Nuggets Light It Up From Deep - Is This the Spark Their Offense Needed?
The Denver Nuggets have spent much of this season trying to recalibrate their offense from beyond the arc. Despite adding shooters in the offseason and making three-point volume a clear point of emphasis, the results haven’t exactly matched the blueprint.
Heading into Monday night, Denver ranked in the bottom ten in three-point attempts and hovered around the middle of the league in makes. But against Utah, the switch flipped - and it flipped in a big way.
The Nuggets tied a franchise record with 24 made threes in a blowout win over the Jazz, putting on a shooting clinic that felt more like the ceiling of what this offense can be when everything clicks. For a team that’s been averaging under 14 made threes per game, nearly doubling that number was more than just a statistical anomaly - it was a reminder of what this roster is capable of when the confidence flows and the ball moves.
We’ve known all along that Denver has shooters. From Jamal Murray to Cam Johnson to Tim Hardaway Jr., this is a group built to stretch defenses.
The issue hasn’t been talent - it’s been volume, rhythm, and sometimes just letting it fly. On Monday, they did just that.
The ball zipped around, shooters stepped into clean looks, and the results followed: 52% from deep on 46 attempts.
Now, sure - games like that don’t happen every night. Shooting over 50% from three is always going to be the exception, not the rule. But even if Denver can find a way to consistently hit a few more threes per game - just enough to keep defenses honest - it could reshape the complexion of their offense down the stretch.
Cam Johnson’s Emergence Is No Fluke
One of the biggest bright spots in this shooting surge? Cam Johnson.
After a sluggish start to the season, Johnson has quietly been turning the corner, and Monday night felt like a statement. He went a perfect 6-for-6 from deep, capping off a run of strong performances that’s been building since November.
Over his last 13 games, Johnson has scored in double figures in 10 of them. His early-season struggles from the perimeter are fading in the rearview, and he’s now up to 42.3% from three on the season - an impressive mark for anyone, but especially for a guy who looked out of sync early on.
And with injuries thinning out the rotation, Johnson’s taken on more responsibility - and he’s thriving in that expanded role. Sometimes, opportunity is the best coach. The extra minutes and touches have helped him settle into Denver’s system, and the results speak for themselves: he’s been one of the team’s most consistent shooters for over a month now.
What Happens When the Roster Gets Healthy?
Of course, the Nuggets are still waiting on key pieces to return - namely Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. Their eventual re-entry into the starting lineup will likely shuffle some roles, and it’s fair to wonder how that might impact the current chemistry.
But this is a veteran group with a championship core. Guys like Johnson, Gordon, and Braun have all shown they can adapt and thrive in different roles.
The beauty of Denver’s offense - especially with Nikola Jokic at the helm - is that it doesn’t demand hero ball. It rewards movement, spacing, and smart decision-making.
If the team continues to play the right way, the shots will be there. And if the shooters keep knocking them down, this offense can go from efficient to downright explosive.
A Glimpse of What’s Possible
Whether Monday night was a one-off or the beginning of a trend remains to be seen. But what’s undeniable is that the Nuggets have this gear in them.
The shooting, the spacing, the confidence - it’s all there. And if they can tap into even a fraction of that firepower on a more consistent basis, the rest of the league should take notice.
For a team still finding its offensive rhythm, this was more than just a hot night - it was a glimpse of what’s possible when Denver’s shooters find their groove.