The Denver Nuggets got a much-needed dose of good news on the injury front Saturday - and it showed on the scoreboard. Despite still missing key rotation pieces in Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, Denver cruised to a 136-120 win over Chicago, thanks in large part to the return of Cameron Johnson and the continued brilliance of Nikola Jokic.
Let’s start with Johnson, who had been sidelined since December 23 with a bone bruise in his knee. The wing made his return in style, dropping 14 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting night.
That kind of immediate impact is exactly what Denver has been missing from its bench unit. Johnson’s ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions gives head coach David Adelman another reliable option as the Nuggets try to manage minutes and health heading into the All-Star break.
Then there’s Jokic. Listed as questionable with a mildly sprained ankle, the two-time MVP didn’t just suit up - he dominated.
Jokic put up a monster triple-double: 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds in just 33 minutes. The Nuggets outscored the Bulls by 36 points during his time on the floor.
That’s not just MVP-level production - that’s the kind of performance that tilts the floor every time he steps on it. When Jokic is orchestrating like that, Denver’s offense becomes a clinic in spacing, timing, and unselfish basketball.
Jamal Murray, meanwhile, gave Nuggets fans a brief scare late in the game. The first-time All-Star exited with about four minutes remaining due to a hip issue, heading to the locker room.
But any concerns were quickly eased when he returned to the bench before the final buzzer and appeared in good spirits postgame. Coach Adelman confirmed that Murray seemed confident he was okay - a promising sign for a team that’s already had its fair share of bumps and bruises this season.
One player who wasn’t in uniform was two-way forward Spencer Jones. Not due to injury, but rather because he’s hit his 50-game limit under the terms of his two-way deal.
Jones has been inactive for two of the last three games as the Nuggets weigh their next move. With two open spots on the 15-man roster, Denver is preparing to promote the second-year player, though there’s no official timeline yet.
If they want him available for the final two games before the All-Star break - Monday vs. Cleveland and Wednesday vs.
Memphis - they’ll need to make that move soon.
Around the Northwest:
In Portland, Scoot Henderson made his season debut Friday night after recovering from a torn hamstring - and he wasted no time making his presence felt. The second-year guard poured in 11 points and dished out nine assists in just 21 minutes, helping the Trail Blazers snap a six-game skid with a win over Memphis.
His teammate Jerami Grant didn’t hold back, calling Henderson’s performance “amazing.” Interim head coach Tiago Splitter was a bit more measured, but still impressed.
“He was impressive on defense,” Splitter said. “He brought energy, he pushed the pace, made some shots.
Still was room for improvement, but just good to see him competing.”
That’s exactly what Portland needs right now - a spark. And Henderson, with his speed and playmaking, has the tools to be that guy.
Unfortunately, as one guard returned, another hit the shelf. Shaedon Sharpe exited Friday’s win with soreness in his left calf and didn’t play Saturday.
The good news? It’s not the same calf he strained earlier this season - that right calf injury kept him out for four games in November.
And the team is listing the current issue as “soreness,” not a strain, which suggests it’s more precautionary than anything else. Still, it’s something to monitor closely as the Blazers try to build some momentum.
In Utah, the Jazz are looking ahead to a new-look frontcourt that could be as intriguing as it is imposing. With Walker Kessler out for the season and heading into restricted free agency this summer, the long-term trio of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Kessler may never fully materialize. But head coach Will Hardy is still excited about what the pairing of Markkanen and Jackson could bring.
Hardy pointed to the size, rebounding, and rim protection that both players provide, and he’s optimistic about how they’ll fit together on the offensive end. “We’ve played with Lauri as the quote-unquote ‘three’ before during my time here,” Hardy said.
“And Jaren is a really talented player.” He added that getting Jackson into the building and working with the team will help unlock his full potential in Utah’s system.
“You have all these preconceived notions of players when you coach against them,” Hardy said, “but they’re being asked to play within some type of a system wherever they are. So it’ll be fun to explore those things with him and make him a part of the conversation.”
Whether it’s Denver managing health while staying in the hunt, Portland getting a glimpse of its young core, or Utah reshaping its identity, the Northwest Division is full of moving pieces right now - and each team is trying to find the right combination before the All-Star break hits.