Injuries Shake Up Nuggets and Raptors; Carlisle Nets 1,000th Win
injuries-jokic-barrett-carlisle-1000th-win
ATLANTA / BOSTON / INDIANAPOLIS — Key absences hit the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors on Friday, while Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reached a historic coaching milestone.
Nuggets Monitor Jokic’s Knee, Prioritize Tax Savings
Nikola Jokic remains limited to weight-room work as he recovers from a hyperextended left knee, assistant coach David Adelman said before Denver’s game in Atlanta. “I understand the 65-game rule, but a guy that never misses games for a decade, it bothers me a little bit,” Adelman noted, adding that Jokic is “not somebody that’s sitting out.”
Despite injuries to Jokic and backup big man Jonas Valanciunas (calf), the Nuggets do not plan to sign a center to a 10-day contract. According to the Denver Post, the front office is concentrating on moving below the luxury-tax threshold—Denver sits roughly $400,000 over—and converting two-way forward Spencer Jones to a standard deal.
Raptors Lose Barrett to Ankle Injury in Boston
Toronto’s night worsened late in the fourth quarter against the Celtics when RJ Barrett rolled his left ankle after landing on Sam Hauser’s foot. The guard limped to the locker room and was ruled out. He finished with 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds in 28 minutes and will undergo additional testing.
The Raptors were already without Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram, creating extra minutes for rookies JaKobe Walter and Gradey Dick.
Carlisle Becomes 11th NBA Coach With 1,000 Wins
Indiana snapped a franchise-record 13-game skid by defeating Charlotte on Thursday, giving Rick Carlisle his 1,000th career victory. “I’m so happy for our players,” Carlisle said after the game, praising their resilience during a challenging month. He downplayed the personal milestone, emphasizing that “this has never been about me getting a milestone win. It’s about our organization and our franchise.”
Source: Hoops Wire
