Despite injuries, the Nuggets showcase their resilience and depth against tough competition.
The Denver Nuggets continue to find ways to win despite a mountain of injuries, and head coach David Adelman expressed his admiration for the group's resilience after Friday night's 102-100 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Denver went into the game with just ten available players, and things got worse when Aaron Gordon left the contest with a re-aggravated right hamstring strain.
Gordon, who had just returned from the same injury that sidelined him for over a month, finished with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals before exiting at halftime.
An "Extreme" Belief in One Another
Speaking after the win, Adelman reflected on the locker room atmosphere with mixed emotions but tremendous pride in his players.
"It's cool. Mixed emotions in there with Aaron going down, but I just think the overall belief in each other is extreme," Adelman said postgame. "It's cool to see the guys that are out so excited for their teammates."
That sentiment captures what has defined the Nuggets throughout this challenging stretch.
Denver (30-15) has now won eight of their last 13 games without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who has been sidelined since suffering a hyperextended left knee on December 29.
The team has also battled through injuries to Cameron Johnson, Christian Braun, Jonas Valanciunas, and Peyton Watson at various points, often fielding lineups that look nothing like their opening night roster.
Against the Bucks (18-25), the Nuggets were without Jokic, Jamal Murray (hip/hamstring), Valanciunas, Watson, and others.
Murray has been on a tear offensively when healthy, averaging 25.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.5 assists this season while shooting 44.8 percent from three-point range, and his absence made the win even more impressive.
Staying Afloat in the Western Conference
The victory represents another example of Denver's depth and collective mindset carrying them through adversity.
Earlier this month, the Nuggets pulled off an upset win over the Philadelphia 76ers without all five of their typical starters, a game that Adelman said instilled confidence in the entire roster.
"Having our guys, our best rotational players, watching that game and seeing the complete buy-in by that group," Adelman explained of how that Philadelphia win laid the groundwork for victories like Friday's. "The way they won the game, just by doing it, by scrapping... it does instill confidence in your better guys when they come back because they see that the other men in that locker room are capable, confident, and they can help them out."
Gordon's Re-Injury a Blow
Gordon's hamstring setback adds another layer of concern for a team that has been unable to escape injury troubles all season.
After missing over a month, Gordon had shown his versatility in recent games, including a 10-rebound, 11-assist double-double against the Washington Wizards last week.
Adelman noted that the forward is "optimistic that it's not as bad as the last one" but the team will proceed carefully.
For now, the Nuggets remain in third place in the Western Conference standings, a testament to the culture Adelman has built in his first season as head coach.
Denver's next challenge comes Sunday against the Memphis Grizzlies, and the team will once again lean on the "extreme" belief that has carried them through this difficult stretch.