Jamal Murray is listed as questionable for Game 2 of the Nuggets’ second-round series against the Timberwolves, Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports tweets. Murray was also listed as questionable prior to Game 1, in which he was held to 17 points and four assists.
Murray, who is dealing with a calf strain, said on Sunday he’ll just have to grin and bear it, Wind adds in another tweet.
“It’s going to be a part of it. I’ve accepted that,” he said. “There are counters for everything, so I’ve just got to keep adjusting. We’ve got to keep adjusting and find ways to get it done. The calf is whatever it is.”
We have more on the Nuggets:
- Denver was down 18-4 in the early going of the 106-99 loss and coach Michael Malone is weary of the slow starts. “We have to do a better job, our starters in particular, have to do a better job of being ready to play and setting the tone early,” Malone said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “What are we waiting for? I mean, now we’re down 0-1, what are you waiting for?”
- The Nuggets never trailed in a series during their championship run last season, nor did they lose a home game until the NBA Finals. So, their drive for a repeat will have to be achieved with more adversity, McMenamin notes. “This year is different,” Malone said. “It’s a different team. It’s a different setup. And now it’s a new challenge. So let’s embrace that. We are down. We didn’t want to be, but we are. So let’s fight like hell (Monday) night and leave it all out there.”
- The Nuggets didn’t shoot that badly in Game 1, making 46.7% of their field goal attempts and 41.9% on 3-point tries. Still, Malone saw plenty of room for improvement after reviewing the film, the Denver Post’s Bennett Durando tweets. “Offensively, there were probably 15 possessions where no one had any idea what we were in,” he said. “Not organized. Didn’t space the floor. You can do that against certain teams in the regular season. But against Minnesota … you can’t afford wasted possessions.”
Needless to say Murray healthy is vital for back to back.
Told you ANT would take Murray on defence and do a fantastic job, which then has Conley on KCP. Then down the other end they have no answer for ANT. I actually think they are probably best off trying to put Aaron Gordon on him, maybe a little show on the perimeter but has the stretch and athleticism to make up for it but then you’d have to put MPJ on KAT and that could be costly. MPJ has the length and could take him on the perimeter well but on the inside he’s not very strong down there.
Id atleast try it if I’m coach Malone, anything to stop ANT. As for them on offence, I’d try play Jokic near the top of the key and try pull Gobert out of the paint and really try to attack the Wolves on the baseline with a series of cuts, back doors screens and corner threes