Michael Malone, as he often does, caught the feelings of the whole Nuggets fan base.
“I’m kind of all over the place right now,” he stated at 12:00 MT, while countless fans were undoubtedly going over all of the NBA playoff scenarios one final time before Game 82.
Malone was well aware of the most likely outcome: his club would finish as the third seed in the Western Conference, win or lose. But he was determined to play his starters nevertheless, in the hopes that Denver could at least move up one position.
“We’re trying to win a game,” he explained.
The reigning champs took care of business on their end, defeating the injured Grizzlies 126-111 to round up the 2023-24 regular season Sunday. And, thanks to the Phoenix Suns’ victory over the Timberwolves, Denver (57-25) will enter the playoffs as the Western Conference’s second seed, facing the winner of a play-in game between the Lakers and Pelicans.
With the triumph after a nightmare in San Antonio, the Nuggets tied the franchise single-season victories record, which they had set in 2012-13.
“We wanted to get a win, and we wanted to just be positive, have a positive mindset going into the playoffs,” Nikola Jokic told the media. “I think that’s important.”
“It’s still unfortunate we didn’t break the record,” Malone said in a statement. “We had a chance to.”
Six players had scored in double figures by the end of the third quarter, highlighted by Jamal Murray’s 21-point performance. Murray turned his ankle in the second frame but declined when Malone requested for a substitution. Denver’s complete starting lineup, including Murray, began the second half after seeing the other important scores from the West. The Lakers, Suns, and Thunder all lead by double digits.
“I think our whole staff was looking at their phones, to be honest,” Malone went on to say.
It was a wonderful scenario—as long as the Nuggets didn’t get in their own way, as they did at times during a too-close-for-comfort first half. According to their injury report, the Grizzlies were down a staggering 13 players.
What is Malone’s halftime message to the players? “Phoenix is up fourteen. If you want the two-seed, go get it.”
The third quarter was definitive. Denver built a 26-point lead after leading by single digits until late in the second. Nikola Jokic’s projected MVP season concluded with 15 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Aaron Gordon contributed 15 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one block. Christian Braun finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, and two steals off the bench, carrying his momentum into the playoffs.
Malone was eventually able to control his minutes. Jokic played 30, Gordon played 26, and the rest of the team played less than 25 minutes.
For the second time in his career, Jokic ended the season in the top five in the NBA in terms of total points (fifth), total rebounds (third), and total assists.
Unlike San Antonio, the Nuggets got their careless moments out of the way quickly. At one point during the non-Jokic minutes, Memphis had 11 offensive rebounds to Denver’s 12 defensive boards. Malone called a timeout after the Grizzlies temporarily seized the lead. Braun and Peyton Watson then added seven more points. The Nuggets have never looked back.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) handles the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Memphis, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill).
