Malone, Murray had high praise for Zeke Nnaji in Nuggets’ comeback win
Mar 6, 2025, 7:47 AM | Updated: 7:49 am
The Denver Nuggets needed a spark Wednesday night when they were down nine entering the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings. With the non-Jokic minutes looming, a four-minute stretch that has troubled Denver in the past week, someone on Michael Malone’s bench would have to bring the energy and answer the call.
Zeke Nnaji was ready.
In just over four minutes of action in the fourth quarter, Nnaji was a +11 for the Nuggets as he made huge plays on both sides of the floor to get the team and the Ball Arena crowd back into the game. He had five points, one rebound, one steal and one block in the final frame to propel the Nuggets to a 116-110 victory.
Zeke Nnaji BIG three gives Denver the lead in the 4Q 🍿
They erase a 14-PT Sacramento lead 👀 pic.twitter.com/4MWE996cKI
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 6, 2025
“When I see a guy who’s not only stayed ready, but playing with the confidence and how effective he’s been, being vocal, showing his emotion, I love that,” Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said postgame. “… This opportunity has been given to him and he’s taken full advantage of it.”
It wasn’t just the timely 3-pointer or the putback layup before it that made Nnaji stand out. It was the defense, something that has plagued Denver all season long. He guarded anybody wearing purple and white Wednesday, no matter the position.
Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valančiūnas. Three completely different players.
Zeke Nnaji guards them all. pic.twitter.com/dhfzEEt6oM
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) March 6, 2025
“We don’t need [Nnaji] to just put the ball in the hoop,” Jamal Murray said. “[He’s] playing defense, he’s rebounding, he’s talking, he’s playing physical, he’s jumping, he’s blocking shots, he’s running the floor, he’s not complaining, I could go on. [He’s] just in a great rhythm right now.”
Nnaji has had some challenges throughout his five years in Denver with shooting slumps and an inability to get a steady role in Malone’s lineup. This season, when the team has needed him to step up, he’s been able to do so by being a gritty player who will do the little things to win.
From a numbers perspective, his stats (besides field goal percentage) are down from previous seasons, but that doesn’t matter. This team needs a bigger player like Nnaji to guard a LeBron James or a Jimmy Butler in the Western Conference Playoffs, and he’s shown both a willingness an ability to do so recently,
“As I told Zeke after the game, I’m so happy for him, I’m so proud of him, and he had a lot to do with that win tonight in the 19 minutes that he played,” Malone said.
