The Denver Nuggets have solidified their opening night front court, barring injury. Danilo Gallinari, Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic will be starting for the team come Oct. 26.
This news stems from the Nuggets’ starting five in the team’s preseason finale.
In the team’s practice before the final tip-off, head coach Michael Malone announced that he would treat the team’s final preseason game as is if it were opening night, meaning that the starters from that game would be the starters for opening night.
With that said, Malone put Jameer Nelson, Will Barton, Danilo Gallinari, Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic on the court.
Starters for @nuggets:
Nelson
Barton
Gallinari
Jokic
Nurkic
–Jurkic is STILL happening.— Duvalier Johnson (@DuvalierJohnson) October 22, 2016
Complicating that matter, of course is the news that came out earlier in the day that third-year shooting guard Gary Harris has a “good” chance of starting on opening night. Harris has missed all but 10 minutes of the preseason with a groin injury suffered in the opener against Toronto.
With that in mind, it’s safe to assume that we at least know the starting front court.
So here's what we know right away: The starting front court for the #Nuggets will be Gallinari, Jokic and Nurkic
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) October 22, 2016
Will Barton, who played in all 82 games last year, but just one start, got the start Friday and is expected to start at shooting guard if Harris is still not ready to go.
Emmanuel Mudiay sat out Friday (ankle) , but is expected to take the reins at the point guard position to round out the Nuggets’ starting five for next Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans.