Author: Vinny Benedetto
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Christian Braun continues to keep defense the main thing for Denver Nuggets
OKLAHOMA CITY – The game against Oklahoma City called for something a little different from Christian Braun. With Peyton Watson joining a small-starting lineup featuring Aaron Gordon at the center, Nuggets coach Michael Malone opted to stagger Michael Porter Jr. with Denver’s second unit in Wednesday’s 105-100 loss. Jamal Murray typically has played alongside Watson,…
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Nuggets notebook: Jamal Murray’s fight; Nikola Jokic stays in Denver; Nuggets have no Rising Stars
OKLAHOMA CITY – With Nikola Jokic back in Denver, all eyes moved to Jamal Murray on Wednesday in Oklahoma City. “I understand what he’s fighting out there. He’s got all five guys gameplanning to stop Jamal Murray,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Denver’s 105-100 loss to the Thunder. “Every time we took Jamal out,…
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Peyton Watson’s potential on full display as Denver Nuggets face some of NBA’s best scorers
Welcome to the unglamorous life of a defensive stopper in the NBA, Peyton Watson. The 21-year-old entered Monday’s 113-107 win over Milwaukee with 3:36 left in the first quarter. Seconds later, all 6-foot-11 and 243 pounds of Giannis Antetokounmpo was bumping into Watson’s 6-foot-7, 200-pound frame on the block. Later in the game, Watson had…
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Denver Nuggets dial up defense late to defeat Milwaukee Bucks
The NBA’s best clutch defense defeated the team with the best clutch record on Monday at Ball Arena. The NBA defines the clutch as a five-point game in the final five minutes. With five minutes left of Denver’s 113-107 win over the Bucks, the Nuggets led by one. Milwaukee entered Monday’s game with the best…
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Nikola Jokic appreciates high-scoring performances even if it’s not his style | NBA Insider
Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets NBA Insider Nikola Jokic might not be the type to try to threaten Wilt Chamberlain’s record for 100 points in a single game, but he doesn’t hold anything against the players who seem to operate a little differently as NBA…
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Michael Porter Jr. drains clutch shot to help Nuggets beat Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia’s defense worked for Michael Porter Jr. “I don’t even know what they were doing,” Porter said in the postgame locker room after Denver’s 111-106 win over the 76ers Saturday at Ball Arena. “All I know is I was wide open.” After Jamal Murray got off to a hot start, scoring 20 of his 23…
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76ers’ Joel Embiid misses another game against Nuggets in Denver
The streak continues. Joel Embiid, who hasn’t played against the Nuggets in Denver since Nov. 8, 2019, was ruled out of Saturday’s marquee matchup just minutes before tipoff. Philadelphia trainers observed Embiid’s pregame work out and did not like what they saw, per an ESPN report. Embiid was then ruled out with knee soreness. He…
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Nikola Jokic downplays rivalry as Denver Nuggets defeat shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers
The highly anticipated match-up between the Nuggets and 76ers on Saturday turned out to be a R.I.N.O. Rivalry In Name Only. It didn’t matter to Nikola Jokic that Joel Embiid was ruled out minutes before Denver’s 111-105 win at Ball Arena. Denver’s superstar said that even if Embiid played, the two probably would not have…
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Nuggets vs. Knicks: 3 takeaways from Denver’s 122-84 loss in New York
The Nuggets’ five-game road trip finished Thursday in New York like it started 10 days ago in Philadelphia, with a disappointing defeat to an Eastern Conference opponent. Denver still managed to win the road trip thanks to three wins in the middle. Here are three takeaways from the Nuggets’ 112-84 loss to the Knicks at…
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Nikola Jokic named All-Star starter for fourth straight season
The fans made Nikola Jokic a starter in the All-Star Game for a fourth consecutive season when the top-five selections in each conference were revealed prior to Thursday’s slate of games. Jokic finished first among Western Conference frontcourt players and media panels, but was second in the fan vote, which determines the captains of each…