After ugly road losses, Jazz, Bulls seek better results
Injuries and illness created an opportunity for Vlatko Cancar to show he can make a valuable contribution to the Denver Nuggets. After three years of mop-up minutes, he is showing he belongs in the rotation.
Cancar played a total of 25 minutes through the first month of the season, but with several players missing he has been pushed into service. He is averaging 23.4 minutes over the last four games and has made key contributions on both offense and defense.
He’ll get more quality time when Denver hosts Houston on Monday night in the first of two home games against the Rockets.
Michael Porter Jr. (heel) and Jeff Green (knee) are not expected to play.
Cancar’s expanded role started at Dallas on Nov. 18 when the Nuggets were without Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Denver lost that game by 28 points but beat the Mavericks two nights later, and a big reason was Cancar’s halfcourt heave that ended the second quarter.
In the last two games he has played 60 minutes, averaging 16 points while playing strong defense. He had three blocks in an overtime win at Oklahoma City on Wednesday and was disruptive in a win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Houston brings a two-game winning streak to Denver and has won three of its last five after starting the season 2-12. The Rockets beat Oklahoma City and rallied to beat Atlanta for their first winning streak.
Houston’s wins have come against good teams, including a win at Dallas on Nov. 16.
The Rockets made key plays down the stretch in the win over the Hawks. Garrison Mathews stole the ball with Houston up one in the final two minutes and drew a foul to give the Rockets more of a cushion.
Green has taken on challenges against some of the best guards in the NBA — including Trae Young and Steph Curry — and has held his own.
