The doors into the Nuggets’ auxiliary gym at the Pepsi Center remained closed Saturday afternoon, and rather than allowing reporters to see the last minutes of exercise, the group required prolonged secrecy to run setup plays before the final whistle.
This was extra preparation time made mandatory with a unfortunate Nuggets injury bug as rsquo & they;ve reached the midway point of the year at.
Point shield Jamal Murray (foot ), power forward Paul Millsap (knee) and shooting guard Gary Harris (adductor strain) were all absent from Friday night’s overtime victory at Golden State. And it appears all three are most very likely to miss Sunday night game against the Pacers (27-15).
“ both Jamal and Paul are still out,” coach Michael Malone told reporters Saturday. “Garyout of the three, is by far the closest to possibly coming back. He managed to do some things now, and now we &rsquo. But I really want to be clever with it. I don&rsquo again. ”
Even the skeleton Nuggets flexed their thickness and versatility against the now lowly Warriors. Starting small forward Will Barton poured in a season-best 31 points, and he even closed the match at point guard down the stretch. Every available Nugget minus Vlatko Cancar saw the ground, including a career-high 29 minutes and 18 minutes of playing time for Michael Porter Jr.. He made the most of it with 19 points, eight rebounds and 2 steals.
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“I know I’ I ll be enjoying with a whole lot, and I know they will be calling to me to score some and play-make some,” Porter said. “I’ve got to be prepared for each and every game. ”
Added book shooting guard Malik Beasley: “I constantly prepare to play no matter what. I&rsquo. ”
Denver’s inactivity so far leading to this Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline has allowed because of its thickness to match the group inputting a late-January gauntlet with marquee games against the Rockets (double ), Pelicans, Jazz and Bucks. Supplying the Nuggets’ bench with big-game experience today appears likely to pay dividends at once — provided that those players continue contributing Denver to victory.
“We& & rsquo;re finding ways with a youthful team, and with men who are advancing, and stepping into big situations,” Malone said. “I like where people ’re . The challenge is if we can continue to play rsquo we &; re playing of us. ”
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