In a spotlight game without their top star, the Denver Nuggets saw a big contribution from Aaron Gordon.
Kickstarting their daunting four-game road trip with a March 17 duel against the Golden State Warriors, the Denver Nuggets faced dilemmas to perform and respond coming off a brutal loss against the Washington Wizards.
Reigning league MVP candidate Nikola Jokic sat due to an elbow and ankle injury, while Jamal Murray (right ankle sprain) and Christian Braun (left foot inflammation) were also listed as inactive.
In the absence of their three starters against one of the hottest team in the NBA right now, it was Aaron Gordon who bravely stepped up and shouldered the responsibility of leading Denver’s 114-105 inspiring win in Golden State.
Gordon, who made his San Francisco homecoming, put on a show in his best performance ever as a Nugget, finishing with a game-high 38 points, six boards, and three assists.
Aaron Gordon takes the charge in leading the Nuggets’ stunning win vs. Warriors
Despite missing the team’s three of the past four games due to a sore calf, Gordon answered the call to lead the Nuggets’ game victory against the Warriors.
Right from the tip, Gordon instantly imposed his aggressiveness and physicality as the Nuggets’ small-ball center. With the ball in his hands, he bullied his way to the rim multiple times and was laser-focused from beyond the arc, connecting four of his six triples.
Gordon’s energy was contagious as the rest of the Nuggets also embraced a next man up mentality.
Michael Porter Jr. dropped a 21-point, 10-board double-double while Russell Westbrook had another triple-double performance with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists to halt the Dubs’ seven-game win skid.
“This is a good one,” Gordon said in postgame. “With Jokic, Murray, Braun, and couple of guys out, it’s nice to come in and steal one.
“It was big. Everybody was falling in line. This is one of those games where if you play with energy, intensity, and ball pressure, it’s going to look good.”
Michael Malone is proud of Aaron Gordon’s impact and resilience for the Nuggets
Michael Malone was thrilled by Gordon’s impact on the team, and knows what he is capable of, with the 29-year-old playing an instrumental role in their 2023 NBA championship win.
This season offers an emotional significance for the veteran forward after he took a jersey number change to honor his beloved late brother Drew, who passed away last May because of a tragic car accident.
For him to maintain his resiliency and will in helping the Nuggets in the wake of his desire to celebrate the legacy of his brother, Malone is simply proud of what he is seeing around the Denver star all year long.
“I’ve had some great conversations with AG throughout the season and everything he’s dealing with as a young man in this world,” Malone said.
“With his family, with his brother, and trying to play through that and be there for everybody, that’s not easy. That’s a tall task on top of [telling him], ‘Hey man, we need you to go out there and be our power forward, our rock.’
“He is the most unselfish and selfless player in the NBA and I just have nothing but love and respect for Aaron Gordon and the journey he’s on, and us trying to help him get through that. But for him to come back to the Bay where he’s from and to have the game like he had, I’m just thrilled for him.
“I’m happy and so proud of him.”
With the win against the Warriors, Gordon and the Nuggets improved to 44-25, retaining their place at the No. 3 spot of the Western Conference ladder.