The Denver Nuggets need extra power to keep away from one other disappointing outcome.
They is perhaps going up towards the suitable opponent to show issues round as they go to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday evening. The Hornets have misplaced six video games in a row.
The Nuggets started a three-game highway journey with a 115-104 loss to the Orlando Magic on Thursday regardless of Aaron Gordon’s season-high 37 factors.
“They turned up their aggressiveness (and) physicality, and we never responded,” Denver coach Michael Malone mentioned. “The message was simple at halftime: We’re not playing hard enough.”
Denver is usually a high-scoring crew, eclipsing the 120-point mark in 4 of its earlier 5 video games earlier than the loss to the Magic.
“Losing sucks, but I can take a loss where your guys leave it all out there and you play hard,” Malone mentioned. “Hopefully against Charlotte, we can find a way to play with a lot more effort, play with a lot more urgency.”
With Denver proudly owning a 12-14 highway report, Malone mentioned a purpose ought to be reaching .500 in that class by the top of the journey. The Nuggets is perhaps short-handed on Saturday, although. Gordon is listed as questionable attributable to a left rib contusion, and Jamal Murray, who has missed the previous three video games due to proper knee irritation, can also be questionable.
The Hornets misplaced 127-116 on Friday evening to the host Boston Celtics, so three of their losses within the skid have been by double digits.
“The effort for the most part all year has been really the strength,” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford mentioned. “We just can’t have those lapses of play.”
The issues have been totally on defence because the Hornets allowed the Celtics to attach on 25 photographs from 3-point vary, probably the most by a Charlotte opponent this season.
That must be good news for Denver, which hit solely 10 of 33 photographs from past the arc towards Orlando. Most evident was Michael Porter Jr. going 3-for-12 from lengthy distance (and 3-for-16 general), however he has the inexperienced gentle to maintain trying these.
“I felt a lot of his looks were really good looks,” Malone mentioned. “We know the type of shooter that Michael is. When he’s open, we want him shooting the ball. He has got to shoot the ball. He has shown in his career in the NBA he is an efficient scorer and shooter from the 3-point line.”
It wasn’t simply the perimeter areas that troubled the Nuggets. Orlando held a 56-10 edge in bench factors, one thing that Malone mentioned is troublesome to beat.
Some of that may very well be remedied by the addition of centre Thomas Bryant, whom the Nuggets acquired Thursday in a commerce from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Denver defeated Charlotte 119-115 on Dec. 18 at residence with Nikola Jokic racking up 40 factors, 27 rebounds and 10 assists. Jokic had a string of 4 triple-doubles snapped Thursday, however he nonetheless registered 29 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Hornets can be regrouping within the publish whereas taking part in their second sport with out centre Mason Plumlee, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers this week.
On the plus aspect, rookie centre Mark Williams had a double-double by three quarters in Boston in his first NBA begin, and he completed with 11 factors and 12 rebounds.
“He’s got a great attitude and he’ll learn quickly,” Clifford mentioned. “He’s going to be a good player. It’s day-to-day here (with the rotation).”
