Pelicans, Spurs and Nuggets: Key Takeaways From a Busy NBA Stretch
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Pelicans
New Orleans has won two straight since guard Jordan Poole returned from an 18-game absence caused by a quad strain, the longest injury layoff of his career. The Pelicans were 3-22 before Poole was cleared; they are 2-0 with him back.
Poole treated his rehab “like a full-time job,” saying the injury mostly required time to heal. In victories over Portland and Chicago, he came off the bench to total 38 points and seven assists. New Orleans outscored opponents by 19 during his 53 minutes on the floor.
Interim coach James Borrego called Poole a “savvy scorer” who pressures defenses and can change games in short bursts without forcing shots.
Spurs
San Antonio continues to lean on lessons from early-season tight contests. After a recent high-stakes loss, rookie Dylan Harper said the experience outweighed the result, noting the team has already navigated several close finishes.
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton pointed to a recent pattern: Indiana and Oklahoma City followed strong NBA Cup performances with deep playoff runs, raising the possibility that the Spurs’ early exposure to pressure situations could benefit them later.
Nuggets
Denver relied on depth in Monday’s 128-125 overtime win against Houston. With multiple injuries and both centers fouled out, coach Michael Malone finished the game with Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., Spencer Jones, Jamal Murray and Cameron Johnson.
Brown said the performance validated Denver’s offseason emphasis on veteran depth. Center Jonas Valanciunas, averaging 12.8 minutes, has already appeared in more games than Dario Saric did last season and has provided steady relief for Nikola Jokic. While the Nuggets remain stronger with Jokic on the court, team metrics indicate the drop-off has been smaller than in recent years.
Source: Hoops Wire
