Five starters played, four got injured, both big centers went down, yet they still managed to win.

The Nuggets’ last game of 2025 (US time) was played with such dramatic intensity.

At the final moments, the Nuggets were ahead by three, Brown secured a rebound but was fouled intentionally, with only 2.7 seconds remaining. The Nuggets nearly had the win in their hands, just one free throw away from closing it out.

However, Brown missed both free throws, Barnes passed to Ingram who sprinted down and made a smooth banked three-pointer, almost as the buzzer sounded, igniting the Raptors’ home crowd. But the drama wasn’t over; the game still had a twist.

After the referees reviewed frame by frame, it was confirmed that Ingram had not released the shot before the game ended. Thus, the season’s most thrilling game-tying three-pointer was nullified. From the Raptors and neutral fans’ perspective, it was a pity. From the Nuggets’ side, they had won an incredibly tough game.

Of course, after Jokic’s injury, four of the five starters from the season’s start were officially sidelined: Gordon, Brown, Jokic, and Johnson were all on the injury list, leaving only Murray with an ankle still not fully recovered.

Today, the Nuggets’ starters were Watson, Murray, Pickett, Jones, and Valančiūnas. The bench included Little Hardaway, Brown, and third-string center Holmes. The Nuggets used eight players in rotation, all playing over 20 minutes, and near the end, only seven players remained on the court.

Because Valančiūnas got injured in the third quarter, suddenly pulling his calf while running, it looks like he will be out for a long time again. The Nuggets’ inside presence was left with just Holmes, who had only played three NBA games before today but really stepped up.

Holmes, making his first NBA rotation appearance, shot 4-for-5, including 2-for-3 from three-point range, finishing with 11 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block. During the second unit’s time and Valančiūnas’s injury, he played a crucial role.

He was the 22nd pick in the first round of 2024, selected by the Nuggets as a key backup for Jokic. Unfortunately, before his rookie season started, he tore his Achilles and missed the entire year. After a year of recovery, just as he was ready to make a big impact in his second season, Valančiūnas arrived, pushing Holmes to the third center spot, sometimes even behind Nagy in the rotation, leaving him without playing time.

Before today, Holmes had only played three NBA games, with the third appearance coming only because Jokic was injured, giving him 8 minutes. Holmes is arguably the most unfortunate 2024 first-round pick, having had no chance to prove himself.

He performed well in the development league; in a December game, he scored 25 points on 9-for-14 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three, along with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. His three-point shooting is very impressive and he continues to hit threes even on the NBA stage, which is much better than Nagy.

So, the Nuggets’ roster depth today was quite good. With both veteran centers injured, Holmes, the long-awaited first-round center, still showed promise. Interestingly, the highest scorer for the Nuggets wasn’t Murray but Watson, who scored 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.

Due to Porter’s departure and injuries on the Nuggets’ forward line, Watson has started many games this season, averaging 27 minutes per game with 11.2 points and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 37.5% from three. Watson used to be seen as an athletic but raw player, but this season, after improving his shooting, he’s played quite well and benefited from playing alongside Jokic.

Murray didn’t have a great shooting night today, going 6-for-18 for 21 points, along with 7 rebounds and 6 assists. With his teammates injured, Murray had to shoulder the Nuggets’ offense alone, handling both scoring and playmaking. This period is a good chance to evaluate Murray’s true level, since he’s mostly played alongside Jokic before.

Before today, Murray missed only one game this season. Compared to previous seasons, his attendance and physical condition are excellent, marking his best regular season so far. He averages 25.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 7 assists, with an impressive 45.4% three-point shooting rate.

In the Christmas game where Jokic exploded for 56 points, 16 rebounds, and 15 assists, Murray also scored 35 points with 10 assists, hitting 9 three-pointers. There are four players in the league this season ranked in the top ten for both total points and assists: Jokic, Cunningham, Avdija, and Jamal Murray.

Murray has been in the league for ten years; aside from his championship, his accolades include a Rookie of the Month and a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. This season he earned his first Player of the Week award. Playing alongside Jokic is easier but can overshadow his own shine. After breaking through his limits this season, his first All-Star appearance is now within reach.

Hopefully, Murray can soon say: “I saw Jokic’s absence as an opportunity.”