Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are one of the best teams in the NBA this 2023-24 season, and it’s more than because of their consistency and talent. They are so good in the clutch that it’s really hard to beat them.
A recent analysis took a closer look at how good Jokic and Co. are when it comes to close situations, further highlighting why they are the reigning and defending NBA champions.
Nikola Jokic at the Heart of Denver Nuggets’ Clutch Performance
In the latest power rankings released by The Athletic, the Nuggets were labeled as Tier 1 contenders, and for good reason. They are tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for the best record in the Western Conference, and they are in the Top 10 in the league in both offensive and defensive ratings.
What stands out the best from the Nuggets, however, is their performance in the clutch. Jokic leads the way for Denver with 107 points in clutch situations–defined in the NBA as the final five minutes of a game (in both the fourth quarter and overtime) when the scores are within five points.
Jokic is also shooting 35-of-63 in crunch time, good for a 55.6 percent field goal rate. While Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been the Nuggets’ weakest link in the clutch, they more than compensate for it with the presence of Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Here’s what The Athletic wrote on the Nuggets’ clutch ability:
“Obviously, Jokić is the most unstoppable force in the league, and that gets emphasized even more in clutch moments. There’s nothing you can do if he decides to post you up. You just have to hope he swings the ball to KCP, who has struggled a lot in a small sample of opportunities. Everybody else on the floor is great in the clutch. Michael Porter Jr, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are all at 55 percent or better from the field in such situations. Good luck, everybody!”
It will definitely be interesting to see if the Nuggets can maintain that high level of play in the clutch, but considering how battle-tested they are, there’s really no reason to doubt them.
Denver Nuggets Show Clutch Ability vs. Toronto Raptors
To see how clutch the Denver Nuggets have been, NBA fans don’t need to look further than their most recent game against the Toronto Raptors.
After trailing by as much as 22 points in the contest, they ended up winning 125-119. Denver used a massive 42-30 third quarter to get within five points heading to the final frame. It was a neck-and-neck battle from there on, but as the aforementioned analysis cited, the Nuggets are just too good in the clutch.
While the Raptors were able to slow down Nikola Jokic for a bit, it only opened up more opportunities for his teammates. Jamal Murray scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, four of which were in the clutch. Michael Porter Jr. also scored four in crunch time as Toronto just didn’t know who to stop.
If the Nuggets can maintain the momentum they have, it’s really easy to see them contending for the title once again.
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