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Nuggets coach Michael Malone referred to as franchise cornerstones Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray uncertain for Monday’s preseason exhibition recreation towards Phoenix as each work their means again from their respective wrist and hamstring accidents.
Jokic participated in most of apply on Sunday, however the group opted to carry him out of the contact portion in order to keep away from any pointless threat. He underwent an MRI for his sprained proper wrist that didn’t present something alarming.
Murray left Friday night time’s recreation late within the first half at Chicago and went via “very little” of apply, based on Malone. The Nuggets plan to be cautious with him as he ramps up his workload amid his return from left ACL surgical procedure.
“I wouldn’t say long-term concern with what happened in Chicago, but, yeah, there’s long-term concern in terms of how we approach the day-to-day and being smart, being prudent,” Malone mentioned.
With Denver’s ultimate three preseason video games all crammed into this week, Malone left open the likelihood that he won’t play Jokic and Murray anymore within the preseason. While not ruling Murray out prematurely, his level was that he intends to make use of a cautious, cautious method all through the season.
An even bigger concern for Malone proper now could be the group’s protection, or lack of it. Following an 0-2 preseason begin that featured abysmal protection in each cases, Malone bolstered the defensive ideas Sunday that the coaches hammered throughout coaching camp in San Diego.
He was perplexed as a result of, in his phrases, “we play harder in practice than we do in the games.”
The Nuggets’ transition protection, and at occasions, their inside protection, was inexcusable towards Chicago. In Malone’s opinion, that was extra a perform of effort than any schematic breakdowns. During a movie session Sunday the coaches highlighted 10 defensive lapses towards Chicago.
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