November 18th 2024.
Denver Nuggets | EVEN WITHOUT NIKOLA JOKIC, THE NUGGETS ARE PUTTING UP A GOOD FIGHT
Jamal Murray was adamant. The Denver Nuggets might be missing their star center, Nikola Jokic, but they were still a strong team. A team that should have been able to secure a win against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. But unfortunately, in their second consecutive game without Jokic, the Nuggets fell short, losing 105-90 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
Murray, along with Michael Porter Jr., struggled to find their rhythm on the court, only scoring a combined 23 points on a rough shooting day. Until the fourth quarter, Julian Strawther was the only player on the team to reach double-digit points. Murray also had six turnovers, contributing to the Nuggets' loss in the first of two games in Memphis. The rematch on Tuesday will be on the same court, but with NBA Cup stakes on the line.
Coach Michael Malone pointed to the team's inability to score as the main reason for their back-to-back losses. He acknowledged the absence of Jokic and Aaron Gordon, who was also out due to injury, as a significant factor. Malone had stressed the importance of Murray and Porter's performance before the game, and although they put in effort, their shots just weren't falling.
But the Grizzlies also faced their own challenges, as their star player, Ja Morant, was also injured and unable to play. Despite this, their other players stepped up to secure a dominant victory, with Jaren Jackson Jr. scoring 20 points and Desmond Bane coming close to a triple-double.
Murray had argued that the Nuggets had executed their offense well in the previous game, with good ball movement and quality shots. But in this game, they struggled to find their groove in the half-court offense, relying heavily on transition opportunities in the first half. Peyton Watson impressed with his mature plays and passes, but it wasn't enough to keep the Nuggets within single digits at halftime.
Malone, who had missed the previous game to attend his daughter's volleyball tournament, had no updates on Jokic's return. He expressed his concern for Jokic and his wife and said he would continue to check in with them. As for the starting lineup, Malone stuck with the same five players from the previous game, with Dario Saric starting at center, despite not being in the rotation before. Saric ended up being the second-highest scorer for the Nuggets, with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
But when it came to substitutions, Malone made a change, bringing in DeAndre Jordan, who had barely played this season. Malone recognized the Grizzlies' size and strength, particularly on the glass, and wanted to counter that with Jordan's defensive rebounding abilities. The strategy paid off in that aspect, but unfortunately, the Nuggets still couldn't secure a win.
Murray showed effort in other areas, such as rebounding and stealing, but it wasn't enough to make up for his off-shooting night. Malone praised Strawther's offensive performance but also challenged him to improve on the defensive end. As the Nuggets continue to compete in the NBA Cup, they will need all their players to step up and play their best to secure a win.
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