Showing posts with label Denver Nuggets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Denver Nuggets. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Nuggets Vs Magic Preview: Starting Lineups, Odds, Predictions, TV, Injuries | NBA 11/23/18

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Nuggets Vs Magic Preview: Starting Lineups, Odds, Predictions, TV, Injuries | NBA 11/23/18

Published on November 22, 2018 at 2:34 AM EST

Updated on November 22, 2018 at 2:38 AM EST

Home Team: Denver Nuggets
Away Team: Orlando Magic
Location: Denver, CO
Arena: Pepsi Center
When is Game Time? 9:00 PM ET - 11/23/2018

Where can I watch on TV? FuboTV (Free Trial), ALT, FSFL and NBA League Pass
Sign up for FuboTV's free 7-day trial to watch NBA games on your computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the FuboTV app.

Where can I listen on the Radio? KKSE 950AM and WTKS 104.1
Betting: Get a 50% bonus up to $1,000 when you join MyBookie with Promo Code: HeroSports

Game Preview Notes

The Orlando Magic (9-9) go on the road to take on the Denver Nuggets (11-7) on Friday at 9:00 PM ET. These two teams will meet up for the first time since December 8th 2017, a 103-89 Denver Nuggets victory (Faried: 20 points, 10 rebounds).

Betting Odds

Check out the most recent betting lines at My Bookie and Get a 50% bonus up to $1,000 when you join MyBookie with Promo Code: HeroSports

Denver Nuggets Preview

Denver won their last game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, 103 - 101; Jokic: 7 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists. The Nuggets enter this contest with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games and a 7-3 mark at home. Paul Millsap led the Nuggets in scoring against their last opponent, the timberwolves. He contributed with 25 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, 1 block and 2 threes with 1 turnover in 27 minutes. Millsap shot 11 for 13 in the game, hitting 84.6% of his attempts from the field (1/2 from the line, 2/2 from three-point range).

The Nuggets rank well in assists per game (#5), steals per game (#6) and offensive rebounds per game (#8). Their weakest areas are three point percentage (#22), free throw percentage (#22) and blocks per game (#22).

Nuggets Betting Trends

 

In the last 7 games, the Nuggets have gone 2-5 with an average point differential of 1.7. Against the spread, their record is 2-5, with an average pre-game line of -3 and an average -1.3 against the spread.

They have beat the Over/Under 4 times in this two-week span, while falling under 3 times. The Nuggets' Over/Under lines have averaged 220.8 in the past two weeks and their games have resulted in an Over/Under average of -0.5.

 

Get a 50% bonus up to $1,000 when you join MyBookie with Promo Code: HeroSports

Orlando Magic Preview

Orlando lost their last game to the Toronto Raptors, 93 - 91; Green: 13 pts (game-winner with 0.5 left). The Magic have a 7-3 record during their last 10-game stretch and are 3-3 in away games this season. Evan Fournier finished the game with a team-high 27 points against their last opponent, the raptors. He shot 55.0% from the field, making 11 of his 20 attempts (1/2 from the line, 4/9 from three-point range). Fournier ended up with 27 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal and 4 threes with 2 turnovers in 34 minutes.

The Magic have climbed the rankings this season in turnovers per game (#5), assists per game (#6) and blocks per game (#7). The team needs work on points per game (#23), offensive rebounds per game (#21) and defensive rebounds per game (#21).

Magic Betting Trends

 

In the last two weeks, the Magic have played 7 games. In that time, their straight up record is 5-2 with a 8.1 average point differential. Their record against the spread is 6-1, with an average pre-game line of 3.1 and an ATS average result of 11.3.

Their games have topped the Over/Under 4 times, falling under 3 times. The Over/Under lines have averaged 218.4 in the past two weeks and their games have resulted in an Over/Under average of 3.2.

 

Get a 50% bonus up to $1,000 when you join MyBookie with Promo Code: HeroSports

​

  • VS
  • 110.1 104.3 47% 34% 74% 46.3 11.8 34.5 26.1 14.4 21.4 8.7 4.8
  • PPG OPPG FG% 3P% FT% REB OREB DREB APG TOPG PFPG SPG BPG
  • 106.6 108.6 45% 34% 77% 43.0 9.9 33.1 26.1 13.7 20.3 7.3 6.0

​

Top Fantasy Players

Nikola Jokic is the top fantasy basketball player for the Nuggets with a season average of 43.47 fantasy points per game. He has averaged 17.2 PTS, 10.1 REB, 7.1 AST, 1.4 STL and 0.8 BLK with 3.1 TO. Jamal Murray has an average of 30.57 fantasy points per game on the season. He's averaging 17.2 PTS, 4.1 REB, 4.3 AST, 0.9 STL and 0.5 BLK with 2.2 TO for the 2018-2019 season.

Nikola Vucevic is the best player on the Magic team from a fantasy basketball perspective, with 43.24 fantasy points per game. He's averaged 20 PTS, 11.2 REB, 3.6 AST, 1.1 STL, 1.1 BLK and 2.2 TO this season. Aaron Gordon has 33.92 fantasy points per game. He's averaged 17.1 PTS, 7.6 REB, 2.6 AST, 1 STL, 0.9 BLK and 1.9 TO on the season.

Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers: Two takeaways

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Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers: Two takeaways

Denver Nuggets 3’s + D = Blowout

Denver Nuggets, there goes that blowout your faithful fans have been waiting for. As if in on cue, the Denver Nuggets as a team shot a respectable percentage from 3 (38.5%).

Essentially proving the validity of both takeaways in my last article.

However, it must be said the game’s ending was a lot smoother than the beginning. Although the Denver Nuggets did manage to seize control of the game by the end of the first half, which ended with the Nuggets being up 50-42 on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

3 is The Magic Number

The main takeaway from this game is just how much easier life is for the Denver Nuggets when they make 3’s. Whilst defense wins championships and it is preferable to have elite defense over elite offense if one has to choose. However, last year as well as NBA history in general shows us that NBA champions tend to be elite on both sides of the floor.  Needless to say, last night, Denver played (arguably) their best game of this young season.

As is always the case with this thoroughly talented Denver Nuggets team, they could have blown out the Cleveland Cavaliers by more than 19 points. However, the important thing here is that the Nuggets offense proved just what it can be capable of.

The hope now, is that Denver use this game as a springboard and never look back. After all, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray (amongst other Nuggets) are due for a Klay Thompson-esque barrage of 3’s. For tonight though, Juan Hernangomez was more than happy to pick up the slack from deep.

Denver Nuggets’ Depth Is Scary

Speaking of Juan Hernangomez, he was the hero of tonight’s game. He led Denver’s 3 point attack going 5 of 8 from 3.  Which served the purpose of killing multiple birds with just one stone. Stretching the Cavaliers’ defense, creating openings for his teammates and giving the Nuggets a comfortable scoring lead on Cleveland.

However, with Juan playing a grand total of 0 minutes in Denver’s previous game against the Chicago Bulls. You’d be forgiven for being shocked at Hernangomez’s scoring outburst. Indeed, therein lies one of the scariest things about the Denver Nuggets (hey, it was just Halloween). You never quite know which player on Denver’s roster is going to come for you.

Next: Top five ABA Nuggets

It could be Mason Plumlee, it could be someone else from the bench. Anybody on this roster can have a big game, any game. That fact makes the Nuggets a team that is difficult to play against. As if their offense needed to be anymore unpredictable, the depth of the Nuggets roster equals even more surprises. You’d swear it was someone’s idea of a joke.

Stiffs Mailbag: Denver Nuggets offensive issues, Juancho Hernangomez, and more

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Welcome back to the Denver Stiffs Mailbag! While the Denver Nuggets are 7-1, there is still a tangible mix of excitement and concern among the fan base. It was very clear in the questions I received, so let’s get right into it.






This is a loaded question with multiple answers, but here are four reasons why the Nuggets offense has struggled thus far:



  1. The Nuggets are searching for spacing. Removing Nikola Jokic thus far, Denver’s four other starters (Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Torrey Craig, and Paul Millsap) have combined to shoot 28/106 on three-point attempts, a cool 26.4% from that distance. That’s awful. Murray and Harris, the team’s two most important marksmen, are each 10/37 from the perimeter. They are even starting to pass up three-point attempts. Last season, Murray and Harris combined to attempt 10.2 three-pointers per game. This season? Down to 9.2. Off the bench, Monte Morris and Juancho Hernangomez are shooting well, but Malik Beasley and Trey Lyles are a combined 8/44 from the perimeter. Not great, Bob!


  2. Losing Will Barton. The 6’6 wing may not have seemed like an important piece to Denver’s starting lineup, but his ball handling and slashing ability helped relieve pressure from Murray. Barton averaging 4.1 assists last year. In his absence, the team is missing his ability to create shots within the rhythm of the offense.


  3. Nikola Jokic’s killer instinct is fluctuating. Nick Kosmider wrote a great piece for The Athletic on how the Serbian center sometimes needs a push to show his own scoring aggression. Through Denver’s first four games and down the stretch of the Chicago Bulls game, it was clear that the ball ran through Jokic if the Nuggets wanted a victory. Lately, there have been multiple possessions in a row where Jokic doesn’t cross the three-point line and instead facilitates from the perimeter without expending too much energy.

Perhaps he and the Nuggets are finding out how physically taxing it can be to run the entire show for a full season. There needs to be a balance between Jokic letting others operate while taking a break on the perimeter and being properly aggressive looking for his own shot. When he’s focused, he’s an excellent post player whose scoring leads to opportunities for others in that order.



  1. Paul Millsap’s struggles. He is rounding into form over the last couple of games, but during the preseason and through the first five games of the regular season, Millsap’s struggles were hurting Denver’s offense. The turnovers are up. Only Monte Morris is finishing at the rim at a worse rate for Denver, and the post-up plays have not successful. This is less of a problem than before though, as he has started shooting the ball more efficiently from behind the arc, operating in the dunker spot more often, and playing the passer role more than the finisher. This is something to watch closely though.




Post passing is just one aspect of Murray’s overall passing profile, but here’s just one example of Murray losing focus on a pass:



That’s inexcusable.


As I referenced above, Murray is shooting 10/37 from behind the arc, good for 27.0%. More importantly, teams aren’t respecting his jumper right now. Murray has hesitated before letting his shot fly this year. The path to Jamal becoming an elite player starts with teams being fearful that Murray will hit a three from anywhere on the floor. Right now, the Nuggets are lucky if Murray hits a three during the game. Something has to change in his mentality.


Another issue, of course, is getting pick-pocketed while dealing with pressure.



This has happened multiple times during the season, whether it be in the back court or in the middle of a play. Murray’s ball handling has not been where it needs to be to operate like a point guard. This is the season when Murray is supposed to take more control of the offense, but at this point, it’s hard to know if he’s ready for that responsibility.






I referenced this during last week’s article, but yes, I do believe the Nuggets would be better with Hernangomez as the starting small forward right now. An excerpt from last week’s piece:


“Denver’s identity is that of an offensive team who must continue to exert multiple efforts defensively. Juancho never lacks effort on the defensive end, just execution. Still, the Spanish forward is just 23 years old and in his third season. He’s inexperienced, which means he has time to learn to play defense. What he needs most is opportunity and trust.”


Head coach Michael Malone turned to Hernangomez last night, and he responded with 23 points on 5/8 from behind the three-point line, allowed fellow sniper Kyle Korver to attempt just one three-pointer in 18 minutes to go with three turnovers, blocked two shots right at the end of the game, and played with the joy Nuggets fans love to see.


Hernangomez needs to be in the rotation every night, especially while the Nuggets are struggling to space the floor. After his excellent night, Juancho is up to 9/20 on three-pointers on the season, good for 45%. Denver needs that.






This is putting the cart before the horse a bit, but I will play along.


If Malone puts Juancho in the lineup and he plays well, the only way I keep him in the starting unit is:


  1. If Denver’s defense is still operating at a top 10 level when Barton returns

  2. If Jamal Murray gets his ball handling and playmaking together

Denver may want to ease Barton back into action anyway. They don’t want to accidentally re-aggravate that injury, because a nagging injury can derail a season or at least make it more painful. Ask Mason Plumlee.


Either way, Juancho needs to string some successful shooting performances together or at least provide the spacing to relieve some pressure from Murray and Harris. Those two need to get going any way they can, and I believe Juancho can help. If he adds that dimension to the team, then maybe he should stay.






This was a brief but interesting wrinkle. There isn’t much to read into it unless it becomes a trend. Generally, Monte Morris has filled in every minute at point guard that Murray hasn’t played, so going with Harris and Beasley in the backcourt was interesting. It was only for three minutes, and Denver accumulated six points off of two Hernangomez free throws and two Lyles drives to the basket. Still, if Denver’s looking to get a little more defensive, then this isn’t a terrible combination to throw out there. Harris and Beasley are Denver’s two best point-of-attack defenders other than Craig, and if Murray’s struggling, why not try it every now and then while Isaiah Thomas is still out?


I will be watching for this going forward, but if Thomas comes back, I don’t think it ever becomes a real thing Denver does. Maybe a Harris-Barton pairing makes an appearance every now and then.






The Denver Broncos are currently 3-5, while the Denver Nuggets are 7-1. The Broncos play against the Houston Texans at home this week, in Los Angeles against the Chargers next week, and at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 25th. Even if they lose all three of those games (and there’s a distinct chance they do) the Nuggets have math working against them. They play 12 games between now and November 24th when they finish up a second night of a back-to-back on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder.


I expect the Nuggets to go about 6-6 over the next 12 games given some tough games, including against Utah, Boston, Milwaukee twice, Houston, New Orleans, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City. That means they would have seven losses before the Broncos play the Steelers in just over two weeks and would finally match up in the loss column.


What a time to be alive.


Poll


What is the biggest cause for Denver’s issues offensively?





This poll is closed.







  • 57%
    Poor shooting

    (275 votes)






  • 23%
    Losing Will Barton

    (113 votes)






  • 16%
    Nikola Jokic’s wavering scoring

    (77 votes)






  • 3%
    Paul Millsap’s struggles

    (16 votes)





481 votes total

Vote Now




Denver Nuggets Tweet of the Week: Isaiah Thomas wants a front office role after his playing days are over

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Isaiah Thomas has already had a very successful career in his seven years in the NBA. He boasts career averages of 18.9 points and 5.1 assists and his career includes a season in which he finished fifth in MVP voting in 2017 with the Boston Celtics. However, Thomas made it clear via Twitter this week that even when his career is over years from now, he still has plenty more to offer to the league.






There’s plenty to love about this tweet. The first thing I noticed was that Thomas expects to play 10 more years in this league. At first, I was taken aback by this because for some reason, despite the fact that Thomas is only 29 years old, it feels as though he’s been in the league way longer than seven years. However, Thomas finishing out his career at 39 years old is actually entirely within the realm of possibility and NBA fans should be psyched at the idea that we get 10 more years of Thomas on the court.


Second, I was excited that Thomas has goals to move into the front office once his career does come to an end. I can definitely see him in that role, considering that it’s well known how passionate he is for the game of basketball and how knowledgable he is as well.


Third, I loved the last part of this tweet. Thomas points out that there is not enough former players in the General Manager role for NBA teams. Based on some quick research I just did, there appears to be only 9 GMs that once played in the NBA (and two are only interim GMs at the moment). Most recently, former player Elton Brand was named General Manager of the Philadelphia 76ers this season.


The last thought I had about this tweet was that if and when Thomas does become a GM of an NBA team someday, it would be pretty cool if he held that position for the Denver Nuggets. Thomas certainly knows the ins-and-outs of the league by now and he also has such a large personality that he would certainly make things fun and interesting for everybody that works under him.


We will see in 10+ years if this dream comes to fruition for Thomas.


Rainbow Skylines, Best Start Since 1976, IT May Play Next Month

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Denver Nuggets guard Isaiah Thomas, left, and forward Trey Lyles look on against the New Orleans Pelicans in the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 29, 2018, in Denver. The Nuggets won 116-111. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)





Denver Nuggets Rundown is a regular series of digests rounding up news, notes and numbers from the most recent set of Denver Nuggets games. The previous Rundown can be found here. Stats are from NBA.com unless otherwise indicated.


Nuggets in a Nutshell


The Nuggets have ridden their newly improved defense and bench play to an 8-1 record, their best since the 1976-77 season, even as finding their former offensive groove continues to elude them.


Where Denver Stands


Record: 8-1 (.889); Previous: 4-0 (.000)



Standing: 2nd in Western Conference (0.5 games back), 1st in Northwest Division


Net rating: 9.5 (3rd); Offensive rating: 110.3 (12th); Defensive rating: 100.9 (3rd)


FiveThirtyEight NBA Prediction: 54 wins, 97% playoff chances; Previous: 54, 97%


ESPN Power Rankings: 7th; Previous: 7th



Games 5-9:


G5: L 114-121 @ Los Angeles Lakers


G6: W 116-111 vs. New Orleans Pelicans


G7: W OT 108-107 @ Chicago Bulls


G8: W 110-91 @ Cleveland Cavaliers


G9: W 103-88 @ vs. Utah Jazz


Team leaders in games 5-9


Points: Gary Harris, 17.2 & Jamal Murray 17.2; Rebounds: Jokic, 9.6; Assists: Jokic, 8.2; Net rating: Juancho Hernangomez, 24.8


Nikola Jokic, 23.3; Rebounds: Jokic, 10.5; Assists: Jokic, 7.0; Net rating: Gary Harris, 30.3


Nuggets Nuggets


Now at 8-1, Denver is one of just four NBA teams with only a single loss. Since the last rundown, they have slipped just one spot to second in the Western Conference after only the Golden State Warriors (who have one additional win), but still lead the Northwest Division. This is the Denver Nuggets’ best season start since the 1976-77 season, when they also began 8-1. Their single loss came on the road against LeBron James’ motivated Lakers squad, but has since been far outshined by winning the last four straight, capped by an important division win against the scrappy Utah Jazz.


Fans celebrated as the Denver Nuggets rolled out a revamped version of their classic rainbow skyline jerseys:






New Denver Nuggets City Edition rainbow skyline jerseyPhoto via the Denver Nuggets on Twitter, @nuggets, https://twitter.com/nuggets/status/1057846606463066113





As I wrote for Forbes following the announcement, the revival of the distinctive motif represented much more than merely a new uniform design. It is part of a larger constellation of moves the organization is making to celebrate and embrace the Nuggets franchise’s rich cultural heritage.


With every passing game, the improved Nuggets defense looks more and more legit. After leading the league in defensive rating through their first few games, Denver slipped to fourth before creeping back up to third as of this writing. It is easy to dismiss four games as a fluke, but nine starts to approach a sample size which, though it may not be entirely predicative of where they will finish the season, is at the very least meaningful to the extent that clear signs of genuine progress are quite evident in both the numbers and the eye test. They may not end up as a top five, or even top ten defense, but are already clearly light years ahead of where they were at last season. One example from their comeback victory over Utah was their forcing a shot clock violation midway through the fourth quarter:



Isaiah Thomas may return as early as December. According to a tweet by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:



In a previous article for Forbes I wrote about how Thomas should be able to provide the Denver bench a big boost. If he can indeed return by December, it will be welcome news for a Nuggets team which has found ways to win, but continues to struggle in their efforts to recapture the offensive magic of the past two seasons. It will also, however, put Michael Malone in the tough situation of figuring out what to do with Monte Morris, who has done a commendable job backing up Jamal Murray at point guard. In 21.2 minutes per game this season, Morris is averaging 7.6 points, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals, and is fourth in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio, a mark of his ability to competently run the point while minimizing mistakes.


The Nuggets' much-improved bench has been a major contributor to their success. Not only is Denver's second unit 6th in the NBA with a net rating of +2.8, their four best players in net rating in games five through nine are Juancho Hernangomez, Malik Beasley, Mason Plumlee and Trey Lyles, all of whom come off the bench. As the starters have been tending to start slow in games and struggle to find their offensive footing, it has often been the bench who has come to their rescue and kept the team competitive.


Mason Plumlee drilled his first career 3-pointer, sparking the Nuggets’ big comeback win over Utah. It was a sight to behold, as fans and teammates in the Pepsi Center erupted in joy, and Plumlee celebrated with a swaggy shimmy shake:



It was Star Wars night, so perhaps Plumlee was able to use The Force to will the ball through the hoop. Either way, Nuggets fans may never have the chance to see this happen again, so hopefully they will fully savor the moment.


Against Utah, Nikola Jokic had another historic performance, this time an epic 16-assist game. It was only the third time in the last 50 seasons a center has dished out 16 or more dimes, per Basketball-Reference.com. The previous instance was also Jokic at the Milwaukee Bucks last season in one of his best career performances, a 30-point, 15-rebound and 17-assist triple-double. And the last case before that was a 16-assist performance by the Indiana Pacers’ Clemon Johnson in 1982.


Paul Millsap tapped in the game-winning putback of a Jokic miss in overtime at the Chicago Bulls. In a Halloween game opening a back-to-back road trip, Millsap’s clutch move sealed Denver’s second road victory of the season:



The Nuggets assigned second-round draft pick Thomas Welsh to the G League. One of Denver’s two-way contract players, Welsh will be playing for the Washington D.C.-based team the Capital City Go-Go.



Welsh put in a solid performance in his first G League outing, putting up 7 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists in 29 minutes of action. It should be a good developmental opportunity for the rookie to log playing time he would not be able to get sitting at the end of the Nuggets bench.


Upcoming Games


G10: vs. Boston Celtics, Nov. 5, 9 pm ET


G11: @ Memphis Grizzlies, Nov. 7, 8 pm ET


G12: vs. Brooklyn Nets, Nov. 9, 9 pm ET


What to Watch For


The Nuggets will play five of their next six games at home in the Pepsi Center before moving on to an intensely away-heavy stretch of the schedule in which they play nine of eleven games on the road. Although they have been winning games with their defense to get off to their hot season start, the number of difficult opponents they will soon be facing, if they do not quickly start rediscovering their offensive proficiency, their .889 winning percentage could quickly start dropping. Gary Harris and Jokic have both been rocks this season, but the Nuggets desperately need Jamal Murray to start improving his shooting percentages, especially in lieu of Will Barton’s continued injury absence. And while he should be able to deliver on this, it is high time to start really demonstrating so on the court.


 

Gary Harris will sit out Lakers game

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The Denver Nuggets will be shorthanded Tuesday night against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, as starting shooting guard Gary Harris is out due to a left ankle injury.

Harris, 24, missed the Nuggets’ previous game against the Oklahoma City Thunder as well.

In 19 games this season, Gary Harris is averaging 16.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 44.1 percent from the field, 32.3 percent from beyond the arc and 79.7 percent from the free-throw line. The Nuggets will miss his shooting, scoring and defensive ability against the Lakers.

Markelle Fultz, Sixers

Watch: Denver Nuggets speak with the media following their 115-107 victory over the Boston Celtics

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Watch: Jamal Murray speaks with the media following his 48 point performance against the Boston Celtics



Watch: Michael Malone speaks with the media about Jamal Murray’s incredible game following the 115-107 victory



Watch: Gary Harris explains when he knew Murray was going to have one of those nights



Nuggets' Gary Harris (ankle) not likely to play on Tuesday

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Nuggets' Gary Harris (ankle) not likely to play on Tuesday



Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris (ankle) is not likely to play on Tuesday versus the Los Angeles Lakers.




What It Means:


Harris is expected to miss his second consecutive game with left ankle soreness. Torrey Craig started in Harris' place on Saturday is likely to do so again on Tuesday.



Harris has averaged 16.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game this season.







written by 


Dale Redman on Tuesday, November 27th, 2018 at 7:59pm EDT

Denver Nuggets vs Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from win

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DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 5: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shakes hands with Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics on November 5, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 5: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shakes hands with Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics on November 5, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)

Denver Nuggets vs Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways.

Once you learn to ride a bike, or swim for that matter, you never forget. However, you can get rust or decline in efficiency. Nevertheless, you never really forget. That’s why any savvy NBA fan expected Klay Thompson to have an explosion. It’s also why we expected the Denver Nuggets 3 point shooting to improve. That most definitely included Jamal Murray and Gary Harris too.

Last night, Jamal Murray threw off his shooting woes and shot the lights out of the rim in a clutch performance against one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Jamal Murray was 19-30 from the field and 5-11 from 3. Adding 4 assists and 5 rebounds to go along with a career best 48 points.

Denver Nuggets Did It From 3.

The difference in this game, was the 3 point shooting. Whilst the Denver Nuggets held the Boston Celtics to just 29% from 3. The Nuggets shot 38.2% from 3.

Meanwhile, both Boston and Denver got a similar amount of shots, scored at a similar rate, from the field in general. The Boston Celtics made 44 of 87 (50.6%) from the field. Whilst the Denver Nuggets made 41 of 90 (45.6%) from the field.

As with pretty much everything to do with Denver’s offense. The Nuggets’ 3 point shooting was led by Jamal Murray. However, Murray did get some help from 3 too with Hernangomez shooting 2-4, Trey Lyles making 3 of 7 and Millsap making 1 of 2.

Looking Ahead

With Jamal Murray back to being his usual self, this Nuggets team is significantly better than it already has been. Last night almost certainly marks Jamal Murray’s return to being the infamous Blue Arrow from 3 point range.

Furthermore, Jamal’s performance may spark a similar outburst from Gary Harris. The question is one of when, as opposed to if, for Gary Harris. Moreover, the experience gained by the entire Denver Nuggets roster and coaching staff from this game was invaluable. This victory is a game that Denver can learn a lot from. Ensuring a growth that hints at wonderful things for the Nuggets.

Next: Assigning the Nuggets as Mortal Kombat characters

The Nuggets are elite. The rest of the NBA has been warned.

Nikola Jokic of Denver Nuggets fined $25K for postgame comments

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NEW YORK -- The NBA has fined Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic $25,000 for using derogatory and offensive language during a postgame interview.

Jokic was fined for using an anti-gay slur, saying "no h---, he's longer than you expect" when asked by reporters about Wendell Carter Jr. after the Nuggets' overtime victory against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 31.

The fine was handed down Wednesday by league discipline executive Kiki VanDeWeghe.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Can the Denver Nuggets Contend in the Western Conference?

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Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets have appeared to turn the corner that many expected them to in the Western Conference. They have built a solid young core through their draft over recent years and are projected to make the West Playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 season. Not many could have predicted their incredibly hot start to the season that has resulted in a 9-1 record through the team’s first 10 games. This puts them as the early second seed in the West, trailing only two-time defending NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors, who are 10-1.


What has been to the key to this blistering start from the Nuggets? The defense. I know it’s hard to believe, considering it’s the Denver Nuggets. They have missed out on being the eight seed in the playoffs by losing on the last game of the season two years in a row now, and the biggest problem with those teams was the defense.



In the Nuggets first 10 games, they are holding opponents to just 102.4 points per game, good for fourth in the league, and are also the second-best in defensive efficiency, allowing only 0.996 points per possession (according to teamrankings.com). The NBA world has been waiting on this Nuggets squad to put everything together on the court, and this looks to be the year where they establish themselves as a top team in the Western Conference for years to come.


The Denver Nuggets began stockpiling assets through the draft in 2014 by selecting current starting shooting guard, Gary Harris, with the 19th overall pick and later taking current starting center, Nikola Jokic, with the 41st overall pick. This was when the Nuggets started building what we are seeing today and will continue to see for a long time.


Harris came out of Michigan State known for shooting abilities and potential as a defender, given his speed and length. He is also a very underrated athlete and the perfect off-ball player that every team in the NBA today craves. Jokic turned out to be the surprise, though. His overall skill set is incredible for someone his size with limited athleticism.


His court vision is superb, being one of the league’s top passing big men who also is not afraid to rebound. He can score inside, in the mid-range, and from deep, even though some games he takes a step back when his teammates are playing well. He was never known as a great defender, but Jokic will always make his impact on the game somehow on that end as a help defender, and he is the Nuggets’ centerpiece as they head into the future.


In 2016, they found their point guard. The Nuggets selected Jamal Murray with the seventh overall pick out of Kentucky. Murray is an absolute stud and could be one of the NBA’s premier shooters in a few years’ time. He is quick, has great athleticism, and projects to be a solid defender at the NBA level with the right amount of effort. With the 15th pick, they selected forward, Juancho Hernangómez, a solid utility player off the bench. They also took Malik Beasley with the 19th overall pick, who is one of their go-to bench shooters and also has the length to bother shots on the defensive end.


The Nuggets traded for electric bench scorer, Will Barton, from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2015 and he just signed an extension this past summer to stay in town. He will reportedly be out with a hip injury for the next month, but he will likely start at small forward when he returns. The Nuggets received a do-it-all center, Mason Plumlee, in a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers in 2017, and also traded for Trey Lyles from the Utah Jazz, a former lottery pick with a lot of upside as a scorer.


The Nuggets stockpiled a lot of talent, but their Achilles’ heel has been defense for years now. In the summer of 2017, they signed free agent forward, Paul Millsap, who was a four-time All-Star in his previous four seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. He was signed to help the team fix their defensive woes and put them over the top as far making it to the playoffs and advancing. After missing much of last year, he is playing well for the Nuggets to start the year and provides an amazing veteran influence for the young players on the Nuggets.


Then the Denver Nuggets made some savvy moves this past summer to assure them that they would not be denied the playoffs again. They went out and signed Isaiah Thomas to a veteran minimum deal. I do not believe there is any better value contract in the NBA today for what Thomas can do for this team when he returns from injury. Just two seasons ago with the Boston Celtics, he averaged 28.9 points while only standing 5-foot-9. He is a two-time All-Star who has had his career derailed a bit due to a nagging hip injury, but he will be instrumental to the Nuggets upon his return.


What maybe the most important key to their future was drafting Michael Porter Jr. with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Just a year earlier, Porter Jr. was projected to be the number one pick in the draft but he was only able to play a few games for Missouri due to a back injury. He fell all the way to the bottom of the lottery, with the Los Angeles Clippers passing on him twice, and the Nuggets took the chance. They figured they had enough talent that even if he does not pan out, they are still set up very well for the future. And if he does pan out, the Nuggets just got what could be a transcendent NBA superstar.


The youth of this Nuggets team is the most intriguing part. Jokic is 23 years old, Harris is 24, Murray is 21, Beasley is 21, Lyles is 23, and Porter Jr. is only 20. This team is good now and only figures to get better under the veteran leadership of Millsap, Barton, and Thomas. They figure to be one of the Western Conference’s elite teams for years and years to come.


When Barton, Thomas, and Porter Jr. all return for the Denver Nuggets, watch out. This team is already competing at such a high level, and these three will put them over the top. I do not know if they will be able to challenge the Golden State Warriors, but this team should be near the top of the Western Conference and is geared up for long playoff run.



The Dig: Are the Nuggets Gold or Fool’s Gold?

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The Dig is a semi-monthly analysis of the dominant narrative defining the previous stretch of games. This episode’s theme: Are the Nuggets Gold or Fool’s Gold?


The Nuggets are off to a hot start. But, there’s some major inconsistencies between some current struggles and what worked so well in previous seasons. The question bodes: will these struggles catch up in the “lose” column of the remaining schedule or are the improvements in other areas enough to keep the wins piling up?


Recorded before the Memphis game, Nick Hertzog and Jeremy Poley discuss the Nuggets’ hot start, compare Gary Harris to green chili, and argue about Jamal Murray’s role moving forward.



4 Tests for Real Gold (2:05)


Gold or Fool’s Gold (8:45) | Topics include the Nuggets’ defense, Jokic’s assist numbers, Millsap’s Defense, do Murray or Harris make an all-star appearance.


A Haiku for You, Broncos Fans (28:45)


Fill in the Blank (29:21) | Topics include the Nuggets record, Jokic’s reluctance to shoot, the City unis, Murray’s shot for 50, and Steven Avery.


Please follow us on Twitter @TheDigDenver!


Thunder-Nuggets: 12-win teams meet in Oklahoma City

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are rolling since a season-opening four-game losing streak, but a hot streak still does not prevent coach Billy Donovan from making adjustments.


One adjustment he made was pairing Dennis Schroder with Russell Westbrook in the starting backcourt for the first time this season, and it succeeded.


Schroder and Westbrook may be the starting backcourt again Saturday night when the Thunder host the Denver Nuggets in the first of four meetings between the Northwest Division teams.




Schroder and Westbrook combined for 53 points on 19-of-37 shooting as Oklahoma City recorded a 109-104 victory over the Charlotte Hornets Friday. Westbrook scored 30 while Schroder finished with 23, and big nights by the starting guards helped the Thunder win for the 12th time in 14 games.


“He is a great competitor,” Donovan said of Schroder. “Whichever way the team needs him to be used, he is willing to do that; whether it is playing off the ball alongside Russell or running the second unit. He obviously wants to be out there playing and contributing, which he is, but it doesn’t really make a difference for him. I give him a lot of credit because he just plays. He is a basketball player. He just goes out and plays.”


On Friday, Schroder and Westbrook were on the floor for 18 minutes together. During those minutes, the Thunder outscored Charlotte by 14 and shot 51.5 percent.


“He did a good job of making adjustments,” Westbrook told reporters after scoring at least 30 points for the third time this season.


Schroder scored 23 points after getting 32 as a reserve in Wednesday’s blowout win at Golden State. Schroder has seven games with at least 20 points and is averaging 18.1 points in nine starts this season.


“Since I’ve been here, they’ve been fair to me,” Schroder said. “And I’m a team player, I want to win, and it doesn’t matter if I’m coming off of the bench or if I’m starting. I just want to bring it to the team to win some games.”


Oklahoma City and Denver are two of the 12-win teams in the Northwest along with Portland, which was blown at Golden State Friday. The Thunder and Nuggets also are two of six teams with at least 12 wins in the Western Conference.


Denver will be going for its third straight win after coasting to a 112-87 home win over the Orlando Magic on Friday. The Nuggets followed up a 103-101 win at Minnesota on Wednesday by shooting 47.3 percent and allowing just 19 points in the fourth quarter Friday.


“Once again, our defense led the offense, same (as) with Minnesota,” Denver coach Mike Malone said after his team collected 10 steals, blocked five shots, and limited Orlando to just 40.5-percent shooting from the floor. “And that’s when we’re at our best.”


Before winning its last two games, Denver lost six of seven games, all by 10 points or fewer.


On Friday, Nuggets reserve Trey Lyles scored 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting while fellow reserve Mason Plumlee added 15 on a night when Nikola Jokic was held to six points.


“We’ve got, arguably, one of the best starting fives in the league,” Nuggets point guard Monte Morris said. “So, to have a supporting cast, which is us, on the bench, for us, is great. We just know each other’s tendencies.”


The Nuggets may be shorthanded as starting shooting guard Gary Harris left Friday’s game with a sore left ankle. Malone described it as an “Achilles issue” while Harris was walking without crutches or a walking boot and seemed to think he would play Saturday.


The Nuggets won three of four meetings last season against the Thunder, and the season series was decided by a combined 13 points. In the last meeting on March 30 in Oklahoma City, Paul Millsap scored 36 points in Denver’s 126-125 overtime win.


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