Locked On Nuggets - Daily Podcast On The Denver Nuggets Nuggets Nearly Deliver, Run out of Gas in Clutch
Jan 3, 2026
The hosts dive into the Denver Nuggets' narrow loss to the Cavaliers, spotlighting Jamal Murray's impressive first-half scoring and his struggle against doubled defense. Despite the defeat, they share a silver lining in the team's grit without key players like Jokic. An injury update brings good news for Jokic's return, while they analyze Zeke Nnaji's rebounding issues and the team's lack of scoring in the fourth quarter. The discussion wraps up with insights into player potential and the defense’s notable improvements.
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Murray's Offensive Leadership Shines
- Jamal Murray carried Denver offensively in Jokic's absence, scoring 34 and setting the tone early with relentless shot attempts.
- The team showed resilience and multiple building blocks despite ultimately losing in the fourth quarter.
Cavs' Second-Half Adjustment Worked
- Cleveland adjusted by doubling Murray in the second half and forcing Denver's role players to make shots.
- That defensive focus reduced Denver's offensive output and exposed their depth limits late.
Protect Murray With Planned Rest
- Manage Jamal Murray's minutes to avoid gassing him across multi-week stretches without Nikola Jokić.
- Give him planned rest so he can remain effective and avoid injury risk from heavy usage.