Michael Malone faced his fears regarding short-handed teams as the Denver Nuggets triumphed over a depleted Brooklyn Nets squad, winning 124-105. Despite missing key players like Cameron Johnson and D’Angelo Russell, the Nets initially challenged the Nuggets, leading 20-12 early on. However, Denver's superstar Nikola Jokic made a significant impact in his return, recording a triple-double with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 15 assists.

Alongside Russell Westbrook, who also notched a triple-double, the duo made history as the first teammates to achieve 25-point triple-doubles in the same game. While the Nuggets had moments of inconsistency, they ultimately pulled ahead with strong performances from the bench, including Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson. The win positioned Denver well in the Western Conference standings, marking a critical point in their season.