NBA Power Rankings week 14: OKC Thunder among the ‘road warriors’
Denver Nuggets:
Offense: (111.2) 9th
Defense: (107.6) tied10th
Net: (plus +3.6) 9th
Results Week 14: (3-1): Won vs Wolves: 107-100, Pelicans: 111-106, Rockets: 117-110, Lost to Rockets:105-121
Games Week 15: (4 games) Tues at Grizzlies | Thurs vs. Jazz | Fri at Bucks | Sun at Pistons
Another club getting hit hard by injuries as Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Mason Plumlee, Michael Porter Jr. all missed games this week.
Two games against the Rockets offered up a split and while the Nuggets are relying heavily on Nikola Jokic, for the most part, he carried them with a 3 and 1 week. In both games versus the Rockets, he delivered triple-doubles. In the first it was 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists effort which resulted in the loss and in the second he posted 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists this time netting victory.
Week 15 serves up tough competition as the Nuggets face three seeded teams and the Pistons. Making the situation difficult is Plumlee will be out until late February while both Murray and Millsap are listed as out indefinitely.
Porter Jr. returned to action to play in both the Pelicans and second Rockets match posting 15 points and 10 rebounds and 17 points with nine rebounds versus Houston. Moving forward his presence and offensive versatility could become a factor as he appears to be the player who could fill the role as the secondary or tertiary scorer depending on where Murray fits in that mix.