Ryan Blackburn here, the host of the daily Locked On Nuggets podcast, with your daily Locked On Nuggets newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Nuggets and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
A Youth Movement for the Denver Nuggets?
Nov 4, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) knocks the ball away from Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick (1) in the fourth quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images|Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Nuggets 10-piece is the 10 things you need to know from every Denver Nuggets game from Locked On Nuggets. Here are the 10 things you need to know from the Nuggets’ wild win over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night…
Aaron Gordon hurt: About four minutes into the game, Davion Mitchell took a charge in transition on Gordon. When he got up, Gordon wasn’t the same, and he left the floor soon after. Michael Malone shared after the game that Gordon’s calf strain wasn’t anything sigificant, but it’s something to monitor.
Turnover Happy: Without Gordon, the Nuggets grew lackadaisical with the ball, racking up 12 turnovers by halftime. Westbrook and Jokic each had three and Porter had two. The Raptors turned them into 13 fast break points.
Watson replaces AG: Peyton Watson got the biggest opportunity tonight to replace Gordon. He didn’t disappoint, hitting an incredibly clutch corner three with under two minutes to go to put the Nuggets up late.
Strawther joins him: Michael Malone called Strawther’s first half “subpar” tonight. He stuck with Strawther late, and the scoring wing paid off Malone with some big buckets, some free throws, and a great steal. Malone has little choice but to trust Strawther at the moment, and it paid off.
Tyson and Nnaji get a shot: The two young guys combined to score two points in 29 total minutes, but the effort and defensive intent were apparent. The Nuggets were able to win this game while Nikola Jokic was -1 in plus-minus on the game.
Brodie excels: Russell Westbrook didn’t close the game, but he still played 34 minutes, scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists while shooting efficiently. Some of the jump shots still confuse me, but that’s a stat line no one can sneeze at. He helped win this game.
Westbrook knows: I asked Westbrook after the game about how important wins like these are. “It’s good to see that we come together when things get tight and adversity hits. We don’t fall down. We don’t look around. We come together. We lock in.”
Porter big: Four offensive rebounds for Michael Porter Jr. last night. His shot wasn’t hitting in the second half, so he drove and finished over smaller players. His rebounding was essential. He even had two stocks and three key assists. The last two were the final buckets of the game.
Jokic ho-hum: 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. It wasn’t a great game from Jokic with seven turnovers, sub 50% from the field, and subpar defense against Jakob Poeltl. Still, Jokic is inevitable. He carries the responsibility well in these moments.
Signs of spring: The youth movement is looking good in Denver after last night. Braun, Strawther, and Watson were all on the floor for a win. They will all have roles to play in the playoffs this year. If spring comes early for Denver’s youth, the Nuggets playoff rotation may end up being just fine.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Injury Denver Nuggets’ star Aaron Gordon was ruled out against the Raptors, impacting team dynamics and game strategies significantly. (Sports Illustrated)
Milestone Russell Westbrook achieves NBA history in the Nuggets vs. Nets game, showcasing his exceptional skills and dedication. (Sports Illustrated)
Signing Denver Nuggets consider signing a recent Lakers and Celtics player, potentially enhancing their roster depth and versatility. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Injury reports for the Nuggets vs. Raptors game reveal critical updates, affecting team preparation and performance outlook. (Sports Illustrated)
Injury Denver Nuggets star listed on the injury report ahead of the Raptors game, raising concerns about his availability and impact. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nuggets podcasts.
Youth In Revolt: Denver’s Youngsters Help Nuggets Survive Raptors (Again) Christian Braun is a STUD. Peyton Watson is a DAWG. Julian Strawther is ELECTRIC. And Denver’s young guys stepped up and helped Nikola Jokic get a win over the Raptors.
Locked On Nuggets POSTCAST: Young Guys Shine in Comeback win versus Raptors The Denver Nuggets rallied in the 4th quarter to beat the Toronto Raptors, 121-119. Aniello breaks it down on the POSTCAST.
Can Nuggets win without Jamal Murray? No Jinx on a Sunday night! Matt and Ryan discuss Jamal Murray’s absence, Russell Westbrook, and predictions for this week’s home stand.
