FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
DENVER NUGGETS 9-7 · 8TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
9-7 · 8TH IN WESTERN CONFERENCE
Next Game at Jazz · Thu 2:00AM
DEN -8.5 TOTAL 232.5
No finger waving here: Dikembe Mutombo weighs in on the rebirth of the center ' Sporting News Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo spoke with The Sporting News about the new golden age of centers in the NBA, beginning with MVP candidates Joe...
Jamal Murray and Michael Porter back before playoffs? There is a strong sense within the Denver Nuggets locker room that both Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. could be back in time for the pl...
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • HOOPSHYPE.COM
Michael Porter Jr. - Mid-to-late-March return expected Porter is expected to make his return to the Denver lineup in mid-to-late March, a source familiar with the forward's recovery from late-November lumbar spine surgery tells Sam Ami...
Impact Amick's report provides a more precise follow-up target timeline for Porter's return to game action after Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN relayed Sunday via Porter's agent, Mark Bartelstein, that the 23-year-old forward was set to resume on-court contact basketball activities within the next week before making his return "sometime" in March. In the same report, Amick notes that the Nuggets also expect Jamal Murray (knee) to make his 2021-22 debut at some point before the end of the regular season, though the 25-year-old guard's timeline is murkier than Porter's at this stage. Before undergoing the third back surgery of his career, Porter had struggled mightily through Denver's first nine games, averaging just 9.9 points in 29.4 minutes per game on horrid 35.9/55.6/20.8 percent shooting splits from the field, free-throw line and three-point range, respectively. It's likely that playing through a nerve issue in his back contributed to his demise, but he's since resumed shooting pain-free in recent weeks. If Porter can stage a late-season return and better resemble a version of the player he was in 2020-21, it would provide a major boon to the Nuggets' chances of making a deep playoff run.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jamal Murray - Expected back before playoffs The Nuggets have growing optimism that Murray (knee) will be ready to make his 2021-22 season debut prior to the start of the playoffs, Sam Amick of The Athletic reports.
Impact Murray, who tore the ACL in his left knee last April, is still in rehab mode following surgery, but Denver coaches and members of the training staff have been encouraged by how the 25-year-old has looked during his recent workouts. While Denver has yet to pinpoint a precise timeline for Murray to resume playing, a target date could become more clear once he graduates from shooting and conditioning drills to non-contact practice. Whenever he's deemed ready to make his season debut, Murray will likely face limitations with his playing time and could sit out one half of back-to-back sets, so whenever he returns, he shouldn't be expected to immediately produce at the level he did in 2020-21.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nuggets' Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. both on track to return for playoffs, if not sooner: Sources Murray has been out since tearing his ACL last April. Porter underwent his third back surgery in November.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr. on track for mid-March return: Where that leaves Denver and the rest of the West Sources tell The Athletic Murray is on track for a return before the start of the playoffs, news that impacts the entire West.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Bones Hyland - Doesn't return Sunday Hyland (ankle) didn't return to Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers.
Impact Hyland didn't record any counting stats prior to exiting Sunday's game with left ankle soreness after playing less than a minute. It's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up Wednesday against Oklahoma City.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
NUGGETS at TRAIL BLAZERS ' FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS ' February 27, 2022
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Nuggets beat Blazers 124-92, extend win streak to 6 games
JaMychal Green had 20 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and the Denver Nuggets pushed their winning streak to six games with a 124-92 victory over the Portland Trail BlazersFEBRUARY 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bones Hyland - Questionable to return Hyland is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers due to left ankle soreness, Mike Singer of The Denver Post reports.
Impact Hyland came off the bench Sunday and missed a field goal, but he was removed from the game after playing less than a minute. If he's unable to return, Facundo Campazzo and Austin Rivers should see increased run.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Zeke Nnaji - Won't play Sunday Nnaji (knee) is out Sunday against the Trail Blazers.
Impact Nnaji was questionable for Sunday's matchup, but he'll be sidelined for a sixth consecutive game due to bilateral knee soreness. His next chance to play will be Wednesday against Oklahoma City.
FEBRUARY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Significant optimism Nuggets' Michael Porter Jr. could return in March, agent says There is significant optimism that Michael Porter Jr. will return sometime in March, Porter’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told The Denver Post...
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • DENVERPOST.COM
Michael Porter Jr. eyeing March return Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. is progressing to be cleared for on-court contact within the next week, freeing a path for him to...
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • HOOPSHYPE.COM
Michael Porter Jr. - Aiming to return sometime in March Porter (back) is on course to return to game action sometime in the month of March, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Impact There have been rumblings of late that Porter is making significant progress in his return from back surgery, and this latest report -- sourced from his agent, Mark Bartelstein -- notes that the forward is expecting to be cleared for full contact work within the next week. This is a major development for a Nuggets team also hoping to get Jamal Murray (knee) back in advance of the postseason. Porter has not played since Nov. 6, and he underwent surgery roughly three months ago, so he'll likely require a multi-week ramp-up period. However, assuming all goes well, there looks to be a good chance that he'll be able to get a handful of games under his belt before the playoffs begin in mid-April. Porter has appeared in only nine games this season, averaging 9.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and shooting just 20.8 percent from three.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Zeke Nnaji - Questionable for Sunday's contest Nnaji (knee) is questionable for Sunday's contest against the Trail Blazers.
Impact Nnaji has missed five straight games due to bilateral knee soreness. The questionable tag doesn't bring much optimism, as he was listed as questionable ahead of Denver's last two contests before ultimately being ruled out.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Toyota Game Recap: Kings 110 - Nuggets 115
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • YOUTUBE
Jokic, Denver set for matchup with Portland
Nikola Jokic leads Denver into a matchup with Portland averaging 25.8 points per gameFEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nikola Jokic closing in on Wilt Chamberlain record ' Sporting News Nikola Jokic put up another triple-double on Saturday night in the Nuggets' win over the Sacramento Kings, and with it, moved one step close...
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Bones Hyland - Productive in 17 minutes Hyland ended Saturday's 115-110 victory over the Kings with 11 points (3-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds and three assists in 17 minutes.
Impact Hyland made the most of his limited time on the court, pacing Denver reserves in scoring and chipping in a trio of rebounds and dimes. The rookie had combined to shoot 4-for-20 over his previous two games, so this was a step in the right direction. However, Hyland is shooting just 36.7 percent from the field overall this season, thus it would be unwise to expect him to suddenly post consistently efficient shooting lines.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Aaron Gordon - Leads Denver scorers in win Gordon posted 23 points (8-12 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT) and nine rebounds across 32 minutes during Saturday's 115-110 victory over the Kings.
Impact On a night when Nikola Jokic struggled to find the bottom of the net, Gordon stepped up to pace the Nuggets in scoring with 23 points. That total was his highest thus far in February and marked his first performance of 20-plus points since Jan. 30. Gordon just missed a double-double, pulling down nine rebounds in the victory.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Nikola Jokic - Registers inefficient triple-double Jokic closed Saturday's 115-110 win over the Kings with 18 points (6-16 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 6-8 FT), 10 rebounds and 11 assists across 34 minutes.
Impact Jokic surprisingly struggled shooting the ball Saturday, missing all five of his three-point attempts and going just 6-for-16 from the field overall. That didn't stop the reigning NBA MVP from making a big impact on the outcome, however, as he led Denver with 11 assists and 10 boards to finish with his third triple-double in February. Jokic leads all NBA players with 16 triple-doubles on the season.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jokic's triple-double leads Nuggets over Kings, 115-110
Monte Morris hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 28 seconds left, Nikola Jokic had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Sacramento Kings 115-110FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trail Blazers Game Notes: Denver Nuggets (35-25) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (25-35) ' Portland Trail Blazers PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (25-35) VS. DENVER NUGGETS (35-25)Sunday, February 27 • 6:00 p.m. (Pacific) • Moda CenterPortland, OregonSERIES HISTO...
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • NBA.COM
Zeke Nnaji - Remains out Saturday Nnaji (knee) won't play Saturday against the Kings.
Impact Nnaji will miss a fifth straight game as he continues to deal with bilateral knee soreness. His next chance to return will be Sunday against Portland.
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
DeMarcus Cousins - Not on injury report Cousins (contract dispute) is off the injury report for Saturday's game against the Kings.
Impact Cousins, after a contract issue prevented him from playing Thursday, officially signed his deal Friday and should be good to go Saturday. In his eight appearances for Denver, he's averaged 6.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 13.1 minutes.
FEBRUARY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
