Nuggets stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray looked relatively mortal in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday, combining for a series-low 38 points on 13-of-36 (36.1%) shooting as they faced increased attention from Heat defenders.
However, Denver still pulled out a victory thanks in large part to contributions from complementary players like Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown. Gordon scored a game-high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting while also dishing six assists. Brown was 8-of-11 from the floor for 21 points. As Ramona Shelburne of ESPN details, Gordon has exceeded the expectations the Nuggets had when they acquired him from Orlando at the 2021 trade deadline.
“We didn’t realize how talented he was,” Nuggets GM Calvin Booth told Shelburne after Game 4. “We didn’t realize what a consummate teammate he was and how willing he was to sacrifice.”
As for Brown, he became the latest reserve guard to play a starring role for the Nuggets on the road in this series after Christian Braun had an outsized impact in Game 3, writes Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. As with Gordon, the Nuggets knew they were getting a good player when they signed Brown in free agency last summer, but he has been even better than they hoped.
“Can I say that I envisioned him scoring 11 points (in the fourth quarter) on the road in Game 4 of the Finals?” head coach Michael Malone said on Friday. “I can’t say that. But I did envision him being a ball-handler, a play-maker.”
Here’s more on the Nuggets:
- A floor burn suffered in the Nuggets’ Game 3 win didn’t have a major impact on Murray, whose increase in production from the regular season to the playoffs puts him in rare company, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. As Hollinger details, no player in NBA history has a bigger gap than Murray between his career regular PER (16.4) and his mark in the postseason (22.3).
- Nick Kosmider of The Athletic explores why Braun is such an ideal fit in the backcourt next to Murray. The rookie is poised to take on a larger role in the Nuggets’ rotation next season and beyond, especially if the team is unable to re-sign Brown.
- Having agreed to acquire a 2024 first-round pick from the Thunder, the Nuggets may use that selection – or their own 2024 first-rounder – in an effort to move up in this year’s draft, a source tells Mike Singer of The Denver Post. The Nuggets own the No. 40 pick in 2023 and are also acquiring No. 37 in the deal with Oklahoma City, so they should have more than enough ammo to move into the first round if they’re willing to move a 2024 first-round pick.
- French big man Ismael Kamagate, the 46th overall pick in the 2022 draft, will likely remain in Europe for at least one more year, sources tell Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports (Twitter link). Kamagate was drafted by the Nuggets last June but remained with Paris Basketball for the 2022/23 season. Denver “really likes” the 22-year-old, according to Wind, but wants to be patient with his development.
Jimmy better guarantee a win before it’s too late.
Old Jimmy just ain’t enough…
Why the Nets let Bruce Brown walk? I have no idea.
He was redundant in Brooklyn, they traded a 1st for Royce O’Neale
BKN and Brown negotiated an extension, but it would have taken much more ($$ and years) than the 1+1-p/o Txp-MLE he got from DEN. BKN had EBRs and the negotiations were along those lines. As @Tacocat stated, BKN made the O’Neal trade and at that point interest on both sides waned.
Brown believed a deal was in the works and nixed by nefarious forces. Perhaps, but it starts with a dispute on $$/years, as it always does.
Gordon had a great game, just a great game. Man, when Jokic went down. And there was this sense “we could be without our leader”. Gordon just took over. He calmed the Nuggets down. And sent a message to the Heat. Yeah OK “but now you deal with me”. He even took on Bam on defense. Just and incredible way to step up for your team.
Brown, Porter also stepped up.
Nuggets are all about team ball. They are playing. It’s so great to watch.
This kid Braun is fearless. What a great pick for them. He’s big and just plays to the teams offense. The 21st pick in the 2022 draft.
Talent>culture
Everyone quick to jump on the train of now giving Jimmy hate. This Miami team shouldn’t have made it nearly this far. They lost in the first play in game to the hawks. They made it all the way to the NBA finals and won a game because Jimmy put this team on his back like a prime LeBron James and carried them here. Yes Caleb Martin has had some big games and Bam has been a good second fiddle but this team is made up of undrafted role players, Bam and Jimmy.
The fact they made it this far has been amazing. Jokic is showing that he’s the best player in the world, Murray has always been a playoffs performer, MPJ and Gordon these two are solid 3rd and 4th options. KCP was brought it to provide 3 and D for a title run, Bruce Brown was brought it for impact off the bench. This team has been building for a while and I’m glad they will do it but don’t take anything away from Miami and Jimmy.
Just goes to show the importance of culture. It’s not about super teams and having 3 superstars. That’s why Phoenix, Brooklyn, and unfortunately Philadelphia won’t win.