Aaron Gordon erupted for 25 points on 9‑of‑12 shooting, proving he’s back at full strength. Can the Nuggets finally count on a fully healthy Aaron Gordon?
“I’m no physician, but he seems fine,” coach David Adelman said. “Seeing him drive the third quarter with confidence was refreshing. He attacked the rim and found his rhythm, which was exactly what we needed.”
Benedetto notes Gordon changed his pre‑game routine after a limited 36‑game season and a brief playoff stint. He now arrives earlier and stays later, giving himself extra prep time.
“It feels smoother out there,” Gordon said. “More stretching, focused effort, and better warm‑up and cool‑down routines make a difference.”
More Nuggets news follows:
- DeMar DeRozan still looks out of sync with Denver, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Signed for scoring off the bench, he missed all four shots on Sunday and hasn’t meshed his isolation style with the team. In my view, DeRozan’s fit remains questionable, and Adelman kept starters in the second half to rebuild chemistry after last season’s injury woes.
- Julian Strawther is expected to fill Tim Hardaway Jr.’s bench role, according to Benedetto. The fourth‑year guard says he’s trying to be less chaotic and emulate Hardaway’s production. “We miss his impact and need to cover that void,” Strawther added.
- Alpha Diallo, a 29‑year‑old rookie who spent five seasons in Europe, hopes his EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year pedigree will help the Nuggets. “If I’m assigned a guard they don’t know me, they’ll find out soon,” he said. Will his defense translate to NBA success?