A Soft Monday Gives Denver's Passing a Week to Rebuild
Golden State is winless and on the road for the second night running, so Monday is the best chance this week to fold three returning wings back into the offense before New Orleans and Phoenix.
Denver hosts the Warriors on Monday with three wings in line to return. The test is how quickly they fit back into the group that just beat New Orleans.
Monday: a tired opponent and a lot of Denver bodies
The Warriors arrive on Peacock and NBC Sports Network at 0-3 with a three-game losing streak. They played Sunday, so this is a back-to-back, and it is their second straight road game. Denver has had a day of rest. Stephen Curry is day-to-day with rest, and Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, Al Horford and Gui Santos are day-to-day too. Kristaps Porzingis, Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody are out. Golden State will not look like the roster on paper.
What does the return of Johnson, Diallo and Jones do to a winning five?
Cameron Johnson, Alpha Diallo and Spencer Jones were all moved from out to day-to-day on Sunday, with Monday as the target date for each. The unit that finished Saturday had Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Jamal Murray, Jokic and Trevon Brazile on the floor. Brazile scored 17 with nine rebounds and put back the shot that made it 141-135. Adelman now has to decide whether that closing group is a lineup or a patch. Braun was plus-15 and Murray plus-14, and neither number was an accident of minutes.
Which opponent matters most?
Not Golden State. Wednesday's rematch at New Orleans is the one that will say something. Denver trailed the Pelicans by 23 on Saturday and needed overtime, so the road game is the harder read on whether the offense moves without a big deficit forcing it. Then comes Friday at Phoenix in the Emirates NBA Cup, against the team currently tenth, and Nov. 2 at home against Portland. Denver sits eighth at 1-1, a game behind Minnesota for sixth.
What is Monday really for?
Murray scored 42 and Jokic had a triple-double, but Gordon went 2-for-9 and Braun missed all three of his threes. The passing worked because Murray's shooting and Brazile's energy covered the gaps. Johnson's shooting is the piece Denver lacked at Oklahoma City, and Monday is the cheapest night to see whether it fits. Julian Strawther remains out, and the Bucks turned down a Kevin Porter Jr. trade, according to Hoops Rumors.
When do the Nuggets play the Warriors?
Monday, Oct. 26, at home in Denver, on Peacock and NBC Sports Network. Golden State is 0-3 and will be on the second night of a back-to-back.
Who is expected back for Denver on Monday?
Cameron Johnson, Alpha Diallo and Spencer Jones are all day-to-day, each with Monday as the target return date. Julian Strawther remains out with a knee injury.
