Reasons to believe that the Denver Nuggets can win the championship again

The coach of the Denver Nuggets, Michael Malone, considered Monday's game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco a key test to evaluate the mentality of his players. Russell Westbrook, at MVP level: how they can win the ring again.

Denver faced the match without three of their starters: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Christian Braun, all absent due to physical discomfort. Meanwhile, Golden State came in with the longest winning streak in the NBA. Despite that, the Nuggets managed to prevail with a score of 114-105 at the Chase Center.

"There are players who ask themselves: 'Do I really want to play tonight?'" Malone commented after the victory, highlighting Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon as exceptions to that mindset. "What you love about Russ and AG is their attitude: 'Alright, next man up. More opportunities for me'."

Gordon, who had been out in three of the last four games due to a calf issue, delivered his best performance with the Denver jersey by scoring 38 points. Meanwhile, Westbrook recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds, 16 assists, and 3 steals.

"That's not new," stated Westbrook, who notched his 203rd career triple-double, extending his NBA record.

It wasn't all flawless in his performance, as he finished 5 for 17 from the field, including some errant shots, and accumulated seven turnovers. Malone even joked that he was close to a quadruple-double. However, Westbrook's intensity and energy set the tone for the team in a game where the Nuggets were undermanned.

"First of all, Russ is not just a dog. He's a wolf," Gordon expressed. "He's different. Offensively and defensively, he's always at the highest level, always at 10, always at 12."

The Nuggets capitalized on Westbrook's distribution, making 16 of 24 field goals after his assists, according to ESPN Research. Additionally, it was his 44th triple-double with at least 15 assists, leaving him one away from matching Oscar Robertson's mark in NBA history.

With Westbrook pushing the pace, Denver dominated in transition, scoring 37 points in this aspect, the second-highest total allowed by Golden State this season, per Second Spectrum.

"From the start, I felt Russ's tenacity and intensity, what he brings every night," Malone affirmed. "Leading in timeouts, motivating his teammates, demanding more from them when needed. That's why he's been a great addition for us all season long."

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