July 13th 2024.
The highly anticipated return of the in-season tournament is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable. The tournament, now under a new sponsorship and name, has revealed all six groups for the upcoming fall season. Among them, the Denver Nuggets are set to headline the "Group of Death" in what is expected to be a fierce competition from start to finish. With a stacked roster from top to bottom, the Nuggets will face off against the Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors, and Grizzlies in Group C of the Western Conference.
The group stage of the tournament will kick off on November 12, with games taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays until the top eight teams advance to the knockout stage. Denver will have the opportunity to go head-to-head against each of their four group-mates, playing two games at home and two on the road. While the full schedule has yet to be released, fans are eagerly awaiting the chance to see the Nuggets dominate the court.
Last year, the Nuggets fell short in the inaugural tournament, failing to make it out of the group stage with a record of 2-2. After a strong start, the team struggled on the road against the Pelicans and Rockets, ultimately missing out on the championship. However, this year, with a new lineup and renewed determination, the Nuggets are poised to make a comeback and claim the new trophy.
Group C in the Western Conference is packed with exciting storylines, including a reunion between Golden State and Klay Thompson, who recently signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Additionally, this group marks Ja Morant's return to the national stage after missing most of last season due to suspension and injury. With the addition of the Grizzlies, who had a down year, this quintet of teams is sure to bring intense competition to the court.
The groups were drawn based on the 2023-24 league standings, with each conference having 15 teams. In order to fairly determine three groups of five, each group includes one team from the top three, one from the middle three, one from the bottom three, and one from each of the remaining tiers. In Denver's group, the Memphis Grizzlies represent the bottom three teams in the standings.
The full draw for the tournament is as follows:
East Group A: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets
East Group B: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons
East Group C: Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards
West Group A: Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers
West Group B: Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs
West Group C: Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies.
In other Nuggets news, Nikola Jokic has been making headlines with his impressive performance for the Serbian national team. In a pre-Olympics exhibition game against France, Jokic led his team to a 79-67 victory, scoring 20 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Despite facing a tough defensive frontcourt, Jokic showed off his skills with a step-back 3-pointer and a hook shot over the DPOY runner-up, Victor Wembanyama.
Serbia is set to face off against the United States in their first Olympic game on July 28, and fans are eagerly anticipating Jokic's performance on the international stage. Want more updates on the Nuggets? Don't forget to sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all the latest NBA analysis and news.
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