Monte Morris and Austin Rivers have quickly become the second and third most important players for Denver

Nikola Jokic is going to be this year’s NBA MVP when it gets announced in a week or so and Michael Porter Jr. has been great this year, but in this series against Portland, Austin Rivers and Monte Morris have become the Nuggets second and third most important players next to Jokic. 

After Game 5’s victory, Rivers is now averaging 10.4 points and 2.8 assists while shooting 48.3% from three-point range and Morris is averaging 14.0 points and 5.2 assists while shooting 38.9% from three-point range. 

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With Jamal Murray going down with a torn ACL, the question quickly became, “who will step up for this Denver team in order for them to win in the postseason?” The clear-cut answers were Michael Porter Jr. and Will Barton, but Porter Jr. has been contained for the most part in this series and Will Barton has yet to play due to a hamstring injury. 

Austin Rivers signed with the Nuggets at the end of April after not playing in an NBA game since Feb. 13 and Monte Morris had missed nearly a month from April to May due to a hamstring injury. 

The two most unlikely heroes of this series for the Denver Nuggets have been Austin Rivers and Monte Morris because of the impact they have had either making a big shot at big moments in these playoff games or making a play for someone else, leading to a big shot being made. 

Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. can have great games for Denver, but the reason this team may win this series and possibly advance far in the playoffs is because of how well Austin Rivers and Monte Morris are playing right now. These two guys are the second and third most important players on the Nuggets right now and an argument for anybody else cannot be made right now.