DENVER (AP) — Denver coach Michael Malone don talk say all five of him starting players go rest for di upcoming game against di San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Dis decision follow di Nuggets’ heart-wrenching home loss to di Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Nikola Jokic, who just set career record by scoring 61 points against Minnesota, go sidon out for di game against Spurs after him suffer from elbow and ankle wahala. Christian Braun, wey dey manage sore foot, also gree rest. Di rest of di starting five no go fit play either: Aaron Gordon (calf), Jamal Murray (hamstring) and Michael Porter Jr. (personal reasons) all dey inactive.
“Well, our identity no just dey tie to di five starters,” Malone talk before di game. “Our culture dey run through di entire locker room. Whoever go play tonight gɛt di responsibility to show wetin Denver Nuggets basketball be.”
Malone also add, “I no care who dey available for us. We dey expect to go out dey win this game. E no go easy, but we get more than enough players dey inside dis locker room to beat di Spurs.”
Normally, Jokic dey push to play even when him suppose rest, but dis time, Malone no wan hear anything as regard playing time. “I check di stat sheet and I see say him don play plenty minutes. Dis game na back-to-back, so I just go meet am and I tell am, ‘You go rest tomorrow.’ No room for argument,” Malone say. “Because Nikola fit play through anything, but sometimes you gatz be di coach. And him gree.”
Di Nuggets go need to find di energy and excitement from di other players for di game against di Spurs. Malone go need dem to maintain dat identity he talk about, make dem show di strength and resilience of di team. Fans dey hopeful as dem expect di press to be on for di remaining season, making sure di team maintains competitive stature.
As NBA season dey bring intense competition, we dey see how all di teams go unlock their potential for di playoffs. For di Nuggets, maintaining fitness and team strategy go crucial as dem try to secure a playoff spot without dem main stars.
