Jamal Murray was one of the stars of the Emirates NBA Cup before it even started.

The Nuggets’ starting point guard was among the handful of NBA stars joining actors Michael Imperioli and Rosario Dawson in a commercial titled “The Heist II” to preview the second iteration of the in-season tournament. Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lakers big man Anthony Davis rounded out the cast.

“It was really cool,” Murray said. “Cool commercial, cool to be in it. We did it in Vegas. I had some fun out there.”

The stakes are higher this year than last. In the inaugural event, players on the winning team took home $500,000. This year, the loot increased to just less than $515,000.

“That’s what we’re playing for,” Murray said.

Players on the team that lost the championship still take home more than $200,000 in extra salary and the prizes decrease to $51,497 for players on the teams that reach the quarterfinals but do not advance to the semifinals.

A bonus for the coaches could increase their excitement.

“Can you feel it? It’s palpable. It’s like emanating,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone deadpanned after being asked if the newly named tournament gets his competitive juices flowing.

“I think it’s a great idea. I love the fact – I will say this – that Adam Silver and the league are constantly trying to find ways to bring fan engagement and excitement and viewership. I love that, but I would be lying if I said that an in-season tournament game or the Emirates (NBA) Cup – is that the proper vernacular? – games count more than the other games. Every game for any coach is important, all 82.”

Malone added the Nuggets would love to be the first team to win the midseason competition and the NBA Finals in the same season. Last season, Davis and the Lakers became the event’s first champions.

The format this season is largely the same. Each conference is divided into three groups of five teams. Denver’s grouped with the Mavericks, Pelicans, Warriors and Grizzlies. Regular-season games on Tuesdays and Fridays will double as group-stage games until Dec. 3.

Then the winner of each group and one wild card from each conference will advance to the quarterfinals. Teams again will be playing on colorful courts that catch the eye, some too much.

“It’s too much of a distraction for me, but I don’t care,” Murray said. “Some are better than the others. Hopefully, they’ll be better this year. I’m indifferent, man. I’m just here to play basketball.”

Denver’s NBA Cup run starts with Friday’s game in New Orleans.

Gordon getting going

It’s going to be a little while before Aaron Gordon returns to the Nuggets’ rotation, but he was present at Wednesday’s practice.

Though he didn’t participate in drills due to his right calf strain, Gordon did some set shooting from different spots on the court after the formal practice concluded.

“Aaron’s getting work in, obviously. He’s still not able to really participate in practice,” Malone said. “Those calf strains can be really tricky, really finicky. You have to be careful how much you’re pushing it, because you want it to heal.

“I think Aaron’s in a good place. He’s heading in the right direction, but no real timeline.”

Malone saidGordon won’t play on Denver’s upcoming three-game trip.

“I’m just happy he’s making strides. He’s in a good place mentally.”

Gordon suffered the injury four minutes into Denver’s game against Toronto on Nov. 4.

Rest vs. rust

The four days between Sunday’s win over the Mavericks and Friday’s game in New Orleans is the Nuggets’ longest break until All-Star weekend.

That received mixed reviews.

“It’s great,” Murray said. “I’m not sure the next time where we’ll have this, so everybody is, obviously, enjoying it. Just getting our bodies right, getting our minds right.”

A younger player who hasn’t logged as many minutes and found a groove early in the season saw some drawbacks from the schedule.

“It feels kind of weird, honestly. I feel like we don’t get a break like this very often,” Christian Braun said. “I like it, but at the same time, I feel like we were getting in a rhythm. We were getting hot a little bit. We were playing well. Offensively, things were clicking.”