Game 32: Denver Nuggets (22-9) vs. Sacramento Kings (12-20) - 8:00 PM ET

[ducler]

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[skywalker33]

Nuggets need to take care of business, we're better, have less injuries...no more messing around !!

[THE J0KER]

Three Serbs on the court, and MPJ is a starter. Are I'm dreaming?

[skywalker33]

Porter leads the team in scoring for the win, bet I say that a few more times in the future.

[THE J0KER]

Jokic with 88% fg% would have another great shooting night if he was more interesting in this game (zero points and rebounds in entire 1st quarter and finished game with just 4 assist). With Millsap and Harris out, Jokic bored, and Murray in mini slump this week, Nuggets needed several others to show out, and Barton, Grant, Plumlee, Beasley, and especially Porter do it. MPJ's 8-10 from the field, and even more sensational Mason Plumlee 9-10 from the line decided the winner (for almost perfect 7-8 from the field Jokic deserves more critics for not taking enough shots than credits).

And I'm not surprised about MPJ production today at all when Malone finally gives him some minutes. His per-36 minutes stats are great, TOP3 among rookies, but playing time was ridiculous until last two games.

Last 2019 game is big, in Houston.

[Mac1958]

Talk about mixed feelings. I understand (mostly) Malone not leaning on a rookie, especially when the team is a contender.

But I sure wish MPJ could be playing 36 minutes. I think the Nugs have a star there, and I hope he's around for a long time.

[Maf]

While I would like to see MPJ more I also understand why he doesn't play that much, too. He often get lost on defensive rotations, some of his passes (like cross court through four defenders) are really dumb. Us fans usually have patience to forget this because he is a rookie. Coaches? Not as much.

[THE J0KER]

While I would like to see MPJ more I also understand why he doesn't play that much, too. He often get lost on defensive rotations, some of his passes (like cross court through four defenders) are really dumb. Us fans usually have patience to forget this because he is a rookie. Coaches? Not as much.

Talk about mixed feelings. I understand (mostly) Malone not leaning on a rookie, especially when the team is a contender.

But I sure wish MPJ could be playing 36 minutes. I think the Nugs have a star there, and I hope he's around for a long time.

While I agree in general about that strategy, and why Cancar, Bol, JV, don't play, in MPJ case under 10 mpg playing time doesn't have a sense at all. MPJ numbers and production 'per minute' are already superior compared to other two SF backup options Juancho and Craig which both are in a slump and have under-40 fg% and just 46%ts%, while MPJ fg% and ts% are 10+ percent higher. Yes, he looks ridiculous at moments with his lack of experience, but no other methods to solve it than to play. And defensively he is not that bad thanks his superior size for SF standards, so his rebounding and blocking so far is great. If a team is a contender, and you have someone young who already deserves a chance and have a big room to improve, there are actually more reasons to give them a chance. Look at Miami where not one but TWO rookies, Nunn and Herro, get 30+ minutes because they already deserve it. But we need 2 starters out to see finally Porter playing over 13 minutes!? That is wrong.

[NuggetsWY]

Remember how slow Malone was to use Jokic. This is just a repeat, and we should see more Porter minutes quickly, at least I think so, at least I hope so.

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[NuggetsWY]

I'm very far behind on Reading Post and seeing the games. But I just finished watching this game and one thought that came to mind was then Malone had other choices besides starting Porter.I think we're seeing the beginning of the breakthrough in him getting some serious minutes, at least I hope so.

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