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...
Magic Opening Night Picture Just Got Murkier After New Injury Concern
The Magics opening-night picture has already started to blur before the season even begins, with the roster still sorting through injuries and lineup questions in the final stretch of camp. Orlando is trying to build continuity around a group that still has a few moving parts, and the preseason has offered both encouragement and concern as the team inches toward its first meaningful game.
Noah Pendas setback only adds to that uncertainty, since the rookie had been part of the mix before going down in the preseason finale. Franz Wagner also left Friday with right shoulder soreness, while Jase Richardson is day-to-day with low back soreness, leaving the Magic with even more to monitor as they approach the opener and wait to see who is actually ready to go. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Penda Setback Suddenly Clouds Orlandos Second Unit Plans
Noah Penda had been lining up for a bigger share of the Orlando Magics second unit this season, a sign the club believed his second NBA campaign could bring a real step forward. Instead, his preseason took an abrupt turn in a game against the Miami Heat, when he left early after suffering a right hamstring injury that instantly complicated those plans.
The setback is especially frustrating because Penda had already worked through an earlier hamstring issue in training camp, and that problem had fully healed. Now Orlando has to sort through an uncertain timeline for a player it was counting on to add depth and energy, with the particulars of this latest injury adding another layer of concern to a rotation plan that had just started to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Black Just Put Real Pressure On The Magic Front Office
Anthony Black and the Magic have now hit the point where the easy part of the business has passed, and the hard part is staring Orlando in the face. With the Monday deadline looming, the two sides have not come to terms on a contract extension, which leaves restricted free agency in play next summer and adds another layer of pressure to a team already juggling cap concerns.
For the front office, the issue is not just keeping a young piece in the fold, but deciding how far to stretch financially for a player whose future is suddenly under a brighter spotlight. Around the league, other teams are paying close attention to see whether Orlando finds common ground or leaves the door open to trade conversations if no deal is reached. [Read more 🡒]