Spencer Jones looks set to be available when the Nuggets open the regular season Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
Jones said Sunday that he’s on track to play after a hamstring strain sidelined him during training camp earlier this month. The injury led to an MRI, and the scan showed a strain. He was able to take part in part of a scrimmage during Sunday’s practice, according to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post.
Denver has already spent the preseason leaning on other reserves while Jones worked his way back, and head coach David Adelman said Sunday he may roll out what he called a “fake” 11-man rotation to start the season. Adelman pointed to Trevon Brazile, Bryce Hopkins and Cam Whitmore as players who could pick up spot minutes.
“ If the first half doesn’t work out, is there somebody that you say, ‘Why don’t we change it up and play them in the third quarter?’ ” Adelman said.
“ A small amount of minutes, but just rotate them in. … You can’t be scared to throw those guys out there.”
Brazile, a second-round pick, said his preseason run left him in a good place - but not a finished one.
“ I think I put myself in a good spot,” Brazile said. “ … But I definitely got more in the tank. I know I’ve got more I can do on the court.”
Around the league, Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa is dealing with an ankle sprain and is considered “day-to-day” after hurting it in Friday’s preseason finale, head coach Brian Keefe said. When asked whether Dybantsa would be active for Wednesday’s opener, Keefe said, “ We’re just going one day at a time. “
In Phoenix, Luke Kennard’s knee tendon strain appears to be trending the right way. Suns coach Jordan Ott said it “seems to be in a good spot” before Friday’s preseason finale and added, “ Obviously, we’re not going to press it here in the preseason. We have a couple days here before opening night,”
The Heat had all 17 players on the floor for Sunday’s practice, including Bam Adebayo, Pelle Larsson and Dru Smith. Adebayo and Larsson are expected to be ready for Wednesday’s opener against Minnesota, while Smith sounded less certain.
“ Today was my first day jumping into some things,” Smith said following Sunday’s practice. “ So we’re just going to see how it responds, that kind of thing. I don’t want to overdo it, so slowly try to get back to as close to live as I can.”
The Magic are still working through Franz Wagner’s right shoulder injury, though Sean Sweeney said Wagner did some “light work” during Sunday’s practice. Anthony Black, meanwhile, went through another full practice as he continues to ramp up after an ankle issue.
Orlando forward Noah Penda also spoke Sunday about the partially torn right hamstring that’s been bothering him. Penda said it was “really sore,” said he had “no idea” when he might return, and explained that this injury hit a different part of the same hamstring after a prior strain in training camp.
“ The images showed that the first injury was fully healed,” Penda said. “ … Just terrible luck, honestly.”
In Other News...
Heat Just Got The Kind Of Doubt Spoelstra Usually Punishes
The Heat spent the offseason adding a top player, the kind of move that usually changes the tone around a team immediately. Still, an NBA GM survey slotted Miami eighth in the Eastern Conference, and not a single executive put the Heat in the top two. For a franchise that has built a lot of its reputation on outworking expectations, it is a familiar kind of doubt.
Erik Spoelstra has spent years turning less talented rosters into something harder to dismiss, which is why the skepticism around this group feels more like a challenge than a verdict. The question now is whether the new look can live up to the talent on paper and force the league to rethink where Miami belongs once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Opening Night Rotation Could Say Everything About Dru Smith
Dru Smiths status for opening night is one of the quieter but more revealing questions hanging over Miamis start to the season. He is still dealing with injury uncertainty, and with Erik Spoelstra still sorting out his rotation, the way the Heat handle the backcourt could tell you a lot about how they view Smith going forward. It also comes at a time when the competition around him is growing, especially at point guard.
Ryan Conwell and Pelle Larsson have both put together strong preseason stretches in that spot, giving Spoelstra more options and less reason to force anything if Smith is not ready. With a team option on Smith for next season, this is a meaningful year for his place in Miamis plans, and the early rotation decisions may end up offering the clearest hint yet about whether he is part of the long-term picture. [Read more 🡒]
Heat Still Have One Late Roster Decision To Make
With the roster cut deadline approaching, the Heat still have one more decision to sort through as they take a final look at ways to reinforce the end of the bench. Miami is expected to keep exploring the waiver market, where recently let-go players around the league can become available at just the right moment for a team still weighing depth and fit.
Among the names floating around are Kenyon Martin Jr., Ochai Agbaji and Gabe Vincent, each offering a different kind of appeal if the Heat decide to make a move. Nothing has been reported officially yet, and for now the picture remains fluid, which leaves Miami with a familiar late-summer choice: stay patient with what it has, or use the moment to add another layer of insurance before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]