3 Takeaways From Nuggets' Bounce-Back Win vs. Grizzlies

While the scoreboard shows a dominant Nuggets victory, that is certainly not how it felt. For a Grizzlies team playing without Ja Morant, along with several other key players, they undoubtedly had plenty of fight in them.

When the Nuggets were trying to close the game and get out of Memphis with a win, the Grizzlies were making it as difficult as possible. Despite the Nuggets holding a 17-point lead with just seven minutes left, the Grizzlies would then go on a 12-0 run to cut Denver's lead to just five, and it took a flurry of buckets from Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic, and Peyton Watson to truly close the game.

Sure, the Nuggets ultimately got the win, but they should not have let the Grizzlies take over the second half of the fourth quarter as they did.

Peyton Watson continues to shine

Peyton Watson has been filling in for an injured Christian Braun in Denver's starting lineup, and the 23-year-old wing has made the most of the opportunity.

In Monday's win, Watson finished with 27 points, five rebounds, and three assists on 11-22 shooting from the field and 5-12 from three-point range. Of course, this was an incredible performance from Watson, but the most shocking stat? A career-high 22 shot attempts.

In last week's win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Watson dropped a career-high 32 points, and he is undoubtedly making major strides on that end of the floor. Watson has always been a high-level defender, and if he can consistently knock down the three-ball, make the right cuts, and keep his composure with the ball in his hands, he will be in for a huge free agency next offseason.

Interior defense needs to be better

Jock Landale came off Memphis' bench to drop 26 points and ten rebounds on 10-18 shooting from the field, and the Nuggets' defense against opposing big men needs to improve. Of course, with Nikola Jokic in the middle, interior defense will always be a slight concern, but there are too many elite big men in the NBA for this to be an issue.

In Denver's next game, they are hosting the San Antonio Spurs, and Victor Wembanyama is capable of single-handedly taking down the Nuggets if their paint defense looks like that.

It is a long season for the Nuggets, and it is challenging to properly critique them when they are missing two starters. But there are certainly things they need to improve on if they want to be a top title contender by the end of the season.

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