Dario Saric seizes opportunity, thrives in Nuggets’ lineup

After recently being removed from the Nuggets’ regular rotation, Dario Saric found himself unexpectedly thrust into the starting lineup Friday night, reports Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.

The opportunity arose out of necessity, as Nikola Jokic was unavailable for personal reasons. Saric stepped up admirably, contributing nine points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 33 minutes of action.

“He allowed us to play when we were organized like we usually play,” said acting head coach David Adelman. “Obviously, Nikola is an unworldly player, but Dario allows you to play in the pocket. He allows you to play off the elbow. … Early in the game, we had a nice flow because we were playing through him.”

Saric had high expectations for his role when he signed a two-year, $10.6 million contract with Denver during the offseason. However, a sluggish start for both him and the team led head coach Michael Malone to reconfigure the rotation, resulting in Saric losing his spot.

The Nuggets subsequently embarked on a five-game winning streak, which made Malone hesitant to disrupt the successful lineup. Despite this, he reassured Saric that the door would remain open for him to reclaim a regular role.

“We talked about the situation, why was the decision made,” Saric explained. “Obviously, the second unit wasn’t that good in that time, so he kind of made the decision that it would be me.”

While the situation has been challenging, Saric’s strong performance Friday night could serve as a turning point in his quest to reestablish himself as a key contributor for the Nuggets.