The Denver Nuggets are continuing their winning ways despite dealing with a myriad of injuries.
Bruised and bandaged, the Nuggets will look to complete a three-game season sweep of the spiraling Pelicans on Tuesday in New Orleans.
Nikola Jokic collected 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in Denver’s 122-88 victory over the visiting Pelicans on Oct. 29. The three-time NBA MVP added 28 points, 11 boards and 12 assists in the team’s 125-118 triumph in New Orleans on Nov. 19.
Jokic, however, is approximately two weeks into what is expected to be at least a four-week absence due to a hyperextended left knee.
Jamal Murray (ankle, illness), Christian Braun (ankle), Jonas Valanciunas (calf) and Cam Johnson (knee) are also absent for the Nuggets, who have won three of their last four games.
“He was really uncomfortable last game,” Denver head coach David Adelman said of Braun. “Came in (Sunday) with the intent to play. Went through his warmup. And we had an honest conversation about it. It just didn’t make sense.
“We have to revisit this stuff every day. This is gonna be a process.”
Aaron Gordon recorded 23 points, six rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes during the Nuggets’ 108-104 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Gordon was in the starting lineup after coming off the bench in the previous three games since returning from a hamstring strain.
“I don’t know how AG is gonna feel tomorrow. … We took him past the threshold that we were hoping to play him,” Adelman said, “which was tough because Giannis (Antetokounmpo) came in earlier, and Giannis has been on a minutes restriction, too. And they obviously went away from that restriction. So I followed suit.
“Doc (Rivers) is gonna be in the Hall of Fame someday, so I figured, if he can break the minute restriction rules, I can too.”
Peyton Watson recorded 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists on Sunday. He is averaging 23.7 points and 6.9 boards over the last seven games, and he scored a career-high 32 against the Pelicans in the Nov. 19 matchup.
Zeke Nnaji posted his first double-double of the season, totaling 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Bucks.
While the Nuggets are finding ways to win, the Pelicans lost for the 10th time in 11 games — a 128-118 setback against the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Zion Williamson scored 22 points while Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole each added 21 for New Orleans, which unraveled in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans were outscored 37-20 in the fourth, much to the chagrin of interim head coach James Borrego.
“We’ve got to have more poise and execute down the stretch,” Borrego said. “But you’ve got to make plays. Bottom line. All of us. That’s my job to keep helping put us in position, but ultimately, we’ve got to go make plays.”
Poole, who sank six 3-pointers, Karlo Matkovic (11 points) and Yves Missi (seven points, five rebounds, four blocks) made an impact off the bench.
“I thought they were great,” Borrego said about the trio. “Poole made some big plays, and obviously, he got going offensively. Yves was fantastic in the first half.”
