October 18th 2024.
The Denver Nuggets wrapped up their 2024 preseason with a 132-126 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at Target Center. It was an important win for the Nuggets, who finished their preseason with a record of 1-4. Most of the game was played by Denver's starters, while Minnesota coach Chris Finch chose to rest his players. Now, the Nuggets have a week to prepare for their first game of the 2024-25 season against the Thunder on October 24 at Ball Arena.
One of the biggest stories of the game was the performance of Jamal Murray. After experiencing knee pain during warm-ups for a game on Sunday and sitting out the next one on Tuesday, there were concerns about his health. In the previous preseason games, he had only averaged 5.3 points on 32% shooting. However, in the game against Minnesota, he showed signs of life, scoring 25 points and shooting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. He also had five assists, including a beautiful left-handed bounce pass to Julian Strawther for a corner three. This performance was a relief for Nuggets fans, especially after his underwhelming performance at the Olympics.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic had a relatively quiet game, with most of the offensive burden falling on Murray. However, he still managed to contribute with his creative passing, leading the Nuggets to their best shooting game of the preseason. They finished with 55% shooting from the floor and 58% from beyond the arc. Michael Porter Jr. also had a strong game, going 7-for-9, and Julian Strawther finished with 33 points and shooting 50% from 3-point range. Even Vlatko Cancar got some playing time and scored nine points, with Jokic assisting on a few of his buckets.
Overall, it was a solid performance from the Nuggets, who were able to avoid going winless in the preseason. Head coach Michael Malone acknowledged that there are areas for improvement, but he has faith in his team's capabilities when they are fully healthy. He also praised the fourth-quarter production of Strawther and Russell Westbrook, who had a slow start but ended the game with five made shots out of seven attempts. Malone has also mentioned that Westbrook will likely be the first player off the bench for the Nuggets, as he has been one of the team's top performers in the preseason.
In the end, the preseason results may not matter much, but a win in their final game was a positive sign for the Nuggets. With the season opener just around the corner, the team will use the next week to prepare and improve. And for Nuggets fans, there is no need to panic, as the team has shown their potential and will continue to work towards their goal of a successful season. Want to stay updated on all things Nuggets? Sign up for the Nuggets Insider to get all the latest NBA analysis.
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