By Christopher Dempsey
WHAT THEY SAID:
Nuggets coach Michael Malone on Wilson Chandler: “He was obviously exhausted at the end, but he got us off to a great start and he continued playing at a high level throughout the game. Whether it was knocking down threes, getting to the rim, moving without the basketball, I thought Wilson Chandler was phenomenal tonight. And it was good to see.
Malone on the win in general: “We had a great energy tonight that was not here against Charlotte, and I think that was such an important thing. We have to bring that energy to the game every night. If we do that, we give ourselves a chance.”
Gallinari on if he can see it in Wilson Chandler’s eyes that he’ll have a good game: “He always has the same expression, so you can’t really say. You can’t tell from his eyes.”
Mason Plumlee on the Nuggets’ defense: “Just taking away the easy ones. We made them earn everything, except for a couple of Cauley-Stein dunks. We took away their transition and we took away their naked layups.”
Wilson Chandler on his aggressiveness on offense: “I didn’t know who was going to be (aggressive). Maybe Gallo. It could have been anybody, but it happened to be me tonight.”
NOTES:
- Center Nikola Jokic missed the game due to illness. He’s considered day-to-day. Mason Plumlee started in Jokic’s place.
- Kenneth Faried (back) missed his fifth straight game, but Nuggets coach Michael Malone said the forward is “feeling better. The reports I’m getting from my training staff is that the treatments he’s getting on his back are improving. He’s moving better. I think the spasms have greatly reduced. But obviously he’s in no shape to play. So, getting closer, but where that puts him, or how many games out does that put him? I’m still not sure.”
- Wilson Chandler’s 36 points and 12 rebounds was his eighth double-double of the season.
- Mason Plumlee’s 10 points and 12 rebounds was his 16th double-double of the season.