The NBA Cup got underway on Tuesday night for just its second-ever installment. The Cup games were a hit as the Hawks were able to upset the Celtics, the Blazers upset the Timberwolves, and the Warriors won a classic over the Mavericks in Klay Thompson’s much-anticipated return to Golden State.
The Nuggets were just bystanders on Tuesday night, but their NBA Cup campaign will start on Friday night as they begin play in the Western Conferences’ Group C. Denver landed in a group with the Grizzlies, Pelicans, Warriors, and Mavericks.
On paper, this is a pretty tough group, as the Warriors are off to an excellent start and look close to their championship form of years past. The Mavericks, of course, won the Western Conference, they have a bonafide MVP candidate in Luka Doncic, another superstar in Kyrie Irving, and a freshly added Klay Thompson.
Ja Morant and Zion Williamson injuries benefitting Nuggets
But the Nuggets seem to have caught a break as the other two teams in the group should be significantly shorthanded. The Grizzlies had a season from hell last year and were looking forward to a fully healthy season. But not even a month in, the Grizz have already lost Ja Morant and Desmond Bane to injuries, among others.
The Pelicans were another team that had high hopes but things have gone off the rail very quickly. Zion Williamson is already out with an injury and he’s joined on the sidelines by the likes of Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and Jose Alvarado.
These teams are both extremely banged up and already fighting the war of attrition, just trying to survive the early stages of a long NBA season. Nobody roots for injuries, but the Nuggets are dealing with their own issues as well. Jamal Murray has already missed multiple games due to a concussion and Aaron Gordon will be out for weeks with a calf issue.
If any team could use a break it’s the Nuggets and it seems like they will get some in this NBA Cup group. Nothing is a guarantee, but at least a couple of these games should be easier against severely shorthanded opponents.
Hopefully, it will help the Nuggets’ chances of securing a couple of easy wins, but it’s a shame that we won’t get to see some of the brightest, most exciting young players in the league. Morant and Zion can create highlights with the best of them, but they won’t be making any in their NBA Cup games with the Nuggets.