The Nuggets sat on the plane for about six hours Saturday night/early Sunday morning in Mexico City, trans Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. The team tried to fly to Houston before Monday’s game against the Rockets, but mechanical problems with the plane led to a long delay and little sleep.
All five Nuggets rookies — Jamal Murray, Christian Brown, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic — together with the veteran forward DeMar DeRozanwere initially listed as questionable before Monday’s contest due to various ailments. Head coach David Adelman said he sent a text to six players assessing their physical and mental health and essentially gave them the option to take the day off if needed, Durando wrote.
However, Murray said he planned to play and the others followed suit.
“I think no one even glanced at the text. I know Jamal was the first to speak“, Brown told The Denver Post. “But everyone seemed to follow his example. I don’t think any of the five or six that were in the band ever thought about not playing. We knew it was a big game. We understand where we are in the standings. … We understand the importance of this game and we kind of see what we get.”
While the Nuggets lost on Monday, Murray was again a bright spot, scoring 38 points on 14-of-23 shooting while playing active defense, Durando noted.
“Mal and I talk a lot about where we are in the standings” said Brown.… “Mal understands the moment, and he really wants it. You can actually see it. He wants to win. He plays to win. I think his defense took another step this year. He’s just a winning player.”
Here’s more on the Nuggets, who are now 5-4:
- Gordon hasn’t played at his usual level in the first nine games, especially on Monday. The veteran forward had just three points (on 1-of-6 shooting), five rebounds and two assists while committing three turnovers and five fouls in 30 minutes. But after the game, Gordon said that physical issues weren’t to blame for Durand’s slow start. “I feel good physically. So I worry less about my body and now more about winning“, he said.”So I think that will be very important. … I’ve been rehabbing a lot (this offseason) and lifting a lot. A lot of running. If only I could be there in May and June. But we need to pick it up now or it’s going to be a tougher road.”
- While the team is still over .500, there has been a troubling trend early this season, writes Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette. The Nuggets are now 0-4 against Western Conference teams with winning records, with their best win coming against the absentee Raptors Kawhi Leonard. Benedetto wonders if Adelman will adjust the bench rotation quickly if that unit doesn’t start playing better.
- Another troubling early trend for the Nuggets? Theirs offensive rating with three-time MVP Jokic on the floor through nine games is just 113.0, according to Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports (Twitter references), compared to 126.1 in 2025/26; The Nuggets had a misdemeanor of the highest rank in the league last season at 121.2. Their starting lineup hasn’t been as effective offensively either, though they’ve made strides defensively, Wind adds.
