Nuggets make significant change to starting lineup ahead of matchup with Thunder

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DENVER — With Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton, and Juancho Hernangomez out of the lineup, small forward Wilson Chandler will draw his first start of the season tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“We don’t have many options, it wasn’t too hard of a decision,” Michael Malone said pregame of his starting lineup “With no Gallo, no Juancho, Wilson Chandler is the next guy up.”

Malone likes Chandler’s scoring punch off the bench and the Sixth Man role is one Chandler has become comfortable with so far this season. The 29-year-old is having a career-year through 13 games averaging 16.7 points on 45.9 percent shooting to go with 7.5 rebounds per game.

To go with Chandler, the Nuggets plan to start Jameer Nelson alongside Emmanuel Mudiay in the backcourt, with Kenneth Faried and Jusuf Nurkic up front.