残り／休憩（する）d 星／主役にするs 始める，決める to lead Nuggets in matchup with toothless Grizzlies
A year ago this was a matchup of the two 最高の，を越す teams in the Western 会議／協議会. This season the Memphis Grizzlies vs. the Denver Nuggets doesn't 持つ／拘留する the same meaning.
Memphis (24-47) has gone from 競争相手 to the 宝くじ in より小数の than 12 months, in large part 予定 to 傷害s that have decimated the roster. The Grizzlies lost Ja Morant for the season months ago and 港／避難所't been able to replicate their success from last year when they finished with the No. 2 seed in the 会議／協議会.
They are 取引，協定ing with more than just Morant's absence going into Monday night's matchup at red-hot Denver (50-21). Desmond 禁止（する） 行方不明になるd Friday's 勝利，勝つ at San Antonio with a sore 支援する, and Brandon Clarke, Luke Kennard, Derrick Rose and Marcus Smart are 取引，協定ing with 病気s.
Memphis still has the 統治するing 防御の Player of the Year in Jaren Jackson Jr. but it hasn't been enough. The Grizzlies have struggled throughout the year but did find success against the 刺激（する）s when Jackson 攻撃する，衝突する the 勝利者 in the final seconds of a 99-97 victory over San Antonio.
"明白に the results 港／避難所't gone our way for the 広大な／多数の／重要な 大多数 of the season," coach Taylor Jenkins said. "But it hasn't deterred the guys from coming in whether it's at home or on the road, 特に on the road when it's stacked against you."
Jackson is having another good year, 得点する／非難する／２０ing a career-best 22.6 points a game, but his 封鎖するs have dropped from 3.0 to 1.6. He has had to carry more of the 負担 with so many players out, and the 仕事 doesn't get easier against the 統治するing 支持する／優勝者s.
The Nuggets have won 14 of 16 since the All-星／主役にする break and would be on a nine-game winning streak if Kyrie Irving had not 攻撃する，衝突する a game-winning buzzer beater a week ago.
Denver won 114-111 at Portland on Saturday night にもかかわらず not having Nikola Jokic (支援する, hip) or Jamal Murray (ankle) 利用できる.
"Any time you can 勝利，勝つ a game without Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, 特に on the road, you're always going to take that," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. "I'm proud of our group for just fighting through it. Give them credit, they （機の）カム out of halftime with a 長，率いる of steam and got us on our heels."
Jokic and Murray should be 利用できる Monday night.
Denver has been 戦略の about getting 残り／休憩（する） for its two 星／主役にするs, and playing a 追跡する Blazers team that started all rookies was a good 適切な時期.
The Nuggets are 戦う／戦いing Oklahoma City, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Clippers for the 最高の，を越す seed in the Western 会議／協議会. While finishing first is important, Denver has 強調する／ストレスd health and playing 井戸／弁護士席 負かす／撃墜する the final stretch more than chasing the best 記録，記録的な／記録する in the West.
The Nuggets are 確信して of their ability to 勝利，勝つ on the road where they have a 22-15 示す with four games remaining. They are nearly unbeatable at home, having gone 28-6, where they play their next five games starting with Monday night.
Denver has won the first two of the four-game season series with Memphis but the teams have not met since Dec. 28 when the Nuggets rolled to a 142-105 home 勝利，勝つ.
-Field Level マスコミ
