The Nuggets stay winless within the preseason with one recreation remaining after a 124-94 blowout loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Tuesday at Ball Enviornment. The final probability for a victory is Thursday at Minnesota.
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook had been absent this time for the Nuggets, leaving them with a solid of position gamers to fend off Oklahoma Metropolis’s full beginning lineup – the other of Sunday’s match, when Denver ran the starters for 3 quarters in opposition to the Phoenix bench.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone mentioned he deliberate to relaxation Murray for this recreation even earlier than his the knee began to hassle him on Sunday whereas warming up.
What’s subsequent for Strawther after an distinctive pre-season?
Denver’s most notable gamers this preseason (in addition to the three-time MVP) had been Michael Porter Jr. and Julian Strawther, who each continued to hold the offense throughout the first half on Tuesday. Strawther made his first 5 pictures, together with rhythm 3-pointers, a driving floater and some buckets within the lane, the place he used his footwork or physique to go up onerous in site visitors. He completed with 12 factors.
Particularly in these 4 video games, he’s 8 of 18 from distance, the place his teammates have struggled. Christian Braun, who ought to begin at taking pictures guard in opposition to Strawther, is 1 for 13. That most likely will not change how the rotation goes to play out, although.
“Clearly, it’s by no means simply going to be about who performs finest in a vacuum,” Malone mentioned when requested concerning the battle for the job. “It is at all times going to be about, sure, who performs nicely, but in addition who enhances that unit. And in the mean time, to be trustworthy, I feel CB, Jamal, Michael, Aaron (Gordon) and Nikola, it is a group that enhances one another very well. I feel (Russell Westbrook), once we get Peyton Watson again – and it was very tough for us not having Peyton – however I feel Russ, Julian, Peyton, Dario (Saric) and whoever else, I feel it is a actually good factor. complementary group as nicely. However I’ll give Julian much more of an opportunity to exit and begin and play with this (beginning) group.
Watson (hamstring) nonetheless hasn’t performed this preseason, however Malone says the plan is to have him prepared for the season opener subsequent Thursday at Ball Enviornment.
Nnaji strings collectively good consecutive matches
As annoyed as Malone was together with his group’s collective efficiency in opposition to the Suns on Sunday, he pointed to Zeke Nnaji’s fourth-quarter minutes as one of many few vibrant spots.
Nnaji earned a beginning spot Tuesday and constructed on his productive outing with 11 factors, three rebounds, two steals and three blocks, together with one in opposition to Jalen Williams in house. There have been additionally occasional errors – a miscommunication with the ball display resulting in a simple dunk within the first half, a ball faux forcing him to go away his ft for a ball within the second half – however the highlights must be a great addition of confidence. . Nnaji’s kind additionally seems softer. He buried some 3 on Tuesday.
Earlier than opening the tip, Malone gave a candid reply when requested if he thought Nnaji was higher on the 4 or the 5, speaking concerning the general ability set the coach needs to see from Nnaji.
“I don’t get into all that. I feel it’s a bunch of nonsense,” Malone mentioned. “Are you a 4 or a 5?” “In at this time’s NBA, you are a giant man, you are a small man. … We’re not within the Eighties, the place it was three outs, two outs. Zeke is a giant one. So go on the market and play your recreation. I imply, is Dario Saric a middle in anybody’s eyes? Nicely, it is for us. So yeah, the 4 (or) 5 issues, I simply do not actually perceive.
Two-way guard sneaks into depth chart
With out Murray and Westbrook, this exhibition provided a glimpse of different methods the Nuggets can run the offense. They used a wide range of gamers to carry the ball up, from Aaron Gordon to Strawther to Braun. And notably, in Malone’s nine-man rotation early within the recreation, two-way participant Trey Alexander made an look in opposition to Jalen Pickett, who checked in throughout the third quarter and performed many of the second half-time.
If there’s something definitive about Denver’s 0-4 begin to the preseason, it is that the tip of the bench merely does not have a lot to work with. Malone has gone purple within the face throughout the second halves of each recreation so far. The Nuggets weathered a first-half mismatch with out Jokic fairly nicely – it was after halftime that they fell aside once more.
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