Tim Hardaway Jr. microwaved the Heat.
The Nuggets’ veteran shooting guard sizzled off the bench Wednesday night, scoring 18 points in 24 minutes in Denver’s 122-112 victory over Miami at Ball Arena.
“He’s such a weapon, and he can get his shot off so easily and quickly,” coach David Adelman said. “It’s a big deal. You know, a lot of teams have the athleticism these days, Miami included. But a guy that releases the ball that quickly and gets it off, it’s a big deal. And not to mention, he just really knows how to play. Tim fits right in.”
Hardaway has become Adelman’s first go-to guy off the bench. Could he become the Nuggets’ version of Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson?
For those too young to remember or not steeped in NBA history, Johnson was a member of the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons who won back-to-back titles in 1989 and ’90. He was nicknamed “The Microwave” for his uncanny ability to come off the bench cold, quickly heat up, and go on a scoring spree.
That’s what Hardaway did Wednesday night. He drained a season-high four 3-pointers. He’s made at least one triple in all seven games. He’s averaging 11.3 points (49.1% shooting), 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23.3 minutes per game as the Nuggets prepare to host the Warriors on Friday night.
“I’m just trying to make an impact in any way I can,” the 13-year NBA veteran said. “I think I said it best after the last game. With the guys we have coming off the bench, it could be any one of us on any night. … But when the opportunity is there, you have to just go after it and take it.”
Although Denver’s season is still in its infancy, Hardaway could be the spark it needs from beyond the 3-point line. The Nuggets have been last in the NBA in 3-point attempts for two consecutive years. Part of that is due to their style of play, but they need an outside threat. Hardaway shot a solid 36.8% from beyond the arc last season with the Pistons, averaging 5.9 3-point attempts per game. So he’s capable of burning opponents.
When he’s left open, he’s deadly. He sank 48% of his 148 “wide-open” 3s (nearest defender 6 feet away) last season, according to league data.
Hardaway is making $3.63 million this season, the veteran minimum for a player with 10 or more years of experience. He could turn out to be a bargain for the Nuggets, even if some of the shots he takes “are a little wild.”
That’s how three-time MVP Nikola Jokic characterized Hardaway’s style.
“He wants to be good, and that’s something that maybe he’s faking to be,” Jokic joked after the game. “That’s what I see, like, he’s really trying to understand and trying to play the right way, and I think that’s why good things are happening to him.”
Forward Aaron Gordon heaped praise on Hardaway.
“He’s a pro’s pro,” Gordon said. “Just a high-IQ player on and off the floor and knows the game inside and out.”
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