Ben Simmons, Kawhi Leonard, John Wall, Jamal Murray but also Michael Porter Jr or Damian Lillard. Monday evening, many stars found their way back to the field after several months, even more than a year of absence.
In Denver, it was the Murray-Porter duo who were dressed for the reception of the Thunder. The first scored his 10 points in the second quarter, and he played without apprehension. The proof with his basket at the buzzer, on one leg despite several contacts. Just before he had planted a 3-point step-back. let’s remember that Jamal Murray hadn’t played for… 539 days!
” When I sat down, I think the nerves were freed…“, recognized the leader after the game. ” It was a good feeling. I had a lot of fun. »
“During my rookie year, they would have been annoyed that I took this type of shot”
Same ease with Michael Porter Jr whose early career was marked by two white seasons. Impatient, he took shot after shot, and even stole passes that were not intended for him.
” In my rookie year, they would have been annoyed that I took this type of shot » remembers Denver wingerauthor of 12 points to 5 of 7 on shots. “Eventually they found out that was my game, that I had always played that way. There is a balance to be found between working on your game, but also time and space. When I’m hot handed I can take a harder shot than when I’m not. »
For this start of the school year, Mike Malone had asked his two ghosts to ” do their work collectively“, and overall, the starting five was not a great night, like a two-point Nikola Jokic without a single basket scored.
” I find it very difficult to find an area in which we really excelled and played at a high level “Lamented the Nuggets coach. ” We lost balls, we didn’t come back in defense, we didn’t defend the racket, we didn’t take the rebounds…”
