It’s hard to overstate how surprising the Denver Nuggets’ recent run has been - not because they’re winning games, but because they’re doing it without Nikola Jokić. For a team that’s historically struggled the moment their three-time MVP takes a seat, a 7-4 record during his absence isn’t just impressive - it’s borderline unthinkable.
Let’s be real: when Jokić went down, the expectation was a slow slide toward the play-in zone. That wasn’t pessimism, it was logic.
The Nuggets without Joker have usually looked like a completely different - and far less dangerous - team. But that’s not what we’ve seen over the past month.
Instead, we’ve seen a group that’s scrapping, hustling, and finding ways to win games they probably shouldn’t. It hasn’t always been pretty.
At times, it’s been downright chaotic. But somehow, they’ve kept their heads above water - and more importantly, they’ve kept their playoff hopes right where they need to be.
This version of the Nuggets isn’t built around triple-doubles or MVP-level brilliance. It’s built on effort, timely shooting, and just enough grit to close out games.
They’ve been outrebounded, outmuscled, and outmatched in the paint - especially against teams with legitimate big men - but they’ve made up for it with clutch plays when it matters. Big rebounds.
Big free throws. Big stops.
Not every night, but enough nights to stay relevant in a loaded Western Conference.
Call it smoke and mirrors if you want. The results are real.
And here’s the twist: the better they play without Jokić, the more it chips away at his MVP case. Fair or not, that’s the narrative.
But that’s not the goal in Denver - it never was. The focus isn’t on individual awards.
It’s on raising another banner.
Jokić isn’t quite ready to return, but the timeline is encouraging. After a home game against the Lakers on Tuesday, Denver hits the road for a three-game East Coast swing.
The hope is that Joker could be back when the Nuggets return home to face conference-leading Detroit on January 27. Whether it’s that night or later, his return will mark a turning point - and not just because of what he brings, but because of what the rest of the roster will need to adjust to.
Playing with Jokić again means shifting gears - not just tactically, but mentally. Guys like Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones, and Jalen Pickett have stepped into bigger roles in his absence.
They’ve taken more shots, had the ball in their hands more, and gained confidence. Now, they’ll need to recalibrate.
For Jamal Murray, the adjustment should be seamless. He’s been the offensive engine without Jokić, but he’s still playing within his natural rhythm - just with more volume.
When Joker returns, Murray can slide right back into his two-man game with the big man. Same goes for Aaron Gordon, who’s still working his way back from a hamstring issue.
He may not be at full strength the rest of the year, but his role alongside Jokić is well-defined and familiar.
Watson’s situation is different. He’s been playing with urgency - and for good reason.
He’s approaching free agency, and every minute on the floor is a chance to prove he belongs. Asking him to scale back now, just as he’s finding his groove, won’t be easy.
But it might be necessary.
So here’s the real question: can this team shift back into Jokić-mode without losing the edge they’ve found without him? Can they take fewer threes, slow the pace, and re-center the offense around their MVP? More importantly, can they keep defending like their playoff lives depend on it?
Because if Denver wants to keep pace with the surging Oklahoma City Thunder, they’ll need to lean on Jokić more than ever. But this time, it doesn’t have to be all on him.
Watson has proven he can contribute. Tim Hardaway Jr. gives them another scoring option.
And once the roster is fully healthy, Michael Malone will have the kind of depth that can make a real difference in April and May.
Spencer Jones can give Gordon a breather. Pickett can run the offense when Murray sits. And when Jokić needs a rest, Jonas Valančiūnas can step in and keep the Nuggets from getting bullied on the boards.
There’s still only one basketball. And in Denver, that ball belongs in Jokić’s hands - as much as possible. But maybe, just maybe, it doesn’t have to be every possession anymore.
And that might be the most dangerous version of the Nuggets yet.