Denver Nuggets’ rookie Emmanuel Mudiay.
As the Denver Nuggets prepare to face off against the winless L.A. Lakers, they look to break out of their two blowout loss streak and into a positive one. The Nuggets limped to the final buzzer against the offensive juggernaut known as the Oklahoma City Thunder while they continue to pile up injuries to rotation players. Tonight they will be facing Kobe Bryant who this season has chucked up nearly 10 threes a game and is only hitting them at a 20% clip. After their first and only win coming against one of last years western conference finalists in the Houston Rockets, the Nuggets have been handed consecutive blowout losses by the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Tonight’s game will test the young Nuggets and their ability to rebound after bad losses and get much needed wins against teams they should handle on a nightly basis. The Nuggets prized rookie Emmanuel Mudiay took full responsibility in their loss to the 2024 number one overall draft pick Karl-Anthony Towns and the youthful Timberwolves and he vowed to turn his play around against the Thunder. His play wasn’t much better against the Thunder, but to his defense, he was going up against one of the most if not the most athletic and explosive point guards in the league in Russell Westbrook . Tonight Mudiay will get his chance to face off against D’Angelo Russell who was chosen 5 picks ahead of Mudiay and 2nd overall. I expect Mudiay to show up tonight against a team with less defensive talented wings and guards to slow him down.
Injuries have been nagging the Nuggets throughout the start of this season. They have started the season missing their starting center Jusuf Nurkic and their sixth man Wilson Chandler . Most recently Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post has reported both their acting center Joffrey Lauvergne and Nikola Jokic both seem to be nursing lower back injuries. Latest word is that Lauvergne will give it a go tonight the Lakers but Jokic is unlikely to play.
Lauvergne was able to go through some of shootaround. Jokic continues to be in considerable pain. #Nuggets — Chris Dempsey (@dempseypost) November 3, 2024
Lauvergne was able to go through some of shootaround. Jokic continues to be in considerable pain. #Nuggets
— Chris Dempsey (@dempseypost) November 3, 2024
With all the injuries it looks like JJ Hickson who seems to be in Denver’s head coach Michael Malone’s dog house will most likely be receiving more than a handful of minutes at the center position. Who do you think will win tonights game ? Denver Nuggets or L.A. Lakers ? Notable Quotes :
Nuggets PG Emmanuel Mudiay told me it’s “definitely a motivation” the Lakers drafted Russell instead of him https://t.co/Ags7NqRzGF — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 3, 2024
Nuggets PG Emmanuel Mudiay told me it’s “definitely a motivation” the Lakers drafted Russell instead of him https://t.co/Ags7NqRzGF — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 3, 2024
Mudiay downplayed Byron Scott ‘s pre-draft critiques : “That’s another human’s opinion. I’m not worried about him.” https://t.co/Ags7NqRzGF — Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 3, 2024
Mudiay downplayed Byron Scott ‘s pre-draft critiques : “That’s another human’s opinion. I’m not worried about him.” https://t.co/Ags7NqRzGF
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) November 3, 2024
Notable Injuries: Wilson Chandler (hip), Jusuf Nurkic (knee), Joffrey Lavaurgne (back), Nikola Jokic (back).
The Starters:
Denver : Emmanuel Mudiay , Gary Harris , Danilo Gallinari , Kenneth Faried , JJ Hickson *.
Lakers : D’Angelo Russell , Jordan Clarkson , Kobe Bryant , Julius Randle , Roy Hibbert .
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