The Denver Nuggets recorded a 10-6 record while Nikola Jokic was injured. They are now 3-1 since Aaron Gordon got hurt, following a 122-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Jokic returned strong, scoring 31 points with 8-for-11 shooting in 25 minutes, and added 12 rebounds along with five assists. Although Gordon was out, the bench contributed 46 points in the game.
Injuries led the Nuggets to rely on their reserves
This season, Jokic has missed 17 games, while Gordon has missed 26, Cameron Johnson 21, and Christian Braun 35. With Jamal Murray out for six games, the Nuggets have had their starting lineup unavailable for over 100 games total.
This situation has accelerated the development of their young players. 23-year-old Peyton Watson averaged 22.1 points during Jokic’s absence, hitting half of his three-point attempts. Third-year guard Jalen Pickett shot 42.9 percent from three-point range without Jokic, averaging 4.4 assists. Zeke Nnaji, 25, contributed 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds over 22 minutes per game.
On Friday, Watson scored 21 points, taking a team-high 17 shots. The Nuggets outperformed the Clippers by 22 points while he was on the floor. He showed strong performance during Jokic’s absence and has excelled since his return.