With just a few weeks left within the common season, playoff-bound groups need to determine whether or not to prioritize wins or well being.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets each have chosen well being over potential playoff seeding as they put together for his or her matchup Wednesday evening in Colorado.
The Bucks (40-31) are solely two video games behind Indiana for the fourth seed within the Japanese Convention, however they’re extra involved about navigating by way of accidents and absences. Middle Jericho Sims (thumb surgical procedure) doubtless is out till the playoffs, Damian Lillard has missed the final three video games with a proper calf damage and large man Bobby Portis Jr. continues to serve a 25-game suspension for violating the phrases of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program.
Not having Sims and Portis places extra accountability on Brook Lopez, who’s fourth on the group in scoring at 12.8 factors, however coach Doc Rivers is not going to burn out his roster forward of the playoffs.
“We’re on the hardest a part of our season proper now, and we actually have one (heart) on the roster,” Rivers advised Andscape. “That is powerful. And the 5 we’ve is terrific. He is (36) years previous. And I am simply going to refuse to play him a ton of minutes. So, we’ll need to get by way of this one way or the other. If we are able to get by way of this with our head above water, we’ll be effective.”
Rivers does have Giannis Antetokounmpo, who’s second within the NBA in scoring (30.2 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (12.0 rpg). Lillard (24.9 ppg) ranks second in scoring for Milwaukee.
The Nuggets (45-28) are presently third within the Western Convention, however simply 4 video games away from the play-in match. Due to this fact, an prolonged shedding streak may very well be expensive. Denver has been in a position to keep within the prime three within the standings regardless of not having MVP candidate Nikola Jokic over the past 5 video games.
Jokic leads the Nuggets with 29.1 factors, 12.8 rebounds and 10.3 assists per recreation — all within the prime three within the NBA — however has been out with a left ankle damage and a sore proper elbow. Denver is 2-3 within the video games he has missed, which incorporates Monday’s 129-119 loss to Chicago that started a five-game homestand.
Jokic is predicted to return throughout the homestand and Aaron Gordon, who sat out Monday to handle his proper calf damage, must be within the lineup Wednesday.
Jamal Murray, second on the group with 21.7 factors per recreation, has averaged 33.5 factors over the past two video games in Jokic’s stead. Peyton Watson began instead of Gordon on Monday and scored a career-high 24 factors.
“I am getting a superb quantity of alternative to do what I can do and simply discovering somewhat bit extra consolation,” Watson stated. “My teammates are trusting me in positions to attain, play-make, facilitate, do much more on the offensive finish. So, I am simply making an attempt to be as constant as I can in my position and attempt to do what I can to assist our group win.”
–Area Stage Media
