Nuggets Ink

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink Podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Nuggets' win in Toronto. Among the topics discussed: + Jamal Murray made his glorious return to Toronto, near his hometown of Kitchener. How was the reception? And where does he stand among all of the Canadian ballers? + Peyton Watson continues to submit gems off the bench both offensively and defensively. Could Watson end up being the Nuggets' best player off the bench by the end of the season? + After seeing what the Oklahoma City Thunder did to the Denver Nuggets last week, is it time to start taking the Thunder seriously as playoff threats? + Who's been naughty and who's been nice for the Nuggets so far this season? The fellas sift through lumps of coal. A fresh batch of reader emails arrived in Matt's inbox (mschubert@denverpost.com). Producer: AAron Ontiveroz Music: "The Last Dragons" by Schama Noel

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink Podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert talk ejections, suspensions, injuries and rookie prowess. Among the topics discussed: + Is Nikola Jokic being unfairly refereed by officiating crews around the NBA? After getting ejected for the second time this season -- while shooting just six free throws per game — is there a case that the two-time MVP isn't receiving the same whistle as other stars? + Draymond Green is off to therapy after his latest heinous act on a basketball court. What is the reality of who he is at this point in his career? + Jamal Murray is closer to saying goodbye to a supermax contract as the injuries mount. Is it time for the Nuggets to take a step back and hold him out of more games to allow him time to fully heal? Or is this destined to be a recurring theme this season? + Bennett, who has been on the Julian Strawther train since day one, discusses his back-to-back games of note. Is he among the best Michael Malone-e

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, host Matt Schubert and beat writer Bennett Durando catch up prior to the Nuggets' loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. Among the topics discussed: + The fellas catch up on a few superlatives at the quarter point of the season for the Nuggets. What's the best win of the season to date? Worst loss? Biggest surprise? Biggest disappointment? + What's the verdict on the NBA In Season Tournament? Is this a win for the league? Worth keeping around? Does anyone really want the medals that go to the winning team? Did the Nuggets at all regret not qualifying for the quarterfinals? + Is it already time to declare Jamal Murray's All-NBA chances dead given all of his missed games? + We found out Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther and Christian Braun all live in the same apartment complex. So which one is Kramer?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, host Matt Schubert and beat writer Bennett Durando catch up with the Nuggets riding a three-game winning streak heading into the weekend. Among the topics discussed: + Is Matt back on the Suns bandwagon after writing them off one game into the season as they look to capture the first NBA in season tournament championship? Matt and Bennett discuss where things stand with the Nuggets on the outside looking in. + Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Jordan had themselves an evening against their former team in Los Angeles. What does the performance say about this team? And where does that win stand among this era's best? + Jamal Murray returned after a monthlong injury on Wednesday night, immediately tweaked his ankle, then hit a 40-footer not long after that. What are the takeaways from his first game back? And what can fans look forward to as he strives to regain his form? + The fellas engage in an NBA centers draft. Who knows ball... an editor, beat writer or photog

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, host Matt Schubert and beat writer Bennett Durando catch up after the Nuggets' win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. Among the topics discussed: + Where does Draymond Green choking Rudy Gobert rank among the great fights in NBA history? Who are the NBA's real tough guys? Fake tough guys? The fellas provide a semi-definitive list. + What teams on the rise appear to be legitimate threats to the Nuggets' repeat championship hopes? Minnesota is balling, the Oklahoma City Thunder are making noise and the Phoenix Suns are setting. + The new-look L.A. Clippers came to Denver and got sent home with an "L" once again. Should the Nuggets be at all worried about them? Or is this just the same, old Clippers? + Listener reviews! All five stars, and at least one of them is pretty saucy.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, host Matt Schubert and beat writer Bennett Durando catch up after the Nuggets' dramatic win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night. Among the topics discussed: Julian Strawther had a breakout game against New Orleans one night, then found himself riding the bench for long stretches two nights later. How long will it take the rookie to break through coach Michael Malone's rotation? + Jamal Murray is expected to miss several games, with ESPN and The Athletic both reporting the Nuggets star guard will be out at least through November. How have Reggie Jackson and second-year point guard Collin Gillespie performed in his absence? + Nikola Jokic has his worst 20-second stretch of basketball in recent memory at the end of Wednesday night's win over Golden State, but the two-time MVP still turned in a brilliant performance overall. Is the Joker hunting his shot more? + Puppy Lord: The birth of an all-time nickname for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, whose pup

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, host Matt Schubert and beat writer Bennett Durando wildly overreact to the Nuggets' 4-0 start. Among the topics discussed: • Matt provides four wild overreactions to the first five percent of the NBA season. Does it matter that head coach Michael Malone hates overreactions? Short answer? Not here. • Is Peyton Watson for real? The second-year pro is shooting over 60 percent for the season and tallying 1.5 blocks so far. Time to start engraving the trophy for Sixth Man of the Year? • Bennett, still working on growing his first legitimate beard at the recording of this podcast, discusses his Halloween costume and potential for others in the remaining years of his youth. • The first annual NBA in-season tournament begins this week. Are the courts merely bad Halloween costumes masquerading as good taste? Can the Nuggets win their group? Does it matter? • Is a surprise James Harden in your candy bar the new razorblade in a Snickers this Oct. 31? Bennett thinks

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Bennett Durando is joined by editor Matt Schubert to discuss the upcoming season on the cusp of banner night at Ball Arena. Among the topics discussed: + Zeke Nnaji and the Nuggets agreed to a four-year, $32 million extension over the weekend. What was the motivation behind the deal? And what are the chances he spends all four years in Denver? + Will Nikola Jokic win his third MVP award? Will Jamal Murray be named to the All-NBA team? How many games will Michael Porter Jr. play this season? Can the Nuggets win more than 52 games? Who will play the most minutes off the bench? Durando and Schubert dig into that and several other questions. + Media beef: Who is coming for the Nuggets from the world of media this season? And why isn't it Kendrick Perkins? + Best banner in arena history? Will the NBA world champs banner have much shelf life if the Nuggets win the mid-season tournament?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Bennett Durando is joined by editor Matt Schubert to discuss training camp in San Diego, Denver's first preseason game and all things NBA. Among the topics discussed: + A trio of rookies are looking to crack coach Michael Malone's notably veteran-heavy lineup. Who has risen to the challenge early on in preseason and who still has some maturing to do? + The annual NBA general managers poll was released this week. Where does Nikola Jokic rank according to the GMs? Is Jamal Murray now flirting with All-NBA status based on recent polls? + A remembrance of Brendan Malone, NBA legend and father of current head coach Michael Malone. + Is it Benny, Benito, Ben? And how do you even pronounce Durando in modern America?

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Bennett Durando is joined by editor Matt Schubert to discuss the team's media day as well as the first couple days of training camp in San Diego. Among the topics discussed: + Is Jamal Murray making the right call betting on himself to make All-NBA team instead of signing an extension? + There was a flurry of trade activity just before the start of training camp. Who rules the NBA power rankings after big moves from Phoenix, Milwaukee and Boston, among others? + Beef? What beef? Can the Los Angeles Lakers spoil the Nuggets' banner ceremony ahead of their season-opening game at Ball Arena in Denver? The boys discuss what was said by whom leading to the pseudo-beef that has Laker Nation heated. + What is the most likely outcome of the point guard position after the departure of Bruce Brown to Indiana? Reggie Jackson hopes his first full season on the roster is his time to shine and an opportunity to prove why so many in Los Angeles Clippers lan

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, departing beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by editor Matt Schubert and new beat reporter Bennett Durando to discuss the passing of the torch, the Nuggets' return to form and the Western Conference pecking order. Among the topics discussed: + Is Jamal Murray betting on himself to make an All-Star team or All-NBA team before signing an extension? Is that the right decision? + With Bruce Brown off to Indiana to collect his bag, how will the Nuggets replace their malleable bench piece? Which of their three rookies is most likely to become a contributor in Year 1? Did the Nuggets make a mistake letting Jeff Green walk? + Nikola Jokic and Murray both elected to opt out of playing for their countries in the World Cup. No doubt that's welcome news for the Nuggets, but basketball heads around the world are disappointed. + The boys discuss the return of the Western Conference as the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers improve their rosters, while the Golden State

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by sports editor Matt Schubert to discuss the first ever championship in Denver Nuggets history after a gritty 94-89 win over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Among the topics covered: + Nikola Jokic. No jokes here. What is left to say about the 41st overall draft pick after one of the most dominant postseason runs in NBA history? Has he crept into the discussion as one of the league's top 20 players of all time? Just how long can he lead the Nuggets to title contention? + Schubert and Singer discuss the team's future, including that of key role player Bruce Brown. Will Brown stick around for a shot at another title? Or will he chase the big contract that would inevitably come his way in free agency? + What did an emotional Jamal Murray have to say in the wake of a career-altering postseason run? Did Michael Porter Jr. prove something with his gutty Game 5 performance? + Should the Denver faithful have booed L

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by sports reporter Bennett Durando to break down Game 3 of the NBA Finals and to discuss the remaining games in the series as the Nuggets hold a 2-1 lead over Miami.  Among the topics covered: + How impressive is the double triple-double posted by Nuggets star players Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray? + Durando and Singer discuss the emergence of Christian Braun, who morphed into an offensive playmaker in Game 3. With 15 points in 17 minutes, has the young defensive hound proven himself as a legitimate piece on a title contender? + Durando and Singer also looks ahead to the Nuggets' pathway to securing the 2023 NBA title.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by sports reporter Bennett Durando to break down Game 1 of the NBA Finals and preview Game 2 between the Nuggets and Heat. Among the topics covered: + How did the Nuggets fare against the Heat's famed zone defense? Can Denver again stifle Miami's offense, which saw star Jimmy Butler struggle despite a terrorizing run through the Eastern Conference Playoffs? + Durando and Singer are joined by Broncos beat reporter Parker Gabriel, who weighs in on the sights and sounds of Ball Arena, which like Los Angeles' Crytpto.com Arena, was filled to the brim with local celebrities including Peyton Manning, Sean Payton and Ken Jeong. + The trio look ahead at the likelihood that the Nuggets have already faced their toughest foe in the second round, the Phoenix Suns, much like their local NHL counterparts the Colorado Avalanche, who faced their stiffest competition in round two against the St. Louis Blues in last season's Stanley Cup Pl

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by sports reporter Bennett Durando to break down the biggest win in Denver Nuggets history: + Mike and Bennett share scenes from the floor and inside the locker room as the Nuggets celebrated their first trip to the NBA Finals after a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers + Why Mike’s Western Conference Finals MVP vote swung from Jamal Murray to Nikola Jokic during the course of Game 4. (And which is the defining Jokic moment of the close-out game: his circus 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter or his game-winning Euro step through Anthony Davis?) + While LeBron James’ 20th season ends with a vintage 40-point performance that wasn’t quite enough, Denver’s trip to the NBA Finals guarantees new blood this year at the end of the road. Who will it be: Jokic or Jimmy Butler? (Or Jayson Tatum, but not really.) A brief look ahead.

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer is joined by sports reporter Bennett Durando to break down the first two games of the Western Conference Finals and preview Game 3 between the Nuggets and Lakers. Among the topics covered: + Michael Malone is raising the political spice level against the national "narrative." The latest domino to fall in Denver's war on ESPN was Lisa Salters' comment about not previously covering Nikola Jokic. Mike Singer shares his thoughts on the Nuggets' fight for "respect," even with a 2-0 series lead. And on the topic of fighting words, what to make of Bruce Brown's comments about D'Angelo Russell? + Durando and Singer marvel at the timing of Jamal Murray's electrifying fourth quarter and discuss the importance of Denver's transition game as the series moves to Los Angeles. Was altitude actually a problem for LeBron James and the Lakers in crunch time of Game 2? + What adjustments will the Nuggets make to try stealing a win in Los Angeles? Bro

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat reporter Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert are joined by sports reporter Bennett Durando ahead of the Western Conference Finals. Among the topics discussed: + Back from his first week as a dad, Mike Singer shares his thoughts on fatherhood, what he missed after the Nuggets dispatched the Phoenix Suns in six games and Nikola Jokic's personal shout-out after Game 3. + Durando reflects on the scene for the Game 6 closeout in Phoenix and his impressions as a newcomer to the Nuggets locker room environment in the postseason. And what exactly was it that he said that make Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic chuckle? + With a Nuggets-Lakers matchup now set in stone for the Western Conference Finals, the fellas dig into the matchups and what makes this series more challenging for Denver than the others. Can Aaron Gordon continue his defensive mastery against LeBron James? Is Jamal Murray set to have another big series against a less talented Lakers

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, deputy sports editor Matt Schubert is joined by sports reporter Parker Gabriel after the Nuggets lost a pair of games in Phoenix to even up their Western Conference semifinal series at 2-2. Among the topics discussed: + With Nuggets beat writer Mike Singer out on newborn baby duty, Matt and Parker break down a classic Game 4 in what's already been a fantastic four-game series. + Somehow, the biggest story to come out of Game 4 wasn't even what happened on the court. Instead, much of the focus was on an incident involving Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Suns owner Matt Ishbia that saw the two make contact with each other and Jokic get assessed a technical foul. What happened? What was the tenor postgame? And who's ultimately to blame for what happened courtside? + On the court, Jokic submitted an all-time masterpiece with 53 points and 11 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome the dual brilliance of Devin Booker and Kevin Durant combined with better bench

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Nuggets took a 2-0 lead on the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference semifinals. Among the topics discussed: + Nikola Jokic, the MVP who wasn't, carried the Nuggets in Game 2 against the Suns with a 39-point masterpiece. Mike and Matt discuss the Joker's big game, coming on the eve of his runner-up finish to Joel Embiid in the NBA MVP race. + With Michael Porter Jr. struggling from the field, head coach Michael Malone opted to bench the Nuggets' sharpshooter. A one-off in a defensive slugfest? Or a sign of things to come in this playoff run? + Kevin Durant and Devin Booker struggled to keep the paper-thin Suns roster afloat in the first two games, especially the former. What are the Nuggets doing defensively to limit the Suns' superstar duo? + On the other side of the bracket, the Warriors and Lakers are getting ready for a knock-down, drag-out series. Who is the better mat

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Mike Singer and deputy sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the Nuggets eliminated the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round to set up a showdown with the Phoenix Suns. Among the topics discussed: + Don't call him Bubble Jamal. That's Playoff Jamal to you. Jamal Murray once again rose to the occasion under the bright lights of the NBA Playoffs. Nikola Jokic called him the best player in the series against Minnesota. If this is the Murray the Nuggets get all postseason, is it time to start planning the championship parade? + Up next is the Phoenix Suns and their star-driven, yet thin lineup led by Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Chris Paul. What advantages can the Nuggets exploit in this series? Which team has the better starting five? How much will the Nuggets' relative depth advantage play a role? + Nothing has been decided on the other side of the bracket, where Lakers-Grizzlies and Warriors-Kings are now headed for Game 6s. Of the f