Example: Nuggets are hosting the Pelicans for the second game in a row

Denver nuggets get a sense of deja vu as they host New Orleans Pelicans for the second game in a row. On Monday night, Denver defeated New Orleans 125-113. Both teams have injuries, but it’s hard to stack something up to what the pelicans are going through. That said, Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum are out there, and Trey Murphy III was an absolute strength against Denver Monday and scored 41. The pelicans are looking for redemption for a long season while nuggets need another victory to keep up with West when both teams go towards the All-Star break next week. Can Jokic put another triple double up to transport Denver to the victory? Can the nuggets shoot or prevent New Orleans from getting light shots again? Winning both games in a two-game set is tough because what worked the first time rarely works the second-but in Jokic we trust.

The essentials

WHO: Denver Nuggets (31-19) vs New Orleans Pelicans (12-38)

When: 19:00 mst

Where: The can. Denver, co.

How to see/listen: Height with and without + and now on Comcast for the first time in half a decade, the NBA League Pass for those who are not on the Nugget Market, height radio 82.5fm.

Rival blog: The bird writes

Matchup

Damage report: Aaron Gordon – Doubtful (Calf Damage Management), Peyton Watson – Out (Knee), Vlatko Cancar – Out (Knee Rehab), Daron Holmes II – Out (Achilles), Russell Westbrook – Out (Hamstring); Jordan Hawkins Dislatus (Disease), Daniel Theis Questions (Thumbed), Brandon Ingram-Out (Ankle), Herbert Jones-Out (Ankle), Dejointe Murray-Out (Achilles), Keion Brooks JR-Out (G-Leaga) .

The three things

The case to look at: Zeke nnaji ascendancy

Zeke Nnaji got Peyton Watson minutes two games ago and had 5 blocks. He got Aaron Gordon minutes on Monday – as well as the start – and held Zion Williamson to 14 points on 13 shots while winning his second DPOG chain in a row. Nnaji plays with his hair on fire, and for nuggets it’s a very good thing. Rebounding is still affected or miss, but the effort is there on his defensive rotational and transitional attempts. When he makes mistakes, he makes it at full speed and recoveres the same way. Effort and commitment are incredibly powerful things when turning a defective season around, and As MPJ pointed out after the game Zeke’s obligation to give this effort has never been higher, and the last two matches have shown the work he puts in.

Now it’s a matter of consistency. The Pelicans have seen him now. They have experienced Denver’s plan to slow down Zion Williamson. Aaron Gordon may be back to try to continue this plan, or he may not be, but no matter where zeke gets another shot to protect the talented forward. Can he do it again? Because doing something sometime gets you a second chance. To do something over and over again is how a very malignant big on his second contract can get a chance to do what he gets paid to do and love to do: Play the Basketball game every night.

The case to remember: Triangles still count for more than two

Nuggets gave up 18 three-pointers for Pelicans, while they only made 12, and these three points were the only thing that kept New Orleans in the game. Trey Murphy III was unstoppable from deep and had 41 points in only 13 made field goals. MPJ had 36 on 12 made field dimensions to keep up as both men got up a dozen deep attempts each, and one of Denver’s very few volume of deep threats is Mike to continue with limiting these momentum-swinging deep shots from the pelicans. Last year Denver allowed the second best three-point attempts and do, and while some of it was tempo-related (Nuggets played much slower last year, so there were fewer belongings), they were also 8th best in the opponent’s three-point percentage at 35.5%. This year, they allow almost three more brands behind the arch each game, falling them to 24. In that category and is 18. In the opponent’s three-point percentage. They simply do not force the opposition to put the ball on the floor and need to find a way to challenge this rain of light deep attempts – zeke can’t block them all.

The case to bet: Nikola Jokic Triple double

He has had 11 in his last 14 games against the Pelicans I think, and there was no New Orleans that was shown on Monday to convince me that they can switch it back to their advantage. The bet on the Jokian increase, it is usually safe money.