DENVER — Michael Malone mentioned the Denver Nuggets left their bickering and at occasions uncontrollable frustration behind in San Francisco as they hope to show their first-round collection round in opposition to the Golden State Warriors.
The Nuggets insist they’re unified after teammates Will Barton and DeMarcus Cousins received right into a verbal spat on the sideline throughout a second-half meltdown in opposition to the Warriors in Sport 2.
Level guard Monte Morris mentioned after that 126-106 loss on Monday that Nuggets gamers spoke up within the locker room.
“That was out of the system earlier than we received on the aircraft,” Malone mentioned on Wednesday after Nuggets follow. “We dealt with that internally and we transfer ahead.”
“We’re collectively,” added Malone, whose crew will attempt to keep away from falling right into a 3-0 gap in opposition to the Warriors in Thursday’s Sport 3 at Ball Enviornment. “We’re high-quality. We moved previous that. We go into the sport as one unit. There isn’t any hangover from what occurred throughout that sport.”
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Malone has mentioned that the Nuggets haven’t any probability of beating the Warriors if they’re preventing and beating themselves. By way of the primary two video games, Denver has had no reply for Stephen Curry, Jordan Poole, Klay Thompson and Draymond Inexperienced.
Poole is averaging 29.5 factors within the beginning lineup, and Curry has averaged 25 factors off the bench as he continues to make his manner again from damage. Thompson has averaged 20 factors per sport within the collection and Inexperienced has efficiently slowed down reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.
Jokic is averaging 25.5 factors, 10.5 rebounds and 5 assists. However Jokic has been pissed off with the officiating and was ejected within the fourth quarter of Sport 2 after incomes his second technical foul for arguing with a referee over what he thought was a foul that wasn’t known as.
Jokic additionally credited Inexperienced’s protection in opposition to him after Sport 1. In Sport 2, Inexperienced held Jokic to eight factors and 2-of-12 taking pictures when he was the ultimate defender on the Nuggets huge man.
“Draymond has actually been hurting us,” level guard Austin Rivers mentioned. “Individuals aren’t actually noticing that. Draymond has actually damage us. He is simply controlling tempo, he is getting all of them these pictures, he is beating up Jok.”
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Inexperienced has held Jokic to a complete of 16 factors and 6-for-25 taking pictures within the first two video games when he was the ultimate defender in opposition to the reigning MVP, in response to analysis by ESPN Stats & Info.
“Draymond Inexperienced is actually not guarding anyone,” Malone mentioned of how Golden State is using the defensive stopper. “He’s a free security on the market. So we’ve got to discover a strategy to be efficient and make them pay for doing that. And till we try this, it’s going to be actually laborious for Nikola to get off when he is received three guys round him and so they’re saying, ‘We’re going to make certainly one of you different guys beat us.’”
Malone needs to see his crew play extra aggressive. With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. nonetheless out, Denver wants Aaron Gordon, who has averaged 7.5 factors and 5.0 rebounds, to have a much bigger influence.
“We talked with Aaron at this time,” Malone mentioned. “[About] other ways we will counter how they’re guarding him and the way he can’t solely assist himself, if they aren’t going to protect, he may also assist his teammates quite a bit as effectively.
“I believe it begins with an aggression degree. Be aggressive. We received guys catching the ball within the paint not even wanting on the rim, kicking it out to the perimeter. Be aggressive, make a play, get to the basket, get to the foul line. When you’ve two gifted groups, essentially the most aggressive crew goes to win … till that adjustments, we’ve got no probability in hell of successful a sport on this collection.”
Dogs like Bailey — the former Dog of the Week in The Denver Post’s Adventurist newsletter — will be in good company at the first Denver Dog Fair this weekend. (Provided by Barbara Ellis)
Denver Dog Fair
Saturday-Sunday. Woof! If the last few weeks have left you panting, why not surround yourself with unconditional love? The first Denver Dog Fair takes place on Nov. 22 and 23 with the promise of unending poochie goodness. There will be dog adoption booths, “celebrity” dogs, performances and tricks, a dog-fashion show, vendors, a dozen food trucks, kids’ bounce house, crafting, and more.
It takes place indoors at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Tickets: $20, good for both days; 5 and under free. $5 per dog. Price includes all entertainment and activities (minus adoption fees and food/drink). denverdogfair.com
Christkindlmarket and the Mile High Tree
Friday. The annual Mile High Tree at Civic Center park has quickly become a modern classic in Denver, with its 110-foot-tall display of 60,000, color-changing LED lights. Its location next to the annual Christkindlmarket and across from the brightly decorated Denver City & County Building makes it a one-stop shop for free family holiday fun.
At the 24th Christkindlmarket you’ll find local vendors plus Glühwein (mulled spiced wine), German biers and hot chocolate, Bavarian-style pretzels, fresh smoked salmon, Knödel, goulash, Nürnberger sausages, pastries, caramels and European chocolates. The tree’s light-and-music shows run from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly.
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The market and tree both open on Friday, Nov. 22, with the market running through Dec. 23. The market is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. denver.org/milehighholidays/mile-high-tree or christkindlmarketdenver.com
Charlie Fausette, 6, from Tampa, Fla., ice skates with her father Rob at Downtown Denver Rink in Denver on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
Free ice skating downtown
Through Feb. 2, 2025. Whatever the weather, you can get a bit of holiday fun in by stopping by the popular Downtown Denver Rink. The rink, which basically bisects the 16th Street Mall’s Skyline Park (just outside the Daniels and Fisher Clocktower at 16th and Arapahoe streets), is a public rink where you can rent or bring your own skates.
It’s open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Entry is free; skate rentals are $12 for adults and $9 for kids 12 and under. winterindenver.com/rink
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be ready for photos at the Denver Christmas Show, this year moving to the National Western Complex. (Provided by Michelle Ellis)
A very merry Denver Christmas Show
Friday-Sunday. You don’t have to be in the market for gifts to get something out of the Denver Christmas Show at the National Western Complex. It’s a family-friendly affair, with Santa visits (and photos), daily storytime and hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus, live music, dancing, and more.
Of course, if you want to pick up some candy or chocolate, local gifts, or holiday decor, that will be right there too (with free gift wrapping), as well as plenty of other vendors. Tickets for the Friday, Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 24, event are $14 for 14-and-up, and free for 13-and-under. It runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at 4655 Humboldt St. in Denver. denverchristmasshow.com
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Dallas Mavericks (8-7, 11th in the Western Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (8-5, fifth in the Western Conference)
Denver; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: Dallas seeks to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Mavericks take on Denver.
The Nuggets are 4-5 in Western Conference games. Denver is fifth in the league with 46.2 rebounds led by Nikola Jokic averaging 13.7.
The Mavericks have gone 6-6 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 17.2 fast break points per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 4.6.
The Nuggets make 46.8% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.1 percentage points higher than the Mavericks have allowed to their opponents (44.7%). The Mavericks average 115.6 points per game, 0.5 more than the 115.1 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is shooting 47.9% and averaging 18.3 points for the Nuggets.
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Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 5.2 assists for the Mavericks.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 119.7 points, 45.4 rebounds, 30.7 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points per game.
Mavericks: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 44.3 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 7.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 109.2 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Nikola Jokic: day to day (personal).
Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Pop music icon Billie Eilish had a very important request before performing a sold-out show at Denver’s Ball Arena on Tuesday night: She wanted to snuggle with some animals.
Two Front Range shelters were more than happy to bring some furry friends for a backstage meet-and-greet with Eilish and her team, Brighter Days Dog Rescue founder and director Becca Orin said.
Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary first got the request through the venue, and the Commerce City sanctuary teamed up with Brighter Days in Boulder to bring puppies, kittens and a pony to the arena.
Billie Eilish snuggles with a puppy and pony from Brighter Days Dog Rescue and Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary before performing at Ball Arena in Denver on Nov. 19, 2024. (Courtesy of Becca Orin)
Eilish, her mom and team were “amazing,” Orin said, and showered the animals with love – particularly Samson the pony, who was overjoyed by all of the attention and cookies.
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Brighter Days shared photos of the visit in a post on Facebook, with Eilish grinning cheek-to-cheek with a puppy and getting a nuzzle from Samson.
“This is not the first time we have brought animals to Ball Arena for the artists ahead of their performance, but this was the first time the artist was kind enough and generous enough to let us take pictures and give us permission to post them on social media,” Orin said.
Eilish is set to perform a second sold-out show at Ball Arena on Wednesday night as part of her Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour.
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