Spencer Jones turned a sudden starting assignment into one of the biggest performances of Denver’s season, helping the Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-113 in Game 5 on Monday night at Ball Arena.
With Aaron Gordon ruled out shortly before tipoff, Jones said the opportunity did not change his approach. “It’s not new,” he said. “It’s something that’s kind of happened throughout the season, guys going down and me getting an opportunity to start and everything like that.”
Jones finished with 20 points and a series-shifting stretch in the fourth quarter, when he hit three 3-pointers and added a breakaway dunk as Denver pushed Minnesota back. He said the role was simple even with the stage bigger than usual.
“The role is still the same,” Jones said. “The duties are still the same. I just got to do it for more time out there on the floor.”
The second-year wing said he had already been preparing for this kind of moment since signing his standard contract. “The next goal was yes, let’s try to get in the playoff rotation now that you have that availability,” Jones said. “So that was something in my mind.”
Jones said the postseason setting actually suits his game. “I was kind of excited to play in the playoffs because it feeds more to my game,” he said. “Less ticky-tack fouls. I can be more aggressive.”
That aggressiveness showed up on both ends against Julius Randle, who led Minnesota with 27 points. Jones said the matchup brought out the type of physical edge he wanted.
“Yeah, it is,” Jones said. “I can press up and do a bit more and really see where my strength is. He’s a strong guy.”
Denver, trailing 3-1 entering the night, needed Jones’ confidence as much as Nikola Jokic’s triple-double and Jamal Murray’s 24 points. Jones said the response after Game 4 was about more than one player.
“We got to get it together down 3-1,” he said. “This game we brought it to them, 14 turnovers in the first half.”
Jones also credited the way Denver handled the physical battle. “We talk about it, even with Nikola, you guys mentioned the fouls and when to be aggressive, when not to,” he said. “But right now it’s just showing we got a dog in the fight.”
His defensive role has been the foundation of his rise. “Defense was where I was going to find my role,” Jones said. “As long as I’m handling my matchup on the defensive end, I know that Jokic, Jamal, and everybody else will eventually make those shots.”
Jones even left room for a little personality after the win. Asked whether the performance was LinkedIn-post worthy, he smiled: “I got some ideas circulating in my head.”
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