Northwest Notes: Murray, Nuggets Injuries, Wallace, Clingan

Jamal Murray, who has had his share of major injuries, is currently the only member of the Nuggets‘ usual starting five available to play.

“It sucks. It just adds a whole dynamic to the game, with so many guys out,” Murray told Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. “You’ve just gotta focus on just bringing energy, playing hard, controlling what you can control, playing together, talking, being a leader. Playing aggressive, playing confident, trying to share that confidence. All those little things kind of go into, obviously, what a team is.”

Murray is certain to draw more scrutiny from opposing defenses until Nikola Jokic and other regulars return to action.

“He’s gonna have attention beyond attention all over the floor,” coach David Adelman said. “He’s gonna get doubled and blitzed in pick-and-rolls and all those things. So we have to do things for Jamal. We have to screen to get him open. We have to do unselfish things for him, and on the flip side of that, he’s got to keep making the right play, which he has. … When there’s two on you, and there’s an open man, you throw it to your teammate.”

Here’s more from the Northwest Division:

• With Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas inactive, the Cavaliers out-rebounded the Nuggets 62-45 on Friday. DaRon Holmes II started in the middle with Zeke Nnaji backing him up as Denver lost by five. “Obviously, we’re at a disadvantage at certain positions. But I’ll take this kind of effort every night,” Adelman said, per Durando.
• Thunder third-year guard Cason Wallace suffered a right knee contusion against the Warriors on Friday and did not return, Thunder sideline reporter Nick Gallo tweets. Wallace, who averaged 26.1 minutes per game last month, played just 14 minutes. The Thunder exercised their option on his fourth-year contract in October — he’ll be extension-eligible beginning in July.
• Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan has become a double-double machine, averaging 10.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in his second NBA season. He had a double-double on Friday for the sixth time in eight games, recording 11 points and 15 rebounds in a win over New Orleans. “He’s just growing as a basketball player, growing as a big,” interim coach Tiago Splitter told Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. “He’s getting used to playing high minutes and being effective.”
• Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report examines the five biggest questions surrounding the Trail Blazers this year, including how soon new owner Tom Dundon will make his presence felt and when the team will officially make a decision on head coach Chauncey Billups‘ future.