Nuggets game day: Denver returns to the scene of the crime

Paul Millsap called it “probably the toughest thing I’ve ever been through in my basketball career.”

In the second quarter of a Nov. 19 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Millsap tore a ligament in his left wrist. That injury set the four-time All-Star who prided himself on his durability down a winding path of recovery. Millsap underwent reconstructive surgery to repair the ligament, and he ended up missing 44 games.

On Tuesday, Millsap will return to the Staples Center, the venue where he sustained the injury, for the first time since it occurred. The Nuggets face the Los Angeles Lakers for the final time this season at 8:30 p.m. (TV: Altitude, NBA TV).

The Nuggets went 24-20 without Millsap. They weathered the storm without the player who was signed to a lucrative contract to be the team’s defensive anchor. After some initial awkwardness that came with reintegrating Millsap, Denver is back on course.

Denver earned a hard-fought win over the Lakers on Friday then coasted to a 26-point win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

“I think we’re kind of past the growing pains or reintegrating Paul Millsap back in the lineup,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone Sunday following the rout of the Kings. “It took a few games. We knew it would. It wasn’t surprising to anybody who knows basketball.”

Millsap played his best game in a Nuggets’ uniform Friday. He required only 12 shots to score 21 points on the Lakers. He also blocked three shots and battled admirably against Lakers big man Julius Randle inside.

“We’re both from the South. Southern boys,” Millsap said. “He eats more cornbread than me obviously. It was a good battle.”

Randle, who was raised in Texas, is finding success lately by playing his brand of bully ball. He scored 36 points (14-18 FG) against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. In 16 games since the start of February, he’s averaging 20.7 points on 58.9 percent shooting, 8.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists. The Lakers are outscoring opponents by 7.1 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor in that time frame.

Los Angeles will need Randle’s strong play to continue as small forward Brandon Ingram misses a sixth straight game. Ingram is still recovering from a groin strain that occurred March 1.

The Lakers present a tough challenge for Denver even without Ingram. They’ve won seven of their previous nine. Randle is playing the best basketball of his career. Lonzo Ball is finding his rhythm.

Plus, Friday’s loss in Denver should still be fresh on the Lakers’ minds.

“Just try to be calm and lay it all on the court,” said Millsap Sunday when asked about Denver’s mental approach during the stretch run. “That’s all you can do. We have to win games for us to get to the playoffs. That’s got to be our main focus.”

Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Wilson Chandler, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic

Lakers Projected Starters

Lonzo, Ball, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Julius Randle, Brook Lopez