Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

There are seven regular-season games left for Zeke Nnaji to earn a spot in Michael Malone’s playoff rotation.

In the first four years of his career, most of Nnaji’s postseason playing time has come with the game’s outcome already determined. This year appears to be his best chance to play meaningful minutes, and the 24-year-old is focusing on two parts of his game to make the most of the opportunity.

“Defense and rebounding,” Nnaji said after Monday’s light practice at Ball Arena.

“When I’m on the court, that’s what I’m in there for, being able to provide some physicality, some toughness, some defense, some glue things that the star players would want from a role player. I feel like being able to provide that would show them that (I’m) ready.”

Malone has mostly used an eight-man rotation in the playoffs with a ninth man getting spot minutes in case of foul trouble or injury. The Nuggets’ coach has settled on a starting five of Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic when at full strength. Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson look like locks to be the first and second players off the bench.

Then, things get interesting. Julian Strawther was a part of the rotation before a left knee sprain has sidelined the second-year wing since March 2. It’s uncertain whether Strawther will be able to return to the court before the regular season ends April 13. DeAndre Jordan has been Malone’s back-up center against teams with more traditional centers in the second unit, while Nnaji’s versatility is more valuable against smaller second units.

“It all comes down to matchups,” Malone said. “You’ve got to stay ready and you’ve got to be disciplined.”

Watson’s knee sprain opened the door for Nnaji in February, and he’s responded with some of his best basketball since. Nnaji averaged 7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 20.3 minutes per game in February. He played fewer minutes in March, and his averages dropped a bit. But he still blocked more than one shot per game.

“I feel like I’m more comfortable, just my awareness on the court knowing where everyone is,” Nnaji said.

“I feel like I got a little bit better at blocking shots whether that be when I’m guarding someone or coming over help-side. I feel like my timing has really improved on that and seeing when it’s available.”

In past postseasons, Malone has used Aaron Gordon as the primary back-up center, but it’s unclear if Gordon can handle the same load after a couple of calf strains have complicated his season. If not, Nnaji has made his coach more comfortable with the idea of giving him meaningful minutes as needed.

“When we were banged up, he was given a great opportunity to play, and he took advantage of it. Knocking down the 3s, guarding the ball, I think his one-on-one defense has been really effective. Being a rim protector, using his athleticism around the rim, help us on the glass – I think that’s an area all five guys on the floor have to continue to really focus on,” Malone said.

“When we’re fully healthy, those minutes are harder to come by. Then, you get back to just staying ready like he did.”

What I’m Thinking

Minnesota has two advantages over Denver. The Nuggets can control one of those things.

What Denver can’t control is Minnesota’s advantage in institutional knowledge. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch spent a year on Michael Malone’s staff in Denver. Finch’s lead assistant, Micah Nori, spent three seasons with the Nuggets, while Tim Connelly helped craft the Nuggets’ roster before taking the job as the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations.

“They’re just good. They’re a physical team. They’re well-coached. They play hard. They play the right way. Obviously, their personnel, they’ve got a ton of talent,” Nuggets wing Christian Braun said. “It’s been a good challenge for us the last couple of years. Obviously, they’re a little different this year, but they’re still really good. They still play the same way. They still have the same mentality, so it’s a good challenge for us, especially at this time to make sure we’re in the right spot going into the playoffs.”

The closest thing the Nuggets have to inside information on Minnesota’s operation is Ryan Saunders, the assistant who organizes Denver’s defense. Saunders briefly served as the Timberwolves head coach before being fired midway through the 2020-21 season. That was Anthony Edwards’ rookie season, well before Minnesota became a thorn in Denver’s side.

The Timberwolves have won five straight games against Denver, dating back to Game 6 of last year’s second-round season. The Nuggets needed just five games to get past Minnesota in the first round of the 2023 playoffs. Minnesota got revenge by winning Games 6 and 7 of last year’s second-round series and carried that momentum into the first three meetings of this season thanks to a better effort. That’s something the Nuggets can control.

“It’s easy to say ‘We’ve got to do something different.’ Well, we also just have to play a hell of a lot harder. I think they’ve approached these games like it’s a rivalry. I think we’ve approached these games like it’s another game sometimes,” Malone said.

“One of my coaches, Andrew Munson, this is his scout. He says it after every time we play them. He goes ‘I’ve watched their last five to seven games, and they never play as hard as they do against us.’ You can sense that. You can notice it. You throw everything else out the window. This team has beaten us five games in a row. Hopefully, that can resonate within our guys, and we can come out with the proper mindset tomorrow.”

What I’m Following

– Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook reached new milestones last week. Jokic became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 16,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists. He did so in 739 games. Larry Bird was the previous record holder at 799 games. Westbrook surpassed Kevin Garnett for 20th in the career-scoring list, Kobe Bryant for 16th on the steals list and Oscar Robertson for the eighth spot in assists.

– Phoenix’s path to the postseason just got more challenging. Kevin Durant is expected to miss at least a week after spraining his left ankle Sunday. The Suns started Monday 1.5 games behind the final play-in spot. Phoenix has road games against the Bucks, Celtics and Knicks this week.

What They’re Saying

The Nuggets had a light practice Monday, but Jamal Murray was a full participant. Murray, who’s dealing with hamstring tightness, and Aaron Gordon, who was not spotted at practice while dealing with an illness, are both questionable for Tuesday’s game against Minnesota.

“He got through all of practice. We weren’t going up and down,” Malone said of Murray. “We didn’t do a lot of live, competitive stuff, but Jamal was out there for the entirety of it. Hopefully that bodes well for tomorrow night.”

Braun also talked about how settling into a repeatable routine has benefitted him this season as he adjusts to starting and playing more minutes. Credit Nuggets assistant Ogi Stojakovic.

“My routine has gotten really good. Me and Ogi have kind of got to a spot where we understand each other and understand what we need going into the game,” Braun said.

“There’s going to be times where I’m playing really well. There’s going to be times where I’m not playing as well, but as long as my routine is the same, I’m showing up, putting the work in, I’m doing the right things and have the right approach and right preparation, I think that’s what’s most important. I think where I’m at now with my approach and preparation and my routine is a lot better than where I was at the start of the year. That just comes with experience. That comes with learning and listening.”