If the Nuggets want a backup plan to win important games without Jamal Murray, they already have it.
Just score every single 3-pointer, whether it's an easy shot or a difficult one.
On Sunday, Denver made 21 out of 33 3-point shots, which is the best this season, in their 130-101 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Nuggets, Timberwolves, and Thunder are all very close in the race for the top seed in the Western Conference with seven games left in the regular season.
Nikola Jokic had a great game against the tough Cleveland team, scoring 26 points, grabbing 18 rebounds, and making 16 assists. He also achieved his 128th career triple-double by the end of the third quarter, bringing him within 10 of Magic Johnson for the third most triple-doubles in NBA history.
To break a two-game losing streak without Murray, the Nuggets needed their supporting players to take advantage of Jokic's assists after struggling with 3-point shots in the previous game against Minnesota. Cleveland also has strong big players and defense, but this time, the difference was the Nuggets' outside shooting.
Reggie Jackson scored 19 points by making all 5 of his attempts, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 22 points by making 6 of 9 attempts, and Michael Porter Jr. made 3 of 5 shots from beyond the arc for 19 points. He is usually the second main scorer for Denver when Murray is absent.
The Nuggets, who usually have a 40-14 record when Murray plays, have managed to win 12 out of 21 games without him.
There were concerns about whether Jokic would play due to a wrist issue, but he did play and helped his team win against Minnesota even though his wrist was hurt. He didn't have a bandage on his wrist when he played on Easter.
Coach Malone mentioned the need to protect players from themselves, referring to Jokic's strong will and reluctance to take breaks due to injuries. Despite his toughness, Jokic has actually missed fewer games than other top players, which shows his impressive availability.
The only problematic time for the Nuggets was when Jokic took a rest for six minutes at the start of the second quarter. Cleveland scored 19 points while Denver only scored 11 during this period. However, when Jokic came back, the team without a point guard turned the game around and finished the first half with a 65-56 lead. They continued their success into the third quarter.
Evan Mobley scored 23 efficient points for the Cavs, but the Nuggets had a better defensive performance compared to their previous game, except for the slow start that led to a timeout by Malone. The Cleveland guards, Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, only scored a combined 18 points on 5 for 20 shooting.
