The Colorado Springs Gazette

Nuggets banking on big year from Arron Afflalo

DENVER - Josh Kroenke's slip of the tongue even made Arron Afflalo smirk. The Denver Nuggets president explained Monday how he has closely "Afflalowed" the shooting guard's two seasons in Orlando, before reacquiring him in a draft-day deal last week. "Afflalowed? I have followed," Kroenke quickly modified to laughter, "Arron's career since...
Nuggets are deeper, younger and more versatile

DENVER — The Nuggets are deeper and more versatile after a busy draft day. They are also a lot younger after picking up Jusuf Nurkic and Gary Harris. Denver acquired Nurkic and Harris and a second-round pick for Doug McDermott, their pick at No. 11, and Anthony Randolph in a draft-night deal with Chicago. The goal? Improve defense and...
Klee: As expected, Denver Nuggets go international route in NBA draft

DENVER — In broken English and an endearing accent, Jusuf Nurkic was the Bosnian prince of brevity after the Nuggets picked him in the NBA draft. "I come to NBA," he said simply. Please do. And please be a baller. Because if Nurkic, a 19-year-old center from a faraway land, turns into a real find, the Nuggets will earn a passing grade in...
Nuggets get Nurkic, Harris after deal with Bulls

DENVER — The Denver Nuggets parlayed a draft-day trade with Chicago into a Bosnian big man that very few knew about until Thursday and a shooting guard they long coveted. After taking Creighton forward Doug McDermott at No. 11, Denver quickly traded his drafts rights — along with forward Anthony Randolph — to the Bulls for two first-round...
Nuggets select Creighton's McDermott, trade him to Chicago for the 16th and 19th picks

The Denver Nuggets selected Creighton forward Doug McDermott with the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft.
Klee: To succeed in NBA draft, Nuggets must take risks

DENVER — What will the Nuggets do with the 11th pick in the NBA draft on Thursday night? Nudge aside all the rumors and rigmarole that turns the predraft process into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. There's one quote that should tell you something: "We've seen Dario Saric as much as Gary Harris," Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly...
Predraft trade talk is at 'feeding frenzy'

y JON KRAWCZYNSKI AP Basketball Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — With the NBA draft only two days away and Kevin Love there to be had for the right offer, Minnesota Timberwolves President Flip Saunders was asked if things are starting to get interesting. "They've been interesting for four weeks," Saunders said Tuesday. Such is life for...
Ramsey: Gregg Popovich is among greatest NBA coaches, but is it due to Tim Duncan?

Gregg Popovich declines to try to run from the massive shadow of Tim Duncan. We're talking about a literal shadow; Duncan is 6-foot-11. And we're talking, at the same time, about a symbolic shadow. Popovich and Duncan recently combined for their fifth NBA title. The Spurs pulverized LeBron James and the Heat, using team power to conquer star...
Breaking down the top prospects at the Nuggets’ pre-draft workouts

The Nuggets have brought in 19 players for pre-draft workouts so far. Only five of those players would be considered with the Nuggets 11th pick, should they keep it. In the mix for the 11th overall pick will be Rodney Hood (SF, 6-7, Duke), Gary Harris (SG, 6-4, Michigan State), Tyler Ennis (PG, 6-1, Syracuse), Zach LaVine (SG, 6-4, UCLA) and...
Report: Nuggets offer for Kevin Love includes Kenneth Faried, Wilson Chandler

Boston Herald NBA beat reporter Steve Bulpett tweeted late Wednesday night an interesting potential trade that the Denver Nuggets reportedly offered the Minnesota Timberwolves for franchise forward Kevin Love, who is set to test the free agent market in less than two weeks when the period begins on July 1. As Bulpett reports, the Nuggets...
Klee: If Denver Nuggets feel bold, here's their NBA draft move

DENVER - A few years back, a Big Ten head coach called me with a question. He wanted the scoop on a high school junior, from Chicago, who looked like he might be, could be, should be a high-major prospect. Find out which schools he likes, the coach said. "Cleveland State," Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly said without hesitation when I...
Cavs continue lottery luck with No. 1 pick; Nuggets get 11

NEW YORK — The Cleveland Cavaliers' lottery luck just keeps going. The Cavaliers continued their remarkable run Tuesday, winning the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft for the second straight year and third time in the last four. They moved up from the ninth spot, when they had just a 1.7 percent chance of winning the top selection. "It seems...
NBA's biggest losers look for lottery win

NEW YORK — They lost often, 67 times in all for the Milwaukee Bucks. Sometimes they lost always, such as 26 straight times for the Philadelphia 76ers. Now the NBA's biggest losers have a chance for a huge win. The draft lottery is Tuesday, a night some teams appeared to be aiming toward for months during a season that featured plenty of...
Nuggets staying home for first time in decade

DENVER - The Denver Nuggets aren't accustomed to cleaning out their lockers in April. The Nuggets are headed to the NBA draft lottery instead of the postseason party for the first time since 2002-03, when their 65-loss season landed them Carmelo Anthony and ushered in a decade of annual playoff appearances. Of course, only once in that span...
Crawford's 41 points leads Warriors over Nuggets

DENVER — Fresh legs beat fatigue. Jordan Crawford scored a career-high 41 points and Harrison Barnes added 30 as a squad of Golden State backups beat the short-handed Denver Nuggets 116-112 Wednesday night. "The guys did what they had to do to get the win, which is not easy on a night where some people say it's not worth it, you really...
Clippers beat Nuggets for record 57th win

LOS ANGELES — Blake Griffin scored 24 points while picking up his 16th technical, and the Los Angeles Clippers led all the way in beating the Denver Nuggets 117-105 on Tuesday night for their franchise-record 57th victory of the season. Chris Paul had 21 points and 10 assists, and J.J. Redick added 18 points in the Clippers' finale at home,...
Faried helps Nuggets rally past Jazz

DENVER — Kenneth Faried scored 24 points and pulled down 21 rebounds Saturday night in the short-handed Denver Nuggets' 101-94 come-from-behind win over the Utah Jazz. Randy Foye added 26 points and Evan Fornier 23 for the Nuggets, who trailed most of the night before sending Utah to its fourth straight loss and evening the season series with...
Mozgov sets Nuggets rebound mark in win over Warriors

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kenneth Faried made a turnaround hook shot over Draymond Green with a half-second remaining, and the Denver Nuggets made Golden State wait at least one more game to secure a playoff berth with a stunning 100-99 win over the Warriors on Thursday night. Stephen Curry's floater over Faried put the Warriors up 99-98 with 4.7...
KLEE: How to rebuild Nuggets? Go fishing

DENVER - Perhaps the fondest memories of Brian Shaw's childhood are from a river, or a lake, or the closest splash of water that looked fishy. They are memories of tackle boxes and sack lunches. His grandfather was there. So was his father. Li'l Brian was there, fishing rod in hand, dreams of tight lines swimming through his imagination. And...
Conley, Gasol lead Grizzlies past Nuggets

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Marc Gasol had 24 points, Mike Conley scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half, and the Memphis Grizzlies kept their playoff hopes alive with a 100-92 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night. Zach Randolph added 20 points, including the last four points for Memphis, and grabbed 15 rebounds. Tayshaun Prince scored...