The Denver Nuggets saw a major step-up play from one of their bench leaders.
Still enduring the absence of Nikola Jokic as the contending MVP candidate missed his fourth straight game because of a nagging ankle injury, the Denver Nuggets heavily on DeAndre Jordan to guide them to a win.
Jordan, the Nuggets’ established leader and locker room voice, saw himself being inserted to the starting unit of the team’s March 23 showdown against the Houston Rockets.
After not playing for the past 10 games, Jordan embraced the call as the Nuggets needed him most to anchor their interior, ultimately emerging as the X-factor of their 116-111 huge victory.
Photo by Tyler McFarland/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images
In just his third start of the season, Jordan turned back the hands of time as he dominated for the Nuggets.
With Jokic out and no other legit big man around him, Jordan saw a maximized minutes as the team’s starting center. Across 38 minutes of play, he produced with 11 points, 15 boards, four assists and a steal to help Denver bounce back from their previous horrible defeat against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Jordan showed that Michael Malone didn’t make a mistake for trusting him to be the anchor of the Nuggets against the promising Rockets. Post-game, the Denver coach praised the 36-year-old.
“DJ is one of the best defensive rebounders. He’s one of our best rim protectors and if we’re getting our butts kicked on the glass, let me put out one of our biggest, strongest guys that has a very impressive 17-year resume,” Malone said.
“Special day for Deandre because this is where he’s from, playing in front of a lot of family and friends. 15 rebounds, 12 defensive, four assists, a steal — did a lot of really good things for us.
“I’m happy for DJ. I’m proud of him.”
Entering the weekend duel against the Rockets, Jordan was averaging 3.3 points and 4.3 boards in 11.5 minutes this season. After being one of the premiere rebounders and shot-blockers in the league mainly during his tenure in the Los Angeles Clippers, the former star center has now fully embraced being a beloved veteran presence in the Mile High City.
It was Jamal Murray who served as the main catalyst of the Nuggets’ victory upon exploding with a 39-point outing, but the star guard himself fully acknowledges Jordan’s impact in beating the Rockets.
In the intense duel under the glass, Jordan outworked Houston franchise star Alperen Sengun, holding down the Turkish big to 6-of-15 shooting while taking the rebounding battle (15-14).
“I’m telling you, that’s really professional, bro,” Murray said about Jordan. “Just coming here and like that kind of impact, 15 boards, catching lobs, just super vocal, setting screens, rebound, just super super active, super involved in the game.
“Everyone talked about me in this game, but I don’t think we win that game without his presence in the paint, either.”
Thanks to Jordan, the Nuggets improved to 2-2 without Jokic out of the past four games.
After a tiring four-game stretch on the road, they will finally head back home in which the Chicago Bulls await for their March 24 matchup.
DeAndre JordanDenver NuggetsHouston RocketsJamal MurrayMichael Malone
