Nuggets inching closer to full health, again adjust starting lineup

DENVER — Danilo Gallinari returns to the Nuggets’ starting Wednesday night versus the Miami Heat after missing Denver’s last three games with a sore right thigh.

In Gallinari, the Nuggets get back their starting small forward who’s averaging 16.8 points per game this season on 40.4 percent shooting from the field and hitting his three’s at a 35.7 percent clip. Most of all, Denver gets one of their main go-to offensive options back in the lineup and someone who should help them alleviate some of the troubles they’ve had executing in fourth quarters as of late.

“He had a really good practice yesterday and was able to go through shootaround today so as of right now he’s a go,” Michael Malone said prior to Wednesday night’s matchup with the Heat. “With Gallo, obviously [you get] a little but of everything. He’s a guy that we can post-up, he generates a lot of free-throw attempts, gets us to the line, allows us to set our defense. If he’s got a bigger guy on him we can play him at the four a little bit. He can pick-and-pop, play on the perimeter and look to attack He’s a guy that is obviously a go-to player for us and we’ll see how he’s moving up and down the floor, but if he’s fine out there we’ll treat it like a normal game and get him his touches where he’s most effective.”

Gallinari back in the lineup means Wilson Chandler, who started at small forward in two of the three games Gallinari missed, shifts back to his Sixth Man role off the bench.

That role is one Chandler has grown accustomed to this season. The 29-year-old is currently putting together a career year, averaging 18.3 points on 47.1 shooting from the field and 33.9 percent from three, all at or close to career highs. His numbers aren’t likely to take much of a hit moving back to the bench.

“Wilson’s a guy who really embodies being selfless,” Malone said. “Get over yourself, it’s not about you, whatever’s best for the team. Wilson knows whether he starts or comes off the bench, he’s going to get 30 minutes a night, he’s going to get his touches and we’re going to ask him to guard the other team’s best player and we’re going to ask him to rebound. So he does everything for us.”

Gallinari joins Emmanuel Mudiay, Jameer Nelson, Kenneth Faried and Nikola Jokic in Denver’s starting lineup as the Nuggets look to start a two-game homestand on the right foot.