Jerami Grant can be difference for Denver Nuggets during playoffs
Jerami Grant wowed Syracuse fans for two years. Now he has a chance to do the same for Denver, where he can be the key during their NBA playoff run.
The Denver Nuggets have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. Former SU star Jerami Grant comes off the bench for head coach Michael Malone. However, if he can continue his play in the bubble, he can elevate the Nuggets to another level.
Grant paid a pivotal role in the Nuggets’ game one win over the Utah Jazz, scoring 19 points, dishing out three assists and attributing a block and a steal each.
The high-flying forward started slowly in the first quarter, but eventually showcased his recently added jump shot, knocking down a three and a long two. Grant tallied 8 points in the first half, tied for the third-most on the Nuggets. He also provided one assist, a nice inside look for an easy layup for Paul Millsap.
Grant continued his tough play in the second half, hitting a tough two-point fadeaway to knot the score up at 70 after Donovan Mitchell took the lead for the Jazz.
Then, with the Nuggets down four with around 7:00 to go and down four points, Grant hit a spot-up three. On the next possession, he caught a football pass from Nikola Jokic and dropped it in for two and the lead.
He finished the fourth quarter and played the entire overtime with the starting lineup, which shows Malone’s trust in him, who played Grant 40 out of the 53 possible minutes.
Jerami Grant also put some respect on his defensive name, guarding Donovan Mitchell during the overtime period. Mitchell only scored once in the OT with Grant on him, showing Grant’s ability to play both sides of the ball.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Jerami Grant’s game is how composed he played. He didn’t try and do too much, shooting an efficient 5-of-11 from the field. If Grant can even average 15 points off the bench during the series, it gives Denver an added boost to go along with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
The two teams will face off again on Wednesday at 4:00 pm on TNT.