Portland coach Terry Stotts had a funny pregame message to Nuggets coach Michael Malone as they spoke during warm-ups before Monday’s matchup.
“I don’t know who the (heck) you’re starting,” Stotts said.
That win against the Trail Blazers marked the sixth consecutive game (and 18th overall) in which Denver deployed a different starting lineup. It nearly became seven in a row Thursday against New York, before leading scorer Gary Harris was deemed available to play despite re-aggravating a bruised right foot originally sustained during last Friday’s loss to Phoenix. Harris started alongside point guard Jamal Murray, small forward Will Barton, power forward Nikola Jokic and center Mason Plumlee.