The Denver Nuggets continue to fight without Nikola Jokic.
Behind 25 points off the bench from Tim Hardaway Jr. and 23 points from Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets gutted out a 108-104 win over the Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Nuggets are now 4-3 without Jokic.
Here’s what stood out from the game.
Aaron Gordon moves into the starting 5
Jamal Murray missed another game with his ankle injury and illness that’s been sweeping through the team. Christian Braun was also a late scratch due to his ankle injury that he’s coming back from. But Gordon was back in the starting lineup vs. Milwaukee and Denver needed him there against a Giannis-Myles Turner frontcourt.
Gordon was great in the 1st half, tallying a team-high 14 points and hit both of his 3s. He did a little bit of everything across the first two quarters and looks like he’s playing himself back into rhythm more and more. Gordon looked quicker and was playing faster tonight than he had been since his return. It was a great sign to watch him guard Giannis and an athletic Bucks team.
Defense locks down in the 3rd
The Nuggets without Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas have flashed defensively. Denver played strong defensive games vs. both Philly and Boston. The Nuggets held the Bucks to 22 points in the 3rd quarter tonight.
A lineup that included Jalen Pickett-Bruce Brown-Tim Hardaway-Peyton Watson-Zeke Nnaji went on a big run that gave the Nuggets a 9-point lead heading to the 4th. Peyton Watson was especially good in that 3rd. He hit a couple 3-pointers in the quarter and finished with 19 points on 4-6 shooting from distance.
Strong minutes from Zeke
Zeke Nnaji‘s steady play has been one of the storylines that’s emerged from these games without Jokic, and Nnaji was effective again today off the bench. He finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds and was a presence inside on both ends of the floor.
Zeke also registered 2 steals and 2 blocks. Earlier in the season it looked like he was done for here in Denver. But he’s given the Nuggets really strong minutes as of late.