Nuggets’ First Back-to-Back Without Key Players Reveals Depth
David Adelman utilized a 10-man rotation in the Denver Nuggets' first back-to-back game of the season, missing Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Despite these absences, the Nuggets displayed precise and effective basketball.
Game Summary
Denver secured a 117-100 victory over a depleted Indiana Pacers team on Saturday, completing a flawless four-game home stand. The win came even without two of their top contributors, showcasing the team's resilience and depth.
Key Performances
- Nikola Jokic delivered a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists, overcoming eight turnovers.
- Peyton Watson stepped up as a starter, contributing 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.
- A bench player stayed hot, adding 17 points to help maintain the team's momentum.
Home Stand and Team Status
The Nuggets improved to 7-2 overall and remain unbeaten at home this season, now 6-0, never trailing in the second half at Ball Arena.
Injury Updates
Jamal Murray has been managing recurring calf tightness, while Aaron Gordon is dealing with left hamstring issues. Their absence was mainly precautionary due to the tight schedule of playing on only 24 hours' rest for the first time this season.
“If you feel something that you know could turn into something worse, I think there is a little bit of apprehension,” said David Adelman about Gordon appearing on the injury report. “But he had some explosive plays last night. And Aaron’s a guy we have to protect in that sense … just because there’s just not that many human beings that are that big, can jump that high, can explode like that.”
Author’s summary: The Nuggets demonstrated strong team versatility and resilience by winning their first back-to-back game of the season without two key players, hinting at a viable rotation blueprint.
Would you like the bench player named explicitly if available?