It’s not unusual to see a big man fill up the box score for the Denver Nuggets, but it is pretty strange when that big man isn’t Nikola Jokic.
However, that’s exactly what happened on Sunday night, when DeMarcus Cousins put up 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists off the bench against the Portland Trailblazers. The performance was reminiscent of the Boogie Cousins of old. He looked all the stat sheet stuffer and six-time all-star that NBA fans remember, if only for one night.
His big game made Denver’s decision to sign him for the rest of the season look awfully clever. It also showed NBA fans that he might have something left in the tank for the Nuggets.
Cousins dominated every facet of the game against the Blazers. He knocked down 2 triples and went 7 for 10 from the field. He got to the free-throw line 6 times and picked up 2 offensive rebounds. Boogie also showed the ability to make reads from the middle of the floor—whether he was finding the skip pass to an open shooter or dumping it off to Jamychal Green under the basket. Cousins even looked good on the defensive end of the floor. He picked up 2 blocks and an impressive steal during his seventeen minutes of play.
Cousins’ numbers were great, but the eye test might be even more encouraging. Recently, Boogie has just looked great out there:
After tearing his Achilles tendon, his quadriceps, and his ACL in a three-year span, Cousins has never been the same player. However, this Blazers game was an encouraging sign. While Boogie lacks some of the power and agility he had early in his career, he showed on Sunday that he still has good mobility for a player his size. Whether he was busting out a spin move or shuffling his feet on defense, Boogie looked comfortable and nimble on the court.
It was definitely the best Cousins has looked during his Nuggets tenure, and he acknowledged as much after the game:
“I was dealing with some nagging injuries coming in here (to Denver), but I’ve had a chance to recover from that and get my legs underneath me, so hopefully I can continue to play some good basketball.”
Cousins’ big game was the centerpiece of a 76-point Nuggets bench performance—their highest total of the season. For a team that has struggled with bench play all season, it’s a relief to see the backups play at such a high level.
If the second unit wants to keep up their high-quality play, Cousins is going to be of vital importance. His passing ability allows the Nuggets to continue running offense through the center position, even without Jokic on the floor. His 6.6 rebounds per game are already good for second on the team. Even if he’s not the fleetest of foot, Boogie still has the hands and size to make an impact defensively.
So far, the results of his presence have been encouraging:
Sure, many of those wins have come against weak opponents, but you can’t complain about an undefeated record. Even if Cousins is not the player he once was, he’s still helping the Nuggets climb up the standings.
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are eyeing a return to the court. The Nuggets are in the running for home-court advantage. Cousins is suddenly a key piece on a team looking to contend. He hasn’t returned to All-Star form, and may never reach that level of play again. However, Boogie has made one thing clear during his short tenure with the Nuggets: he’s found a home in Denver.
