Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Christmas: A Gift For Every Team’s Wish List

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view as an official Spalding basketball goes through the hoop and net during the Phoenix Suns game against the Boston Celtics at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view as an official Spalding basketball goes through the hoop and net during the Phoenix Suns game against the Boston Celtics at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 31
Next
NBA
Nov 20, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) sits on the bench during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets

Getting Their Starters Back

The Denver Nuggets probably aren’t going to stay this close to the playoffs all season long, but they have a surprisingly solid core to feel good about for the future between Emmanuel Mudiay, Jusuf Nurkic, Nikola Jokic, Joffrey Lauvergne, Gary Harris and Will Barton.

However, Mudiay (ankle), Nurkic (knee) and Danilo Gallinari (ankle) are all currently sidelined, taking out three players that would normally start — four if you count Wilson Chandler, who will wind up missing the entire 2015-16 season thanks to a hip injury.

There’s nothing that can be done about Chandler, but Nuggets fans are anxious to see healthy players return to the lineup so they don’t have to rely on Randy Foye scoring 30 points to win games. Wednesday before Denver’s game against the Phoenix Suns, head coach Mike Malone said Mudiay and Gallo could be back soon after Christmas, with Nurkic still needing to get through some full practices first.

Next: Detroit Pistons