Nuggets Youngsters Step Up in Wins Over Raptors and Thunder

I’ve been closely following the team’s recent games, where several of their young first-round draft picks have stepped up in a big way to help secure some crucial wins. Injury-plagued starting guards Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon have forced head coach Michael Malone to rely on his team’s depth. And 2022 first-rounders Peyton Watson and Christian Braun, as well as 2023 first-rounder Julian Strawther, have more than answered the call.

“I’m saying to myself, ‘Holy s-t…. I never envisioned this lineup being out there to close the game,'” After Monday’s narrow victory over the Toronto Raptors, Malone expressed his thoughts. That same group, which also includes Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr., played a crucial role in securing another two-point win against the previously undefeated Oklahoma City Thunder just two days later.

“Talk about the epitome of ‘Project Dynasty,'” Watson said after the Raptors game, referring to the young core the Nuggets are building. “Obviously, me and CB came in together, and that’s my road dog, but also adding Julian to our young core meant a lot to us. That was just kind of a little preview of what’s to come for us.”

Murray, the Nuggets’ star point guard, is expected to make his return on Friday against the Miami Heat after missing the last three games while in the NBA’s concussion protocol. Malone told reporters he expects Murray to play as long as he has no setbacks during his pregame routine.

Meanwhile, Jokic continues to cement his status as one of the league’s elite players. The two-time reigning MVP is leading the NBA in assists (11.0) and rebounds (13.5) per game while also posting a career-best 28.8 points per night. His three-point percentage (51.4%) and three-point attempts per game (4.4) are both career highs as well, showcasing his ever-expanding skillset.

“It seems like he gets better every year,” Braun said of his superstar teammate. “I don’t know—he definitely improved, but he can do whatever you need,” Braun said. This year, he recognizes the need to make more three-pointers. Seems like he’s taking more threes.”

Only five players in NBA history—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and LeBron James—have won at least four MVP awards. Could Jokic join that exclusive club this season? It’s certainly a possibility, according to several of his Nuggets teammates.

“The best player on the planet,” Russell Westbrook referred to Jokic, while DeAndre Jordan noted that the big man’s triple-doubles have become commonplace.

In the Thunder game, Watson demonstrated his defensive prowess by recording three blocks, four steals, and limiting rookie sensation Chet Holmgren to just 15 points on 14 shots. Braun, meanwhile, scored a team high 24 points, and Strawther provided valuable spacing and playmaking off the bench.

“Adjustments won the Nuggets the game against the Thunder,” as my colleague Bennett Durando of The Denver Post eloquently put it. “Denver completed its comeback, inching out a two-point victory” after being down 10 points in the third quarter.

Malone’s trust in his young talent has been crucial, and it’s paying dividends as the Nuggets navigate the early part of the season without two of their key starters. With Jokic leading the way and this emerging young core contributing in meaningful ways, the Nuggets are proving they have the depth and resilience to compete with the league’s best teams. It’s still early, but the future is bright in Denver, and the city’s passionate fans have plenty to be excited about as this “Project Dynasty” continues to take shape.

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