Despite of rash of injuries, including being without three important starting players as they embark on an important and difficult seven-game, 13-day road trip, the Denver Nuggets have gotten off to the best start in franchise history, largely on the shoulders of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and standout guard Jamal Murray. In their last home game, a thrilling 142-138 overtime win over the arch-nemesis Minnesota Timberwolves, the duo combined for 91 points, 18 rebounds and 25 assists. The 22-8 Nuggets currently sit third in the rugged NBA Western Conference standings, trailing front running Oklahoma City and upstart San Antonio.
Nonetheless, the Nuggets are desperate to get back the services of Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun and Cam Johnson. All three starters had been playing well before being sidelined and their absence has placed an even heavier burden on Jokic, Murray and a revamped bench unit.
But there might be some good news on the way.
Adelman says Return of Gordon and Braun is Coming Soon
According to Katy Winge of Altitude Sports, Head Coach David Adelman has indicated that both Braun and Gordon could be returning before the end of the current east coast odyssey.
Braun would be the most likely to return first after having rehabbed a sprained left ankle he hurt on November 12th against the Los Angeles Clippers. It was originally reported that Braun would miss six weeks, but that return date has already passed.
Gordon suffered a grade two pulled right hamstring just 10 days after Braun was hurt, leaving the Nuggets with a void in their front court rotation. They have benefited from the addition of Jonas Valančiūnas and the return of veteran Bruce Brown, but neither plays Gordon’s role at either end. While Jokic, Murray and sharpshooters like Tim Hardaway Jr. have kept Denver’s offense rolling, Gordon’s absence on the defensive end has been pronounced. The Nuggets were ranked in the upper portion of the NBA in defensive rating before Gordon was hurt. Now they rank 27th.
Gordon was also scheduled to miss six weeks, meaning and early January return would be right on schedule.
Cam Johnson to Miss a Full Month
Forward Cam Johnson was injured in a 131-130 loss to Dallas on December 23rd, leaving the Nuggets without three starters. Johnson suffered a bone bruise on his right knee and is expected to miss more than a month.
In their absence, Adelman has turned to young players like Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson to fill the void. Jones is on a two-way contract, meaning he currently has a limit on how many NBA games he can play in this season before he has to return to the Denver’s G-League affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Watson missed a pair of games earlier this month with a rib injury, but has since returned to the lineup.
Denver’s first two games of the road trip are in Florida, where they’ll face the tough Orlando Magic followed by a tilt against the Miami Heat. The Nuggets have defeated both the Magic and the Heat in Denver already this season.
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