{"id":530962,"date":"2026-01-12T04:36:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T04:36:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/530962\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T04:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T04:36:16","slug":"murray-misses-second-straight-but-zombie-nuggets-top-bucks-denver-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/530962\/","title":{"rendered":"Murray misses second straight but zombie Nuggets top Bucks \u2013 Denver Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jamal Murray missed a second-straight game, all the while Nikola Jokic continues to be sidelined, but the Denver Nuggets still found a way against Giannis Antetokounmpo\u2019s Milwaukee Bucks for a 108-104 win.<\/p>\n

Murray, who missed Friday\u2019s game with both an illness and an ankle injury that has been bugging him for some time, sat again on Sunday for the same reason. So again, it was the Sekleton crew for the Nuggets, boasting just one normal starter in Aaron Gordon, as Christian Braun also sat. Denver was a six-point home underdog, but the team was up to the task, led by an outpouring from Tim Hardaway Jr. and Gordon\u2019s strong performance in returning to the starting lineup.<\/p>\n

THJ tallied a team-best 25 points, packing the punch from deep with five triples while being a plus-26 during his time on the floor. Gordon went toe-to-toe with Antetokounmpo, slowing the former MVP to just 31 points against the center-less Nuggets. Gordon also played a bit of point guard, tossing four assists and snagging six rebounds. He also scored 23 points. It was his first game back starting after coming back a few games ago from his month-long leg injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just playing really hard, and it\u2019s fun to watch,\u201d David Adleman said. \u201cIf you stay in these games long enough\u2026 You can win games. Proud of the group.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it was Gordon\u2019s backup, Zeke Nnaji, who again impressed. Recording the second double-double of his career, Nnaji scored 14, snagged 10, stole it twice and blocked it two more times. And Jalen Pickett stepped in nicely to Murray\u2019s role, making contributions everywhere. The two were big-time in helping the Nuggets out-rebound a very big Bucks team.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody eats, that\u2019s what we stand by, that\u2019s what we live by, and that\u2019s what we continue to do,\u201d Hardaway said on the telecast after the win.<\/p>\n

The Nuggets are now 4-3 in the seven games without<\/a> Jokic. It was the first in that bunch where<\/a> Peyton Watson didn\u2019t score 20 points. He still had 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does instill confidence in your better guys when they come back, because they see that the other men in that locker room are capable, confident, and they can help them out when they come back,\u201d Adleman said of this stretch. \u201cIt\u2019s just been a really unique, stressful last four games, but we found a way.\u201d<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next for the Nuggets?<\/p>\n

A quick back-to-back on the road this Tuesday against New Orleans and Dallas awaits the Nuggets. They\u2019ll be back next weekend to host Charlotte, Washington and then the Lakers.<\/p>\n

Follow @Shapalicious<\/a><\/p>\n

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