NBA Power Rankings Week 3: Are the Golden State Warriors back?

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is congratulated by teammates after he made a three-point basket against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on January 04, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

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73. . 4-5. Previous: 25th. Denver Nuggets. 16. team

Last Week: Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 124-109, Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 123-116, Lost to Dallas Mavericks 124-117, Beat Philadelphia 76ers 115-103

This Week: 1/10 at New York Knicks, 1/12 at Brooklyn Nets, 1/14 vs. Golden State Warriors

The Denver Nuggets had a solid 3-1 week but that should have been expected. They twice played against the hapless Minnesota Timberwolves and then faced the Philadelphia 76ers in a game that the NBA insisted proceed with even though Philly only had seven active players. Anything less than these results would have only been further cause for concern.

Gary Harris played his best game of the season against the Sixers, further fueling the need for hesitance. The game is essentially a throwaway. No one for the Nuggets played even 30 minutes, so let’s focus on the rest of the week. Jamal Murray was explosive in the first game against Minnesota (36 points on 20 shots) then disappeared the next (13 points on only seven shots).

Nikola Jokic is playing like an MVP so far this season and his line is fantastic. He is averaging 25.9 points, 11.6 rebounds (sixth in the league) and 10.9 assists per game (third). Denver is still missing Michael Porter, Jr. but Jokic has made that almost negligible.

The worry around this team may just be overstated. They went deep into the 2020 postseason and overachieved, increasing expectations. Add in roster turnover and the time missed by Porter and a sluggish start makes sense. Jokic will keep them in the running as long as he keeps up this level of play.