DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets met coach Michael Malone’s challenge not to let up after winning the franchise’s first NBA title. Nikola Jokic somehow got even better with another historic season that made him the odds-on favorite to win the MVP award for the third time in four years, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all stepped up their games this season and Jamal Murray had another terrific year despite missing 23 games with various ailments. Reggie Jackson took over as leader of the Nuggets’ second unit following Bruce Brown’s departure in free agency and he teamed with Chris Braun and Peyton Watson to provide steady — and sometimes spectacular — play during the non-Jokic minutes. “I’m most proud of the fact that as reigning world champion we haven’t been satisfied the whole year,” Malone said. “You gotta stay hungry because we have 29 teams right behind us trying to take what we have. And you need the requisite mindset, energy, focus, discipline, urgency, whatever you want to call it, and we had it.” |
Massive flooding hits China's GuangdongChinese premier pledges efforts to promote equipment upgrades, tradeSpring Festival travel rush sees 34.74 mln trips on first dayRory McIlroy and Shane Lowry rally to win Zurich Classic team eventVanessa Feltz glams up in a chic green print tiered maxi dress as she attends the starBrunei welcomes 1st Chinese tourist group in 3 yearsPacers hit franchise playoff best 22 3China's domestic tourism expected to fully recover in summerOver 1.12 bln people have health insurance eStruggling Granada sack coach Medina