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Nuggets Notes: Murray, Westbrook, Jokic, Braun

April 30th, 2025 at 10:11am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Nuggets signed Jamal Murray to a four-year, maximum-salary extension before the season. Murray’s offensive outburst on Tuesday showed why Denver felt compelled to make that move, despite the guard’s health issues — his 67 regular-season games were the most he’s played since the 2018/19 season. Murray poured in 43 points as Denver took a 3-2 lead in its series against the Clippers.

“Some of the shots he made tonight were absolutely ridiculous,” Denver interim coach David Adelman said, per Tony Jones of The Athletic. “He’s a special player, and tonight he showed up like the special player he has always been. I thought we did some things to get him loose. The guys screened better, and that gave him some space to work. We got him moving in space and got him on the move. He was born for this.”

We have more on the Nuggets:

Murray wasn’t exactly snubbed during the 2016 draft — he was the No. 7 overall pick. However, he has drawn extra motivation from matching up against Kris Dunn, the No. 5 pick in the same draft, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. Murray confirmed it’s “one hundred percent” accurate that he draws extra motivation from such matchups. “It’s not about making it personal. It’s just, you know, it goes for anybody. Not just (Dunn),” he said. “But it’s just a competitive spirit. It’s like I said, I like the challenge, and I like to give a challenge, too.”
Russell Westbrook, returning from a foot injury, played an underrated role in the Game 5 win, Troy Renck of the Denver Post writes. After two games in which the reserves provided little production, Westbrook scored 21 points in 25 minutes and gave the team a much-needed energy boost. “He’s coming in hitting threes, playing defense, doing so many things on the court,” Murray said. “We are going to need more of that. I like when he’s being aggressive, and I am not the only one yelling at the crowd. It’s nice to have somebody else like that.”
Denver recorded a lopsided victory despite a 13-point night from Nikola Jokic. The attention the former MVP drew helped several other offensive players thrive, according to Luca Evans of the Denver Post. “Holding Joker to 13 points and losing the game is tough,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “But, that’s how he beats you. If you worry about him too much, other guys can beat you.”
James Harden has been held to a combined 26 points over the last two games with Christian Braun serving as the primary defender against the Clippers’ veteran guard, Tyler King of the Denver Gazette notes. “They’ve made their mind up they’re gonna try to take him out of the series after the first two or three games,” Lue said. “They’re doing a good job. I gotta do a better job of just finding ways to get him open to get him space. Probably more (isolation) because they’re blitzing so much to try to get him to his spots.”

Michael Porter Jr. Won’t Be Suspended For Game 5

April 29th, 2025 at 1:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. won’t face a suspension for leaving the bench area during an altercation that took place in Game 4 of the team’s series vs. the Clippers, a league spokesperson confirmed to Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link) and Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (subscription required).

As we outlined on Saturday night, Porter left the bench and came onto the court when Nuggets and Clippers players began to push and shove one another just before halftime after James Harden took exception to a reach-in foul committed by Christian Braun near the half-court line (Twitter video link via Joey Linn of SI).

Porter apologized after the game and explained that he didn’t know about the NBA’s rule that prohibits players who aren’t in the game from leaving the “immediate vicinity” of the bench area during an on-court altercation.

As Ramona Shelburne of ESPN tweets, the rule states that a player can be subject to a one-game suspension and a fine of up to $50K, but the league takes into account “the distance the player traveled from his team’s bench, and the extent to which he entered the immediate proximity of the altercation.” Porter didn’t go far before he was pulled back by an assistant coach and didn’t come close to entering the fray.

Porter was held out of Denver’s closing lineup in Game 1 of the first-round series, injured his shoulder in Game 2, and was a -25 in 35 minutes during a Game 3 blowout loss. However, the veteran forward played an important role in the Nuggets’ Game 4 win, which evened the series at 2-2, scoring 17 points and making four three-pointers in 42 minutes.

Porter is still listed on the injury report due to his left shoulder sprain, but is considered probable to play on Tuesday. Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook, who missed Saturday’s contest with left foot inflammation, is questionable.

Stephen Curry Named 2024/25 Teammate Of The Year

April 28th, 2025 at 12:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Warriors star Stephen Curry has been named the NBA’s Teammate of the Year for the 2024/25 season, the league announced today (via Twitter).

The Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award “recognizes the player deemed the best teammate based on selfless play, leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment to his team,” per the NBA.

The award isn’t voted on by media members. A panel of league executives select the 12 finalists (six from each conference) for the award, while current players vote on the winner. Players receive 10 points for a first place vote, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and one point for fifth place.

Curry just narrowly won this season’s vote ahead of Rockets center Steven Adams.

Here are this season’s full voting results, according to the NBA, with the player’s point total noted in parentheses:

Stephen Curry, Warriors (1,257)
Steven Adams, Rockets (1,237)
Jalen Brunson, Knicks (925)
DeAndre Jordan, Nuggets (897)
Nicolas Batum, Clippers (868)
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers (850)
Al Horford, Celtics (834)
James Johnson, Pacers (751)
Jaylin Williams, Thunder (690)
Brook Lopez, Bucks (657)
Tobias Harris, Pistons (648)
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies (552)

It’s the first Teammate of the Year award for Curry, though it’s the seventh time in a row that a point guard has earned the honor.

The award, which was introduced in ’12/13, had gone to either Mike Conley (2019 and 2024) or Jrue Holiday (2020, 2022, and 2023) in five of the past six seasons, with Damian Lillard claiming it in 2021.

Nuggets Notes: Gordon, Adelman, Porter, Westbrook

April 26th, 2025 at 11:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

After letting a 22-point fourth quarter lead slip away, the Nuggets turned Saturday’s Game 4 against the Clippers into an instant classic, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Nikola Jokic‘s desperation three-pointer was badly off target, but Aaron Gordon was able to catch the ball in the air and dunk it with a tenth of a second left on the clock (Twitter video link from the NBA), giving Denver a 101-99 win that ties the series at 2-2.

“Air balls are really hard to defend against,” Gordon said. “I was just in the right place at the right time.”

Officials took a long look at video replays before determining that the game-winning shot counted. Referee Zach Zarba said in a pool report interview that the ball had to be fully out of Gordon’s hand before the buzzer sounded and the red light went on. Frame-by-frame analysis showed that it was, but just barely.

“That (game) is going to be on NBA TV someday,” interim coach David Adelman said. “… I’m glad it’ll be on Nuggets day and not Clippers day.”

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With Russell Westbrook unavailable due to inflammation in his left foot, Adelman leaned heavily on his starters in Game 4, Durando adds in the same piece. Jokic, Gordon, Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray and Christian Braun all played at least 42 minutes and no reserve saw more than 13. “Trying to find breaks at the right time. Using the TV timeouts as best we can,” Adelman said in outlining his strategy before the game. “You hate to use timeouts to rest players, but sometimes you have to do that in these games. … It’s Game 4. We’re down 2-1. Our main people, they’re gonna roll. They’re gonna play a lot.”
Six technical fouls were handed out in an altercation shortly before halftime (Twitter video link from Bleacher Report), but no one was ejected, per Law Murray and Tony Jones of The Athletic. Porter briefly left the bench area and ran onto the court before an assistant coach pulled him back, which means he could face a one-game suspension and a fine of up to $50K. “Sorry. I didn’t know the specific rule. I’m glad I didn’t make it very far,” Porter said (Twitter video link from Clippers beat writer Joey Linn). “… To see my guys get in it like that, I’m just glad I didn’t make it very far. The coaches and my teammates were aware. Because I wasn’t fully aware of any type of rule, but I’m very thankful that I did not get tossed from this game or anything like that. Definitely a learning experience for sure.”
Westbrook was noncommittal when asked about his status for Tuesday’s Game 5, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. After calling it a “trick question,” Westbrook’s only comment was, “I’ll be in the building.”

Russell Westbrook Ruled Out For Game 4; Michael Porter Jr. To Play

April 26th, 2025 at 4:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Nuggets won’t have Russell Westbrook available as they try to even their series with the Clippers later today, the team announced (via Twitter).

Westbrook has been dealing with inflammation in his left foot that limited him to nine minutes in the Game 3 loss on Thursday. He contributed just three points, one rebound and one assist and didn’t play in the second half as Denver trailed badly on the way to a 34-point defeat.

The teams split a pair of close contests to begin the series, and Westbrook played a large role in making the games competitive. He had 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes in the opener and made several huge defensive plays down the stretch as the Nuggets won in overtime. He followed that with 14 points, four rebounds and one assist while playing 23 minutes in Game 2.

Game 5 isn’t until Tuesday night in Denver, so Westbrook will have a couple of days to rest as he tries to get back on the court.

Injuries are taking a toll on the Nuggets, but the team confirmed that Michael Porter Jr. will be available for Game 4. Porter hurt his left shoulder late in Game 2 when Kris Dunn landed on him while they were chasing a loose ball. Porter was able to play 35 minutes on Thursday, but he shot 2-of-9 from the field and was limited to seven points.

Nuggets Notes: Rotation, Westbrook, Porter, Murray, Gordon, More

April 26th, 2025 at 8:25am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Nuggets are banged up, but they don’t have much time to adjust as they find themselves facing a 2-1 hole against the Clippers in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes, interim coach David Adelman has hinted at rotation changes.

Denver used an eight-man rotation to open the series, with Jalen Pickett playing sparingly as the eighth man. DeAndre Jordan and Julian Strawther have also seen a little action, while Hunter Tyson and Zeke Nnaji have been limited to garbage time and Vlatko Cancar and Dario Saric haven’t played.

Key reserve Russell Westbrook is questionable for Game 4 on Saturday due to left foot inflammation, Durando adds. He exited Game 3 after just nine minutes.

“They checked him out this morning. … So we’ll kind of gauge that as we go,” Adelman said on Friday. “And if Russ plays or doesn’t play, we’re gonna take a look at our rotation. We may play different people. See who can impact the game with how [the Clippers] are guarding and how we’re trying to guard.”

We have more on the Nuggets:

As we noted on Friday, Michael Porter Jr. was able to play the duration of Game 3 but was clearly struggling through a left shoulder injury he suffered in Game 2. According to DNVR Nuggets (Twitter link), Porter is officially considered questionable to play in Game 4.
The players on the injury report aren’t the only ones hurting. In an appearance on NBA on ESPN (Twitter link), Andscape’s Marc J. Spears said Jamal Murray is working through an injury and that Aaron Gordon told him he could barely jump. “No one’s 100% right now,” Adelman said, per Durando. “Aaron’s not 100%. Nikola [Jokic]’s not 100%. Just like the Clippers. All their guys have ailments at this part of the season. Michael is one of our guys. He’s a mainstay here. If he’s available to play, he will play.”
With their backs seemingly against the wall, Denver will need to get creative in how it attacks Los Angeles, Durando writes in another Denver Post story. “We got embarrassed today,” Adelman said after a 34-point loss in Game 3. “It happens in the playoffs. I’ve been a part of it before. I’ve been a part of the other side of it. The bottom line is, it’s one game.” As Durando writes, the Clippers have multiple lengthy defenders while the Nuggets don’t have many top-caliber shooters, allowing L.A. to at times triple-team Jokic.

Injuries Mount For Nuggets During Game 3 Rout

April 25th, 2025 at 8:42am CST by Rory Maher

The Nuggets got off to a solid start Thursday night during Game 3 in Los Angeles, building an early seven-point lead. However, the Clippers quickly swung the tide of momentum and built a lead they would never relinquish during a 23-2 run that spanned the end of the first quarter and start of the second, writes Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette.

Denver ultimately lost by a final score of 117-83, a humbling defeat for the 2023 NBA champions. The Nuggets now find themselves facing a 2-1 hole heading into Saturday’s Game 4.

“We got embarrassed today. It happens in the playoffs,” interim head coach David Adelman said. “(We’ve) been a part of it before, been a part of the other side of it. The bottom line is, it’s one game, and (if) we come back (in) Game 4, we do the right things, (we) give ourselves a chance.”

While forward Michael Porter Jr. was able to play 35 minutes Thursday, he was clearly struggling with the left shoulder injury he sustained late in Game 2, scoring just seven points on 2-of-9 shooting. After the game, 26-year-old said his shoulder issue is normally a four-to-five week injury and he felt very limited, estimating that his left shoulder was around 20-30 percent healthy, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, who reports that Porter suffered a Grade 2 sprain.

Porter said he played Thursday because he was told the injury wouldn’t get worse unless he sprained it again (Twitter link via Shelburne), but he was noncommittal about his chances of suiting up Saturday.

“If I can go out there and feel more confident that I can help the team, then I’m going to play,” Porter said, per Benedetto. “If it’s still in a place like it is today, and I don’t feel like I can help the team at all, there’s no point in trying to go out there.”

To make matters worse for a team that’s already thin on the depth chart, backup guard Russell Westbrook didn’t play in the second half after dealing with left foot inflammation during his eight first-half minutes.

According to Shelburne, Westbrook turned his left foot during pregame warmups and attempted to play through the injury before being pulled in the second quarter. Adelman didn’t have an update on the former MVP’s status after the game, Benedetto adds.

Northwest Notes: Conley, SGA, MPJ, Blazers

April 23rd, 2025 at 11:52pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Eighteen-year veteran Timberwolves point guard Mike Conley has battled through a difficult 2024/25 season, but he’s finally rounding into form just in time for the playoffs, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune.

Minnesota is currently tied at 1-1 in its first round playoff series against Los Angeles.

“This season has been one of the toughest ones I’ve had to deal with,” Conley said. “Obviously, a lot of expectation coming into the season after the year we had, myself included, to not be feeling the best to start the season and not playing the best — those combinations are not good together.”

Conley has been hampered since last summer by a left wrist injury since last summer that he expects will eventually need to be repaired surgically. The former All-Star, who is in the first season of a two-year, $20.8MM deal, also dislocated his finger around the All-Star break.

“In the health part, it was like, am I ever gonna get my wrist right?” Conley said. “Or am I ever gonna get feeling the same where I can hold the ball again correctly, or, not feel pain? And stuff like that. Those are all questions that were staying in my head. Once that went away, the game started to slowly come back together and it’s easier to be confident when you know you’re not feeling something crazy every time you flick your wrist or dribble the ball or play defense.”

There’s more out of the Northwest Division:

Despite two inefficient nights from All-NBA Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City obliterated Memphis in both instances. Gilgeous-Alexander, who is connecting on just 32.6% of his shots from the field in those victories, celebrated his team’s depth in the wake of his underwhelming performances, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “I feel like I’m getting looks I usually make and just missing them,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “That’s part of basketball. It’s ups and downs, makes and misses. Because my team is really good, we’ve won two games by a decent margin. They’ve had my back these last two nights. Hopefully, I pick it up soon.” The Thunder star scored 27 points in Game 2, but went just 10-of-29 from the field. Star forward Jalen Williams stepped up with 24 points, while big man Chet Holmgren added 20.
Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. is considered questionable to suit up for Game 3 of Denver’s 1-1 series with the Clippers due to a left shoulder sprain. According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, interim head coach David Adelman is relatively confident the 6’10” vet will be available. “I’m very optimistic, because I don’t think he gets enough credit for how tough he is, what he’s played through over these years,” Adelman said. “His pain threshold is something that people don’t understand. … So, do I know if Mike’s going to play? No. But I do know if Mike can play, he will.” Porter injured his shoulder with 1:35 remaining in regulation, forcing Adelman to once again close with sixth man guard Russell Westbrook.
The Trail Blazers recently opted to extend both GM Joe Cronin and coach Chauncey Billups thanks to a surprisingly solid 36-46 season. Now, Portland is considered a team to watch heading into the offseason, according to longtime NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), who note that the team will have several veterans on expiring contracts to monitor: Anfernee Simons, Matisse Thybulle, Robert Williams, and Deandre Ayton.

Nuggets’ Porter Injures Shoulder, Blames Self For Game 2 Loss

April 22nd, 2025 at 8:09am CST by Luke Adams

After scoring just three points and not being part of the closing lineup in the Nuggets‘ Game 1 win on Saturday, forward Michael Porter Jr. bounced back in Game 2 on Monday, posting 15 points and 15 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. However, when he spoke to reporters after the game, Porter admitted he was dwelling on a key fourth-quarter moment that he felt cost his team the game.

With the score tied at 100 and 1:40 remaining, Porter grabbed a defensive rebound and went to throw an outlet pass, but lost control of the ball and turned it over (Twitter video link).

Clippers guard Kris Dunn fell on the Nuggets forward as the two players battled for the loose ball, injuring Porter’s shoulder and slowing his efforts to get back on defense. With the Clippers essentially in a 5-on-4 situation, Norman Powell knocked down a three-pointer that turned out to be the difference in a 105-102 L.A. victory.

According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, Porter went around Denver’s locker room after the game apologizing his teammates for that play, which he viewed as a difference-maker.

“I feel like it was on me with that turnover,” Porter said (Twitter video link via DNVR Sports). “I thought I had someone streaking down (the floor). I was trying to advance it up. But I saw that I didn’t (have someone looking for the pass), so then I ended up turning it over. Just felt like that was the biggest turnover of the game. … I just had to tell my guys, “My fault, that was my mistake.'”

It was a case of adding insult to injury for Porter, who told reporters he sustained a sprained joint in his left shoulder on the play. He downplayed the issue as “nothing too serious,” expressing optimism that he’ll be good to go for Game 3 on Thursday in Los Angeles, but he admitted he was in a lot of pain when the injury happened.

“I made a stupid play after I got the rebound, and tried to make up for it,” Porter said, per Durando. “And someone landed on my shoulder. … I’ve never experienced a pain like this in my shoulder area. I’ve had rolled ankles, so I know what I can play through with that. I’ve never had this. Luckily, it’s on my left side, not my right side, so that’s good.”

That left shoulder joint sprain isn’t the only health-related issue Porter is dealing with, Durando notes. The 26-year-old, who has worn a foot brace for years to support instability in his left ankle and foot, said after Monday’s game that his brace broke recently and he hasn’t been able to get comfortable in a replacement.

“I’ve been trying to get used to a new one,” Porter said. “None of them seem to fit right, and it’s just affecting my movement. I’m not used to them. So I haven’t been as confident in my movements since that one broke. … It’s the worst time to deal with it.”

While the sample size is very small, Porter’s -13.3 net rating is the worst among Denver’s top seven rotation players through the first two games of the first-round series.

2025 NBA Draft Tiebreaker Results

April 21st, 2025 at 4:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Tiebreakers among teams with identical regular-season records were broken on Monday through random drawings to determine the order for this year’s draft prior to the lottery.

The results are as follows, according to a press release from the league (Twitter link):

Phoenix Suns (No. 9) over Portland Trail Blazers (No. 10)
- The Suns will get one more lottery ball combination (out of 1,000) than the Trail Blazers.
- The Suns’ pick will be sent to the Rockets.
Dallas Mavericks (No. 11) over Chicago Bulls (No. 12)
- The Mavericks will get one more lottery ball combination (out of 1,000) than the Bulls.
Sacramento Kings (No. 13) over Atlanta Hawks (No. 14)
- The Kings will get one more lottery ball combination (out of 1,000) than the Hawks.
- The Kings’ pick will be sent to the Hawks if it’s outside of the top 12.
- The Hawks’ pick will be sent to the Spurs.
Memphis Grizzlies (No. 18) over Milwaukee Bucks (No. 19) over Golden State Warriors (No. 20)
- The Grizzlies’ pick will be sent to the Wizards.
- The Bucks’ pick will be sent to the Nets.
- The Warriors’ pick will be sent to the Heat.
Los Angeles Lakers (No. 22) over Indiana Pacers (No. 23) over Los Angeles Clippers (No. 24) over Denver Nuggets (No. 25)
- The Lakers’ pick will be sent to the Hawks.
- The Clippers’ pick will be sent to the Thunder.
- The Nuggets’ pick will be sent to the Magic.

While the tiebreaker winner will pick ahead of the loser(s) in the first round, that order will be flipped in the second round.

For instance, the Warriors’ second-round pick (traded to the Grizzlies) will be at No. 48, followed by the Bucks’ pick (traded to Detroit) at No. 49, and the Grizzlies (traded to New York) at No. 50 — that’s the opposite of their order in the first round.

For lottery teams that finished with identical records, the second-round order is still to be determined depending on the lottery results.

For example, if Phoenix’s first-round pick (traded to Houston) stays at No. 9 and the Blazers’ first-rounder stays at No. 10, Portland’s second-round pick (traded to Toronto) would be at No. 39 and Phoenix’s (traded to Washington) would be No. 40. But if the Trail Blazers win the No. 1 overall pick on lottery night, moving ahead of Phoenix in the first round, then the Suns’ second-round pick would be No. 39, while Portland’s would be No. 40.

We’ll publish the full lottery odds and pre-lottery draft order for 2025 later tonight.