The Nuggets played their 10th consecutive game without second-leading scorer Gary Harris Thursday against Minnesota, a three-week absence that coach Michael Malone acknowledged has been “longer than, I think, anybody anticipated.” Malone said there’s a slight chance Harris could be ready to play Saturday afternoon at the Clippers, but that returning Monday against Portland is probably the “best-case scenario.”
Denver entered Thursday with a 6-4 record without Harris but on a three-game winning streak. When asked about how his team has learned how to adjust without Harris over the past three weeks, Malone pointed to the consistency of Will Barton (two consecutive double-doubles entering Thursday) and the growing comfort of Paul Millsap (22.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists over previous five games) to complement the “unbelievably elite” play of Nikola Jokic (26.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, six assists over the previous five games).
“The emergence of those two players (Barton and Millsap),” Malone said, “have allowed us to kind of handle those 18 points a night that Gary Harris — who was our leading scorer — is not bringing to the table right now.”
Will Barton a sixth man of the year contender? Due to a multitude of injuries that have forced Barton into starting roles at both guard spots and at small forward, Malone was unsure if Barton would still qualify for the NBA sixth man of the year award. But the maximum number of starts Barton can finish with this season is 40, falling just below the 41 games he’s already come off the bench. He missed one game because of injury.
So Barton technically has a case, entering Thursday averaging 15.3 points, five rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. The front-runner for the award is the Clippers’ Lou Williams, who is averaging a team-high 22.7 points and 5.3 assists per game.
“I don’t think a lot of guys can do all the things that he does,” Malone said of Barton. “A lot of times, that sixth man of the year is just a guy that is a prolific scorer. … Will is a little different. He does it with scoring, but also with playmaking and rebounding.”
Jimmy Butler active. Minnesota all-star Jimmy Butler was active against the Nuggets, a key step in his recovery from knee surgery that had kept him out since late February. Butler did not start, but Malone said during his pregame media availability that the Nuggets had been preparing for Butler to play against them.
“Oh, he’s playing,” Malone said of Butler initially being listed as doubtful on the Timberwolves’ official injury report. “Come on, man. He’s playing. I don’t care what the game notes say. Believe that if you want — I’ve got a bridge to sell you. The guy is playing. He knows what’s at stake.”