The Denver Nuggets fell 131-121 to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, dropping their fourth straight home game, as head coach David Adelman addressed the team’s defensive breakdowns and Jamal Murray’s injury.
Adelman said the loss wasn’t due to effort, noting the team moved up and down the court effectively early. “I thought our defense in the first quarter was really good. The activity to start the second, though, we just weren’t physical enough,” he explained, highlighting that Denver recorded only 11 personal fouls.
The Nuggets struggled to contain Mavericks rookie Ryan Nembhard, who posted a 28-point, 10-assist double-double. “Nembhard just played in space for the 34 minutes he played. We have to shore that up. We have to be better,” Adelman said.
Adelman noted that rotation issues compounded defensive inconsistencies, particularly after Jamal Murray exited with an injury. “I stuck with that rotation when Jamal got hurt. It disallowed me to play another guy. It was bad timing,” he said, adding that energy and consistency were lacking throughout the game.
Despite Nikola Jokic’s 29-point triple-double, Adelman pointed to missed defensive opportunities on two-point and three-point shots. “They had a night where they make 16 threes. Coupled with our inability to get into people and get into the ball, it hurt us,” he said.
The Nuggets head coach emphasized that offensive production alone isn’t enough. “We were scoring at a rapid rate, but that’s not going to win you games consistently. You have to be consistent with your defensive effort,” Adelman stated, reflecting on the team’s inability to maintain leads.
Regarding Murray’s status, Adelman was cautiously optimistic. “It’s a huge absence offensively. I don’t know how he’s doing. He tried because that’s Jamal and he’s tough. Hopefully, he can get treatment in the next two days and we’ll see him come back,” he said.
Adelman also praised Spencer Jones for stepping up despite the loss. “Spencer had a career night. He competed defensively and got into people physically. That’s what we need more of from the other guys,” he added.
Looking ahead, Adelman stressed that home performance needs improvement. “The positive is we’re going back on the road. We play three on the road. We have to figure out what we’re doing here because we have not played well in Denver,” he concluded.
The Nuggets will face the Indiana Pacers next, seeking to rebound from consecutive setbacks, while the Mavericks continue their momentum against the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
