![]() ![]() Denver Nuggets’ Bruce Brown looks to shoot past Milwaukee Bucks’ Brook Lopez and Jrue Holiday during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. “Fight, compete,” he said of what he wanted to see prior to the game. Once they cleared that obstacle, the team arrived early Wednesday morning with a marquee matchup only hours later.īut down so many key players, Malone had to recalibrate his goals. But Jeff Green’s halfcourt 3-pointer to beat the buzzer meant Denver trailed just 81-73 entering the fourth.īefore the Nuggets’ plane took off Tuesday night, staffers’ phones pinged with a tornado warning in New Orleans. Antetokounmpo caught an alley-oop lob over Ish Smith in a microcosm of the disparity. Late in the third quarter, the Bucks momentarily distanced themselves. He ran the floor hard and kept the offense moving. Beyond Nnaji, Vlatko Cancar was the quintessential glue guy. He blocked Antetokounmpo, worked the boards and buried a 3-pointer from the wing. Starting in place of Jokic, Zeke Nnaji made an impact on both ends. But Denver stayed within one possession most of the third quarter thanks to their army of talent. The Nuggets are so deep, most nights even capable players can’t get off the bench. The Bucks buried 13 of 30 3-pointers in pulling away late in the fourth quarter. “Everybody contributed,” said Malone while lamenting his team’s 39% shooting overall.īeyond Antetokounmpo’s brute force, the Nuggets had to contend with Milwaukee’s marksmanship as well. In addition to Jokic, the Nuggets were without Jamal Murray (knee maintenance), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (right wrist sprain) and Michael Porter Jr. “I couldn’t be more proud of our group,” Malone said. Nuggets coach Michael Malone wasn’t upset with the effort. Now 34-15 overall with another contest Saturday at Philadelphia, Wednesday was the dictionary definition of a schedule loss. Jokic warmed up prior to the contest, which suggested the decision to hold him out was more maintenance than injury related.īut regardless of the reasoning, the Nuggets were without their MVP, while Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo bludgeoned his way through Denver’s frontcourt for 33 points and 22 trips to the free-throw line. Nikola Jokic missed the second night of Denver’s back-to-back tending to a sore hamstring, and the Nuggets fell, 107-99, to the Milwaukee Bucks. MILWAUKEE – The Nuggets’ best chance of stealing one on the road wore a black jacket and dark pants and never stepped foot on the court for Wednesday’s game. ![]() Just last season we saw just how good the quartet was to the extent that it could even be argued that Murray’s untimely injury may have prevented them from winning a championship.Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menu Indeed, with that in mind the Nuggets are absolutely correct to be cautious with them as they surely have many more years at this level alongside the likes of league MVP Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon. A big loss for the Denver NuggetsĪt 25 Murray is two years older than the 23 year old Porter Jr., but both are playing on maximum contracts for the Nuggets and quite frankly have been lethal when healthy. However, Porter is now deemed unlikely to return to the Nuggets this season. As was the case with Murray, there was initial hope that he could return in time, however, it has now been confirmed that he won’t be returning for the Nuggets again this season.He rehabbed from there and initially presented some optimism for a possible return. In the end he required back surgery to repair the issue that hindering his progress. Then of course there is Porter Jr., who did manage to play this season, but in the nine appearances that he made it was clear to see that he was struggling. Initially it was believed there would be more than enough time for him to make a successful return, but last season’s condensed schedule - due to the pandemic - means that he is still well within the typical one-year return time frame from a torn ACL. Murray of course was already a doubt, having missed the entire season as he fought to recover from a torn ACL, which he suffered towards the end of last year’s regular season. Sources say, as of now, they are unlikely to return to action during playoffs: /KUMgctvOLD- Shams Charania April 9, 2022 Nuggets star guard Jamal Murray and forward Michael Porter Jr.
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