Johan Petro

Despite a loss to the Phoenix Suns on the final night of the season, the Denver Nuggets locked up the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference and will host the Utah Jazz on Saturday night in Game 1 of a first round playoff series.

Johan Petro started two of the final five games for Denver before Kenyon Martin returned to start the last three. But even with Martin back, Johan saw extended minutes in a rotation that can be expected to continue to keep Martin fresh in the playoffs.

Johan averaged more than 16 minutes per game over the last five games as the Nuggets finished with three big wins over Oklahoma City, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies, while dropping matchups with the San Antonio Spurs and the Suns.

No. 27 averaged 3.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over the final five games of the year, both eclipsing his season averages. His best game came in a strong, seven-rebound night that helped Denver push past the Lakers 98-96 on April 8. Johan tied with Nene and Chris Anderson for the team lead in rebounds on the night with seven each.

Here are some of Johan’s other top numbers from his first full season in Denver:

2 double doubles for No. 27 over a three game span in Mid March, two of his best games of the season

4 The seed that Johan helped the Nuggets secure by filling in admirably for an injured Kenyon Martin

5 Shots taken – and made – by No. 27 in a perfect night against the Dallas Mavericks on February 9th. JP scored 13 points off the bench as the Nuggets crushed the Mavs 127-91

7 shots sank by Johan on a big 7-10 night against the LA Clippers on April 3rd

11 Nuggets wins when Johan started. They lost only five of Johan’s 16 starts

14 Number of points scored by JP that same night against the Clippers, a season high and his highest total since joining the Nuggets

16 Number of games started by Johan this season, they all came consecutively from March 7th to April 8th

23 Nuggets wins in games Johan played. They lost only 13 times when Johan took the floor, a 59 percent winning percentage

53.5 JP’s shooting percentage this season, the highest of his career

80 Number of fouls Johan committed this season, by far the lowest total of his career as he became more patient in the paint

NEXT UP
The Nuggets and Jazz tip-off the postseason on Saturday at the Pepsi Center. The game is set to begin at 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time on ESPN.

RELATED ARTICLES
Johan Petro 2009-2010 Game Log (Basketball Reference)
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/petrojo01/gamelog/2010/