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.
Jamal Murray wakes up in Memphis
Nov 19, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) reacts after a dunk during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The 10-piece gives you the ten things you need to know from the Nuggets’ 82 games this season.
1. Jamal Murray kicks into action: The Nuggets needed Murray to wake up to win this game. He responded with 27 efficient points, five made threes, and some strong defense. It was just one game, and fans want more consistency. Call it a strong first step.
2. Michael Porter Jr. dominates with physicality: MPJ shot 10/10 from two-point range to begin this game. He set the tone, drawing fouls, grabbing rebounds, scoring at the rim. It was a nice response to scoring just 10 points on Sunday.
3. Brodie goes for the 200th Triple-Double: 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 assists is an insane stat line for a bench point guard. Russell Westbrook played 32 minutes, and he set the table many times for Denver’s other scorers. Add it to the list of games Westbrook helped swing.
4. Braun outplays Bane: The numbers say it all. Christian Braun had 19 points on 12 shots. Desmond Bane had 5 points on 10 shots. Braun locked him down and continues to establish himself as a quality starting shooting guard this season.
5. The Homie Dario hits a big shot: Dario Saric dealt with foul trouble for much of this game and played just 18 minutes. His only two baskets were a three-pointer 34 seconds into the game and a three-pointer with 27 seconds left to put the game out of reach for Memphis. Pretty cool symmetry there.
6. Backup Center Roulette: The Nuggets started Dario Saric, then played Vlatko Cancar, then moved Watson to center, then inserted DeAndre Jordan, then put in Zeke Nnaji tonight. Michael Malone tried everything, and he should continue to try everything until someone establishes themselves as the best option.
7. Vlatko Cancar hurt: The only reason Cancar only played 11 minutes tonight was he grabbed his left knee after landing awkwardly on a dunk. The motion did not look good and Cancar limped to the locker room. Hopefully he’s okay.
8. Trey Alexander gets some run: Alexander, interestingly, was the first sub in tonight’s game. He played brief stints in the first and third quarter. He had an assist but didn’t make any shots. Perhaps this was just an attempt to shake up the rotation, but maybe Alexander should play more to ease the burden on Denver’s point guards.
9. Grindhouse is always physical: 53 fouls were called. 53 free throws were attempted. Westbrook was assessed a technical for looking at someone. The refs had a difficult time and didn’t handle that game particularly well. The Nuggets kept composure though.
10. Michael Malone masterclass: Malone tied Doug Moe tonight for his 432nd win as Nuggets head coach. He has an opportunity to become the Nuggets coach with the most wins in franchise history on Friday. He earned tonight’s win. This was an excellently coached game from Moach.
The streak had to end sometime. Even the 2015-2016 Warriors only (“only”) got to 24 wins to start their season. Ironically, they’d go on to lose the title to the Cavs that season.
That Cleveland lost to the Celtics, in TD Garden, without Isaac Okoro and with Darius Garland shooting 3-21 — well only the first half of that stings. If Garland made two more of those field goals the Cavs would’ve taken the game, and Okoro, out with an ankle sprain, will be back.
This game was a tester for the Cavs. Beyond a match against the defending champs and a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, it was an opportunity to see how the team responded to pressure, unfavourable conditions and expectation. NBA basketball is about winning, we all know this refrain well, but that the Cavs scoring dried up in crucial stretches while the team also fell into bad habits of turning the ball over in momentum-leeching moments, and they still managed multiple runs to come back within two, speaks pretty well to this group’s ability to respond.
What makes the Celtics so good, and a bit like a dream-crushing machine, is their ability to capitalize on and invert what usually brings their opponents wins. In the Cavs case, it’s their speed. Not just pure speed without aim, but their ability to push the pace within their offensive possessions because not one player tends to move in isolation from anyone else. Their lightning quick passing, their flashing cuts and counter-cuts, it’s all predicated on ball movement capitalizing on intuitive communication. A sixth sense of understanding where their teammates are on the floor at any given moment.
Boston was able to jam that up. Not entirely upend it, but chase with pace of their own enough that Garland at times appeared to be the pursued and not the pursuer. Where Garland rushed an offensive possession, where he went in for a fastbreak ISO drive to wrest the pace of the game back into his team’s hands, he bungled it. He’d botch an easy layup and go careening past the baseline, having to expend more energy to get back down the floor in the transition already underway. And the more he botched it, the faster he went. The Celtics saw this and upped the pressure on him, taking advantage of forced turnovers by draining three after three and all but eliminating a huge component of what’s made the Cavs so formidable — their rebounding.
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
Analysis How the Cavaliers’ offseason plan has turned them into the top team in the league so far this year. (ESPN)
Milestone Russell Westbrook becomes the first player in NBA history to record 200 triple-doubles. (CBS Sports)
Must Read The NBA’s three-point revolution has gotten extreme, begging the question: How many is too many?(The Washington Post)
Milestone Russell Westbrook’s heartfelt statement celebrates reaching 200 triple-doubles, marking an incredible milestone in his NBA career. His achievement underscores his impact and dedication on the court. (Sports Illustrated)
Replay The Nuggets managed to secure a 122-110 victory over the Grizzlies, overcoming a late-game surge. Their resilience was crucial in maintaining their lead and earning the win. (Denver Stiffs)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Can Dalton Knecht Keep Up This Run?
Nov 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht (4) react after scoring a three point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images|Gary A. Vasquez/Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Dalton Knecht has recently become a focal point in NBA fantasy discussions, thanks to his electrifying performances on the court. In a standout game, Knecht scored 37 points, including nine three-pointers, with an impressive 75% shooting accuracy. This remarkable display has fantasy managers buzzing, as Knecht’s shooting streak positions him as a valuable asset in leagues.
Knecht’s Shooting Streak: A Fantasy Goldmine
Over the past four games, Knecht has been on a tear, shooting 22 of 33 from beyond the arc, equating to a 67% success rate. Such efficiency is rare and highlights his potential as a sharpshooter. For fantasy managers, Knecht is a must-add player, especially given his current role in the Lakers’ starting lineup. However, while his shooting spree is impressive, it’s important to manage expectations, as maintaining such a high percentage is challenging over the long term.
Injury Updates and Their Impact on Fantasy Rosters
Knecht’s rise comes at a time when injuries are shaking up NBA rosters. Norman Powell’s hamstring injury, for instance, has left a gap in the Clippers’ lineup. With Powell likely sidelined for at least a week, players like Kris Dunn and Amir Coffey might see increased roles, offering potential value for fantasy managers seeking replacements.
Click the button below to get updates on Zach Edey’s ankle injury, and how Bradley Beal’s calf continues to cause problems for fantasy managers
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Nuggets podcasts.
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The Jamal Murray Discussion | Finding Ways to Win | Nuggets Vs. Grizzlies Preview Swipa has a holistic discussion about Jamal Murray. The Nuggets have to find ways to win without Jokic. They HAVE to.
