Sunday night left everyone surprised. A Nuggets team without Nikola Jokic marching into the Toyota Center and defeating the Rockets was a shocker for the home crowd. They had every reason to be stunned. For one, the Houston side was riding a nine-game winning streak. Additionally, Jokic’s absence seemed like an advantage for the second-seeded Western team. Yet, they had to surrender to a 116-111 loss. After the win, Jamal Murray knew where to give his flowers.

When the media was in the locker room surrounding Murray for a postgame interview, he was all praises about DeAndre Jordan. “I just think he’s always talking, super vocal, encouraging, always keeping guys in good spirits,” he told the reporters. “I just think he does a great job just staying involved. I think, as a player, you want to play, you want to back the team in that way, but he did such a good job of just, adapting to his role in the team and being a team guy.”

With Jokic in the lineup, he takes on the duties at center. However, with the Serbian now on the injury report because of his ankle, the team has relied on Jordan. And even he stepped up and adapted, showing that he’s a true team player.

“Another thing too, just to be coaching the guys up on the sideline sometimes, but to stay ready and come in the game and then just haven’t played in three, four weeks and come in the game, impact the game like that. I think it just shows his professionalism,” Murray highlighted. He pointed out that Jordan plays a crucial role in encouraging from the sidelines.

But last night, he wasn’t on the bench. His name was in the starting lineup. The 36-year-old made sure to make the most of the opportunity, delivering a double-double performance in the win with 11 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists. There was no stopping him. While Jamal Murray couldn’t stop praising his teammate, coach Michael Malone made a bold confession and issued some demands to the Denver locker room.

Michael Malone makes bold demands of Jamal Murray and Co.

Malone couldn’t get over the intensity of the game, even while sitting in the post-game press conference. He was thrilled about defeating the Rockets, who had an impressive record. Praising Jamal Murray and the others, he made sure to set the goals straight. “So we got contributions from everybody, but most importantly, as you mentioned, just a different team,” Malone stated. “And if we can find a way to be that team every night, I really like our chances.”

Coach Malone made it clear that his team gave their all, and he couldn’t be happier about it. He pointed out that he doesn’t expect perfection, but what matters most to him is a team that’s committed to each other and gives everything they’ve got. “They just gave everything they had, and as a coach, that’s all you can ever ask for” he said with pride in his voice. “We’re going to make mistakes, I don’t want a perfect team, I am far from perfect, but what I do want is a team that is just committed to one another and just leave it all out there.”

The Nuggets looked much stronger even without Jokic, which is really impressive. At this stage, any slip-up could come at a high cost, something Murray is well aware of. So, he’s stepped up to take the lead on the court, giving Jordan the chance to handle things in the locker room. Hopefully, they can keep working this way to maintain the team chemistry and stay on track toward their championship dream this season.