On March 29, 2025, the Denver Nuggets’ home court seemed like a giant stage with all its firepower unleashed. Under the command of “Joker” Nikola Jokic, they bombed out a high score of 129 points, giving the visiting Utah Jazz a hearty “lesson” with a delightful victory. The score was fixed at 129-93, a game with almost no suspense. The Nuggets showed the strong strength of the defending champion from the beginning.
Jokic’s “Waltz”, Jazz’s “Lost”
The focus of the game was undoubtedly Nikola Jokic. The Serbian center used his signature “Waltz Dance Steps” to easily shuttle between the Jazz’s defense. 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists, the data cannot fully reflect Jokic’s dominance on the court. Every pass he makes is like a precise guided missile, always finding teammates in the best position. Every shot he takes is like an elegant work of art, drawing a perfect arc and falling into the basket. Jokic is not only a scorer but also an artist who controls the rhythm of the game.
On the other hand, the Jazz seemed to have lost their way. Sexton scored 20 points in vain, and Filipovski’s 18 points seemed pale and weak. Faced with the Nuggets’ strong overall offense and defense, the Jazz’s offense appeared monotonous and weak, and the defense was full of loopholes. The vitality of young players was not shown, and the weaknesses of lack of experience were exposed.
Nuggets’ “Multiple Blossoms”, Westbrook’s “Old Ji Fuli”
In addition to Jokic, the other Nuggets players also performed well. Porter contributed 20 points and became Jokic’s most reliable helper. Although Westbrook didn’t score many points, his contribution of 17 points was still efficient. More importantly, he unlocked the milestone of steals and assists. The number of steals exceeded Kobe, and the number of assists exceeded “Big O” Oscar Robertson. Westbrook proved with his actions that even as time goes by, he is still the passionate and never-give-up “Wei Shao”.
The Nuggets’ “multiple blossoms” made the Jazz’s defense overwhelmed. Whether it is Jokic inside or Porter and Murray outside (although Murray was absent in this game), the Nuggets have enough firepower to destroy their opponents. This strong overall strength is the biggest guarantee for the Nuggets to defend their title.
The Road to Defending the Title is Difficult and Long
Although they defeated the Jazz, the Nuggets’ road to defending the title is still full of challenges. There are strong teams in the West, such as the Lakers, Clippers, and Suns, who all have the strength to compete for the championship. If the Nuggets want to win the O’Brien Cup again, they need to stay healthy, continue to run in the lineup, and show stronger strength in the playoffs.
It is worth noting that the Nuggets’ young players need to take on more responsibilities. Porter needs to maintain a stable performance, and Murray needs to regain his form as soon as possible. Only when each player plays to their best level can the Nuggets stand out in the fierce competition.
All in all, this victory over the Jazz showed the Nuggets’ strong strength and determination to defend their title. But the road ahead is still long, and the Nuggets need to remain humble and continue to improve in order to ultimately achieve the goal of defending their title.
