NEW YORK — After eight games in an unfamiliar bench role, it was time for Aaron Gordon to shed his minutes restriction and rejoin the starting lineup. The pain in his right calf had subsided. He was ready.
But his return dominoed into a difficult choice for Nuggets coach Michael Malone.
Malone has opted to keep Russell Westbrook in the starting five for now, moving Christian Braun to the bench. Braun, 23, began the season as Denver’s new starting two-guard, but Malone informed him Wednesday morning in New York of his plan for the lineup going forward.