DENVER — Despite a rousing 8-1 start to the 2023-24 NBA season, the league-leading Denver Nuggets’ title defense hit an early bump in the road when All-Star point guard Jamal Murray strained his right hamstring in the November 5 games against the Chicago Bulls.
The prognosis was dire. Murray could be out for up to four weeks as coach Michael Malone described the injury as something “that sticks around.”
Losing a point guard, the gatekeeper of the offense is a tough blow to any team. The Nuggets are no exception, and that is why the team is counting on an old hand to help navigate what is expected to be some rough patches ahead.
That responsibility falls on the shoulders of Reggie Jackson, a 33-year-old veteran with 12 years of experience that includes stops in Oklahoma, Detroit and the Clippers in Los Angeles where he played a combined 780 regular season games.
In his first start since Murray was sidelined, the 6-foot-2, 208-pound playmaker came through with 20 points and 6 assists against the visiting Golden State Warriors, who went down, 108-105 in front of a full-capacity crowd of 19, 737 fans at the Ball Arena.
This is the template the Nuggets hope to establish. Jackson, who logged 32 minutes against Steph Curry and company, doesn’t have to be a spectacular scorer like Murray. He just needs to be efficient. Scoring 20 with six assists while coughing up zero turnovers will do the trick.
That, and the need for the other Nuggets to contribute, which was mirrored by the combined 31 points and 19 rebounds from Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr., plus 13 points from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
“We feel like it’s a good group of guys and we are playing the right way,” Nikola Jokic told reporters after the Nuggets shot 44.6 percent from the field (41-of-92) and 31 percent from long distance (11-of-35.)
Jokic himself turned in a monster effort with 35 points and 13 boards.
As long as Jokic is playing, the Nuggets will be tough to supplant as reigning champs. But without, Murray. Jackson and the rest of the crew are required to do their part.
So far, so good
