NBA: Nuggets limp into New Orleans with sights set on season sweep

The Denver Nuggets continue to find ways to win despite being battered by injuries.

Bruised and short-handed, Denver will aim to complete a three-game season sweep of the struggling New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night in New Orleans.

Nikola Jokic delivered a triple-double of 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Nuggets’ 122-88 win over the Pelicans on Oct. 29. The three-time NBA MVP followed that performance with 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists in Denver’s 125-118 victory in New Orleans on Nov. 19.

Jokic, however, is roughly two weeks into what is expected to be at least a four-week absence after suffering a hyperextended left knee.

The Nuggets are also without Jamal Murray (ankle, illness), Christian Braun (ankle), Jonas Valanciunas (calf), and Cam Johnson (knee). Despite the injuries, Denver has won three of its last four games.

“He was really uncomfortable last game,” Nuggets head coach David Adelman said of Braun. “He came in on Sunday with the intent to play, went through his warmup, and we had an honest conversation about it. It just didn’t make sense.

“We have to revisit this stuff every day. This is going to be a process.”

Aaron Gordon finished with 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists in 31 minutes during Denver’s 108-104 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Gordon returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench in his previous three games since returning from a hamstring strain.

“I don’t know how AG is going to feel tomorrow,” Adelman said. “We took him past the threshold we were hoping for. That was tough because Giannis came in earlier and had been on a minutes restriction, too. They obviously went away from that restriction, so I followed suit.

“Doc (Rivers) is going to be in the Hall of Fame someday, so I figured if he can break the minutes restriction rules, I can too.”

Peyton Watson added 19 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on Sunday. He is averaging 23.7 points and 6.9 rebounds over his last seven games and scored a career-high 32 points against the Pelicans in the Nov. 19 meeting.

Zeke Nnaji recorded his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Milwaukee.

While the Nuggets continue to grind out wins, the Pelicans are heading in the opposite direction. New Orleans has lost 10 of its last 11 games, including a 128-118 defeat to the Orlando Magic on Sunday.

Zion Williamson scored 22 points, while Trey Murphy III and Jordan Poole each added 21 for the Pelicans, who faltered in the fourth quarter. New Orleans was outscored 37-20 in the final period, frustrating interim head coach James Borrego.

“We’ve got to have more poise and execute down the stretch,” Borrego said. “But you’ve got to make plays. Bottom line. All of us. It’s my job to keep putting us in position, but ultimately, we’ve got to go make plays.”

Poole, who knocked down six three-pointers, along with Karlo Matkovic (11 points) and Yves Missi (seven points, five rebounds, four blocks), provided a spark off the bench.

“I thought they were great,” Borrego said of the trio. “Poole made some big plays and got going offensively. Yves was fantastic in the first half.”

— Field Level Media/Reuters