THE Nuggets will they finally manage to get off to a flying start in these playoffs? Since the start of this campaign, they have had a string of mixed starts and, for Michael Malonethis must stop as quickly as possible.
“ We must do better. Particularly our starters, they must do better, be more ready to play and set the tone from the start of the match » warns the coach of Denver, heading into Game 2 against Minnesota. “ What are we waiting for? We are behind, so what do we expect? »
Often pushed around in the first half by the Lakers in the first round, before taking their measure in the second half, the Nuggets did not attack Game 1 against the Wolves at full speed, being led 18-4 after six minutes. However, it is their holders who are on the floor at the start of the meeting…
“ I spoke to my players [hier] morning of the fact that, during five games against the Lakers, we were led [presque] every first quarter » continues Michael Malone. “ Do I believe my players are ready to give everything it takes to defend our title? Of course. But, at some point, you have to stop repeating the same mistakes. »
The champion faced with a “new challenge”
Like Jamal Murray, who is struggling to get into his matches and who does not want to use his right calf discomfort as an excuse, Denver is not necessarily at its best in this playoff campaign and Minnesota in took advantage of the start of the series, to steal the home advantage.
At 0-1, the reigning champions find themselves trailing in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and this is an opportunity to see what they have in their stomachs…
“ This season is different, the team is different, it's a different configuration » assures Michael Malone, in reference to last year's guarantees. “ This is a whole new challenge, so let's embrace it and go for it. We are being led, we didn't want to be, but that's how it is. So let's fight hard [ce] evening and leave everything we have on the ground. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Nikola Jokic | 79 | 34.6 | 58.3 | 35.9 | 81.7 | 2.8 | 9.5 | 12.4 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 26.4 |
| Jamal Murray | 59 | 31.5 | 48.1 | 42.5 | 85.3 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 21.2 |
| Michael Porter, Jr. | 81 | 31.7 | 48.4 | 39.7 | 83.6 | 1.3 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 16.7 |
| Aaron Gordon | 73 | 31.5 | 55.6 | 29.0 | 65.8 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 3.5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 13.9 |
| Reggie Jackson | 82 | 22.2 | 43.1 | 35.9 | 80.6 | 0.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 10.2 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-pope | 76 | 31.6 | 46.0 | 40.6 | 89.4 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 10.1 |
| Christian Braun | 82 | 20.2 | 46.0 | 38.4 | 69.4 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 3.7 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 7.3 |
| Peyton Watson | 80 | 18.6 | 46.5 | 29.6 | 67.0 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 6.7 |
| Julian Strawther | 50 | 10.9 | 36.9 | 29.7 | 71.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.5 |
| Justin Holiday | 58 | 14.9 | 45.4 | 40.4 | 75.0 | 0.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 4.0 |
| Deandre Jordan | 36 | 11.0 | 62.4 | 0.0 | 49.1 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 3.9 |
| Colin Gillespie | 24 | 9.4 | 46.4 | 39.5 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 3.6 |
| Zeke Nnaji | 58 | 9.9 | 46.3 | 26.1 | 67.7 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 3.2 |
| Jalen Pickett | 27 | 4.5 | 42.9 | 36.0 | 75.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.6 |
| James Huff | 20 | 2.5 | 60.0 | 33.3 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| Hunter Tyson | 18 | 2.7 | 40.0 | 28.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Braxton Key | 20 | 3.0 | 41.2 | 40.0 | 75.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.1 |
