LOS ANGELES — Nuggets coach Michael Malone rejoined the team Wednesday in Los Angeles after missing Denver’s first four preseason games due to the death of his father, Brendan.
The team’s preseason finale Thursday against the Clippers was his first game back on the Nuggets sideline, but Malone watched the first game in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Lead assistant coach David Adelman had been at the helm as interim head coach during Malone’s absence.
“It’s great to be back,” Malone said before tipoff. “Obviously a hard thing to go through, and obviously I’m not the only one who’s lost a parent. It’s a very sad part of life, and especially with the relationship I had with my father. But being back, being in the gym, being around the guys, giving them a hug and being back in the arena tonight, it is therapeutic. It’s good to be back doing something I love.”
After the Nuggets rested their starters Tuesday in a 116-102 loss with the Clippers’ starters playing, the roles reversed Thursday. Malone reinserted his starters, with the intent to give them quality minutes in the final exhibition. He also gave rookie Hunter Tyson an opportunity to start at the three instead of Justin Holiday, who had filled Michael Porter Jr.’s position in the starting lineup the first four games.
Injury updates: Malone says he thinks Porter and Christian Braun will both be ready for the Nuggets’ season opener Tuesday (5:30 p.m., TNT) at Ball Arena. Porter has been recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered at training camp in San Diego, and Braun has been dealing with a calf contusion.
Malone said Braun “probably could have played” Thursday, but the team wanted to be cautious.
“For both of those guys, I give credit to our training staff, just kind of keeping an eye on the prize and not winning the battle, losing the war,” Malone said. “We want those guys to be available opening night, and I think both of those guys are making great strides. So, not ideal to not have played in any of their five preseason games. But their health is paramount, and it’s critical to our success.”
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