The Nuggets pulled off a thrilling win against the Raptors despite the absence of Nikola Jokic and injuries to other key players.
Forced to compete without the National Basketball Association's leading candidate for Most Valuable Player (MVP), the Nuggets pulled out a 106–103 win over Toronto that called for both a moment to celebrate and a moment to contemplate their uncertain future.
Jokic, the three-time MVP and engine of everything the Nuggets do on the court, will miss action until the end of January at the earliest. He hyperextended his left knee during the Nuggets' loss to the Heat and testing revealed a bone bruise, but no structural damage that required surgery. During the time he's sidelined, the Nuggets will be in talks for at least 16 games, the results of which are sure to reshape the pecking order in the ultra-competitive West.
What makes Jokic's absence troubling goes beyond the box-score talent he provides (nearly historic averages in points, rebounds and assists that make him one of the league leaders on all three fronts), but the gravitas he draws on every possession. Teams without their best player usually fall behind in the standings, and the Nuggets' recent history proves it; They are a pitiful 13 and 23 in the competitions he has missed in the last five seasons.
Thus, the win against the Raptors on the road was as much a statement of resiliency as it was a patch job. Peyton Watson stepped into the spotlight with 24 points, Jamal Murray added 21, and the Nuggets survived a late surge from the hosts that ended with a buzzer-beating trey on review. Yet as they walked out of Scotiabank Arena in triumph, their experience exposed the absence of any margin for error. They were without Jokic and three other starters, and then needed to make free throws late and balance down the stretch to get the win.
To be sure, the Nuggets were already flirting with inconsistency, knocking down four of six before Jokic was cornered and trekked through a long road swing that became a test of depth. Make no mistake: opponents are now sensing blood in the water, aiming to take advantage of events not necessarily to knock them out of the playoff positions, but to further accelerate their climb. Certainly, they will be forced into uncomfortable lineups and mismatches that their fundamentals will be erased by cramming.
Still, the Nuggets' response against the Raptors demonstrated an intangible thing that coaches and contenders talk about this time of year: confidence. This was not an accidental incident. It was a mix of timely effort, talent and cohesion to withstand late pressure. But confidence, like momentum, is fragile, and a month without Jokic will test every ounce of it. It doesn't help that the January schedule will feature tough opponents. Every possession will feel like a referendum on their identity and depth. For now, they hold on to the hope that they can hold the fort until their leader returns in time to anchorital push.
Anthony L. Kuekong has been writing court side since businessworld Introduced a sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resource management, corporate communications and business development.