Nuggets’ First Back-to-Back of Season Without Key Players Shows Team Depth
In the Denver Nuggets' first back-to-back games of the season, head coach David Adelman utilized a 10-man rotation despite missing Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Even with their second- and third-best players sidelined, the Nuggets delivered a commanding 117-100 victory against a shorthanded Indiana Pacers squad on Saturday.
Strong Team Performance Amid Absences
Denver, now 7-2 overall, completed a flawless four-game home stand with contributions from the entire roster. Nikola Jokic battled through eight turnovers to record a triple-double with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists. Rookie Peyton Watson stepped up as a starter, adding 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. The bench also made an impact, highlighted by a 17-point effort.
Home Dominance Continues
The Nuggets remain undefeated at home this season with a perfect 6-0 record. Remarkably, they have not trailed at all during second halves at Ball Arena.
Injury and Precaution Details
Murray has been managing intermittent calf tightness over the past week, while Gordon was officially listed as dealing with left hamstring management. Both absences were precautionary, as the team adjusted to playing on just 24 hours of rest for the first time this season.
“If you feel something that you know could turn into something worse, I think there is a little bit of apprehension,” David Adelman said regarding Gordon’s spot on the injury report. “But he had some explosive plays last night. And Aaron’s a guy we have to protect in that sense … just because there’s just not that many human beings that are that big, can jump that high, can explode like that.”
Overall, the Nuggets' depth and resilience highlight their flexibility and readiness to handle challenges during a demanding schedule.
Author’s summary: The Nuggets showed their strength by winning back-to-back games without Murray and Gordon, relying on balanced scoring and strategic depth to maintain their perfect home record.