out that the team is now spending big money on Christian Braun and Cam Johnson, who were complete luggage in Game 3. Braun played 23 minutes and recorded 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 0 assists, going 0-4 from the field.
Johnson was hardly much better, lighting it up with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist on 2-6 shooting. The two combined to go 0-4 from the three-point line, and it’s not like either guy was doing anything to deter the T-Wolves from scoring on the other end.
Braun and Johnson’s no-shows concerning for Nuggets
Knowing that AG was going to be out with his calf injury and that they're still missing Peyton Watson, the Nuggets desperately needed one of their other starters to step up, and instead, they both shrank from the moment. Johnson was okay in the first two games, scoring 12 and 13 points, but he’s now 3-16 from deep in the series. CB was also much better in the two home games, but was nowhere to be found on Thursday.
In a dogfight with a great defensive team like the Wolves, Denver needs its role players more than ever. Rudy Gobert is doing an incredible job on Jokic, and likewise for Jaden McDaniels on Jamal Murray. AG was doing his best to make an impact in the first two games, but clearly wasn’t right by the end of Game 2.
MPJ and P-Wat looking more valuable by the day
Guys like Braun and Cam are needed more than ever, and when it was their time to shine, they disappeared. They are needed for their energy, effort, intensity, pace, and floor spacing. But they were lethargic and brought none of the necessary intangibles to a game like that.
It’s hard to stomach when the Nuggets brought in Johnson to replace Michael Porter Jr., plus chose to give Braun a big extension instead of Watson. CB is on the hook for $21.6 million next season, with Johnson being owed $23.1 million. Meanwhile, P-Wat will be a restricted free agent, and MPJ is in Brooklyn.
There’s still time to turn this around, and hopefully, this was just one bad game for the whole team. But the role players need to bring a lot more effort, energy, and shot-making on Saturday night, or this growing concern is going to blow up into a full-scale problem that could become outright disastrous in the offseason.
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