Bruce

Brown

Pickett and Watson join the starting lineup with Jamal Murray (calf) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) sidelined. Bruce Brown should play a larger role off the bench for Denver with two starters out.

Murray is out for the second leg of this back-to-back, which should result in Bruce Brown entering the starting lineup. Jalen Pickett should fill out some of the reserve point guard minutes, but Nikola Jokic will continue to be the lead playmaker.

Murray is dealing with left calf tightness, but hasn’t missed a game yet this season. If he’s out, Bruce Brown is next in line to pick up the slack as the backup point guard and would see a boost to his fantasy value.

As expected, Murray is available after being listed as probable on the initial injury report. He’ll occupy his usual place in the Nuggets’ starting lineup, while Bruce Brown misses out on a potential boost to his fantasy value.

Murray is still experiencing tightness in his left calf, but he has yet to miss a game this season. He should take on his usual job as the Nuggets’ starting point guard, with Bruce Brown waiting in the wings to pick up the slack if Murray cannot play.

Murray is dealing with left calf tightness, hence his inclusion on the Nuggets’ injury report. He’s yet to miss a game this season, limiting the opportunities available to Bruce Brown and Jalen Pickett. That would change if Murray can’t play on Friday, with Brown offering higher fantasy upside.

While Oklahoma City’s starting lineup for Friday’s game likely aligns with the group that will be on the floor for its regular-season opener, that is not the case for the Nuggets. Johnson is the only player in Friday’s lineup who’s expected to be in the starting five when the regular season begins, with the other four being part of the bench rotation. He’s still getting acclimated to his new teammates, which may be why Johnson will play on Friday.

Brown, a solid contributor off the bench for the Nuggets’ title team in 2023, is headed back to the Mile High City. He’ll be on a one-year contract, and the role should be similar, especially with the Nuggets acquiring Cam Johnson from the Nets. Despite coming off the bench, Brown provided consistent fantasy value in Denver, but the last two seasons have been disappointing. He’s unlikely to be a player worth selecting in standard league drafts, but there may come a point when he’s a valuable waiver wire addition.

Brown and Hawkins will remain out for Sunday’s season finale, with the latter missing New Orleans’ final eight games. While Brown had his moments as a fantasy option after being traded to the Pelicans, he was not in a position where he could provide consistent value. Hawkins’s second season was frustrating due to injuries and inconsistent play when he was available. This summer will be critical for the former lottery pick, as he needs to show he can consistently contribute to the Pelicans.

New Orleans has had to use quite a few backups as of late. Antonio Reeves and Keion Brooks are likely in for spot starts against Miami.