Game Results
Denver Nuggets 103, Utah Jazz 93
Denver Nuggets 127, Phoenix Suns 120
Denver Nuggets 123, Phoenix Suns 112
Power Rankings
ESPN (Marc Stein)
Current: 14
Last week: 16
Why did we dare suggest last week that the All-Star Game in New Orleans might be the last one for a while that doesn't feature the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic? Check this out: Our man Micah Adams points out that Jokic is averaging better than 23 PPG, 10 RPG and 5 APG since Christmas while shooter above 60 percent from the field in that span, As a result, Jokic leads the league with a Player Efficiency Rating of 33.3 since Christmas, ahead of Kawhi Leonard (31.7), Isaiah Thomas (30.0), James Harden (29.7), Kevin Durant (29.2) and Russell Westbrook (28.2). No wonder the Nuggets — at least until Jokic's hip tweak late last week — suddenly look as credible as anyone in the "race" for the No. 8 spot in the West featuring a slew of sub-.500 teams.
NBA (John Schuhmann)
Current: 14
Last week: 18
The Nuggets were able to hold onto eighth place and win for the seventh time in nine games despite Nikola Jokic's absence in Phoenix on Saturday. The difference between the Nuggets' offense that ranked 18th through Dec. 14 and the one that has led the league since Dec. 15 (when Jokic was moved back into the starting lineup) has been better shooting from every area on the floor, but also an ability to cut down on turnovers while increasing their assist rate. That No. 1 offense of the last 6 1/2 weeks will face a couple of top five defenses – Memphis and San Antonio – this week.
Sport’s Illustrated (Jeremy Woo)
Current: 14
Last week: 17
Winners of seven in nine games, the Nuggets are achieving their destiny of stumbling upward into the No. 8 seed and giving us a weirdly entertaining but one-sided playoff series with the Warriors.
CBS Sports (Matt Moore)
Current: 13
Last week: 24
Nikola Jokic may be the best passing big man in the NBA. I've been using the weak "one of" qualifier for him, but really, he makes passes no other big even thinks to make, including some that his teammates aren't even expecting. They are one trade of a veteran for multiple defenders away from reaching .500 and securing the 8th seed, but their schedule gets vicious the next two weeks.
Podcasts
Locked on Nuggets: A tale of two point guards, Nelson and Murray
Locked on Nuggets: Jameer Nelson wants an apology
Locked on Nuggets: Inside the locker room after Jokic’s injury and X-ray
Locked on Nuggets: No Joker, no problem
Colorado Sports Guys: Nuggets GM Tim Connelly
Articles
Nikola Jokic: the NBA’s hidden gem
A look into the Joker’s unique skillset
Nikola Jokic will impact the Nuggets like Carmelo Anthony did
Let the Jokic era begin
Already an elite player, Nikola Jokic is the key to Mudiay’s future
Unique and incredibly smooth, Jokic is already an elite offensive player
The 2017 All-Star case for Nikola Jokic
If you look at the numbers, Jokic makes a pretty compelling case
The NBA’s young superstar immigrants
Embiid, Porzingis, Giannis, Jokic and the NBA’s ecstasy of immigrant influence
The rise of Nikola Jokic
Since stepping onto NBA floors, Jokic has shown that the Nuggets may well have found themselves a diamond in the rough
Anatomy of a rising star: Unique skill set of Nikola Jokic turning heads
Jokic averages 43.3 passes per game
Denver Nuggets trade rumors
The Nuggets loom as a team that is poised to strike a deal that could fast track their rebuild
2016-17 NBA under-15 power rankings
These stars will soon be ready to take over and keep the league on the up-and-up
Jameer Nelson coming to through in the clutch when the Nuggets need him most
In an average of 25.6 minutes, his 9.0 points is his highest average since 2012-13
Crunching numbers with NBA Math, Episode 1
How high is Nikola Jokic’s ceiling?
From Cheltenham to the NBA, Clibanoff scouts the hoop stars
The director of scouting for the Denver Nuggets actually lives near Philadelphia
