Without Nikola Jokic and Danilo Gallinari available to play, Nuggets coach Michael Malone was just hoping his guys would give some good effort on the home court.
Well, on Wednesday night, his team was a mixed bag. They looked disinterested for a half, and then gave the effort he had been asking for. All-in-all, another tally in the loss column, as they fell 123-113 to the Washington Wizards, but Malone saw some positives, despite the loss.
“Great comeback, but we can’t put ourselves in the hole like that,” Malone said.
With the loss, it puts Denver in a more desperate spot, as they are now only a game ahead of Portland for the eighth spot in the Western Conference; with the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves also not far behind.
For Denver, if there was a bright spot, it started with the backcourt. Gary Harris had a solid game. He set his new career high, as he finished with 26 points..
“I’m just trying to stay aggressive and get better” said Harris. “I felt it tonight and I just wanted to give my team a chance and they were able to fall tonight.”
Jamal Murray also had one of those quarters, where it looks as if everything he throws up is falling. Entering the third quarter, Jamal Murray had zero points, but he scored 10 points straight for Denver in the frame; finishing with 17 points.
“He came in, and obviously he was attacking on offense and getting his own shots,” Malone said. “He got his teammates involved and he’s making the right reads. He embraced the challenge of trying to guard a guy like John Wall who isn’t an easy player to defend; so I think Jamal Murray grew up tonight”
Wilson Chandler he has strung together a few good games. adding 21 points,including a highlight dunk over Marcin Gortat, on Wednesday.
Malone is hopeful to have Danilo Gallinari (vertigo) and Nikola Jokic (flu) back when they defend home court on Friday. No updates just yet on if they’ll be available.
“Obviously moving forward, it doesn’t get any easier for us” said Malone. “It is going to be a grind these last 18 games and we’re looking forward to it.”
It starts with the game against the Boston Celtics on Friday.
