Nuggets' Mason Plumlee set for expanded role versus Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS — Tuesday night in New Orleans, the Nuggets will play the Pelicans frontcourt of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins for the first time this season.

In the two teams’ first matchup this year, opening night in New Orleans, Cousins was still a member of the Sacramento Kings and in their home loss to the Pelicans on March 26, Cousins sat out with an injury.

With Cousins set to play against Denver for the first time tonight with the Pelicans, Nuggets’ coach Michael Malone doesn’t plan to alter his starting lineup.

“We’re going to stay with Kenneth, let him go out there and start,” Malone said. “Obviously, getting Mason into the game earlier than we have been comes into play. With his length, his strength, his physicality, and his ability to guard in the post as well as guard pick-and-rolls because of his athleticism. But we’ll get Mason in quickly if we have to help out our front line.”

New Orleans starts Cousins at center, so he’ll initially be matched up with Nikola Jokic, but expect a heavy diet of Plumlee alongside Jokic and even possibly reserve big man Roy Hibbert if needed.

In 21 games (eight starts) for Denver this season, Plumlee is averaging 10.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Plumlee did record 16 points and five rebounds in 19 minutes of action against the Cousins-less Pelicans in March, but expect more playing time for the 27-year-old tonight.

Plumlee’s had both good and bad moments for the Nuggets since he was acquired from Portland right before February’s trade deadline. But Denver’s bench has sputtered since bringing Plumlee on board and opponents have outscored the Nuggets by 53 points in the 480 minutes he’s logged with Denver.