The Denver Nuggets will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night, with both teams seeking their first victory of the season. The game will be the first of two contests between the teams in the coming week, with a rematch scheduled for Wednesday in New Orleans.
Visiting the high-altitude arena in Denver poses challenges for opposing teams, especially when they are playing back-to-back games, a situation that the Pelicans will face. New Orleans is coming off a narrow 120-119 loss to the Utah Jazz, while the Nuggets are looking to bounce back after losing their season opener to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where they scored only 84 points.
The Pelicans may be without forward Yves Missi, who suffered a left knee injury during Friday’s game. The injury occurred in the second quarter when teammate Zion Williamson landed on Missi’s leg. New Orleans coach Jamahl Mosley indicated they will assess Missi’s condition on Saturday in Denver.
The Nuggets are also dealing with injury concerns. Starting forward Cam Johnson experienced an ankle injury during their game against Oklahoma City and did not return for the second half. Johnson expressed optimism, saying he does not expect the injury to sideline him for long. Meanwhile, Spencer Jones is out for Saturday’s game due to a hamstring strain sustained during training camp, but Denver coach David Adelman described the situation as precautionary.
In their season opener, the Nuggets struggled offensively, managing a shooting percentage of only 37.8%. However, highlights from that game included strong performances from Aaron Gordon and rookie Trevon Brazile, who recorded 12 rebounds in his NBA debut. DeMar DeRozan also stepped up, appearing comfortable in his first game with the team.
For the Pelicans, the quest for their first win under Mosley has revealed areas for improvement, particularly in long-range shooting. New Orleans struggled from beyond the arc in their opening games, hitting just 10 of 30 attempts against Indiana and 8 of 26 against Utah. Williamson, who is looking to regain confidence in his three-point shooting, had mixed results, missing his only attempt against the Jazz after going 2-for-4 in the previous game.
As both teams prepare for Saturday’s matchup, they will look to address injuries and improve offensive efficiency as they aim for that crucial first win of the season.
