It has been a testy first 31 games of the season for the Denver Nuggets . Despite Nikola Jokic having the best statistical season of his NBA career, the Nuggets struggled off the gates and continue to have a hard time finding consistency.
Despite that, Denver ended the calendar year 2024 with a 132-121 win over an improved Detroit Pistons squad. The big story of the day was Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook becoming the 15th pair of teammates to record a triple-double in the same game.
The game also marked Russ’ 10th start as a Nugget, and with the team improving to 8-2 with him in the opening unit, Denver head coach Michael Malone talked about Westbrook’s impact on his team.
“This is a guy who’s a first-ballot hall of famer, one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game,” said Malone postgame. “What I admire so much about him, aside from the leadership and toughness that he brings every single day, is he’s got no ego. He said, ‘I’m playing with that guy. I’m going to play through him. I’m going to make him better. And if I do that, that means I’m doing my job to help this team win.'”