Jason Quick

On coaching legend Dick Motta, who at 94 is still sharp, still strong and still ornery as ever. And, as he learned yesterday, he is still not elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. (Gift article) nytimes.com/athletic/71284…

Spencer Jones, great story. Ranked 200+ in HS; undrafted out of Stanford. Didn't score in preseason; had 20 in game 5 "...The least expensive & most unheralded player on their $200-million-plus roster would buy their ticket to ... Game 6." "Sometimes, it’s reinventing yourself"

On Denver’s Game 5 hero, Spencer Jones, who saved the Nuggets’ season, then waited for a ride home. nytimes.com/athletic/72367…

This is disingenuous and not what I wrote. Please delete.

Aaron Gordon begins his pregame warmup for Game 4 in Minnesota.

@twistedlister @TheAthleticNBA I go where I’m told.

@jwquick @TheAthleticNBA Cool. How about reporting on the Blazers? Would be nice to have a full time guy on the Athletics that covered them.

Nuggets say no decision has been made on Aaron Gordon's status for Game 3. The forward has left calf tightness but "will go through his pregame routine before we officially rule anything," a team source told @TheAthleticNBA

Strawther*

Looks like Julian Swather will make his series debut after this timeout

Spencer Jones starting in place of Aaron Gordon for Nuggets in Game 3

David Adelman says Aaron Gordon is out for Game 3.

@Coral_Kinder Nuggets just said he is out

So what’s happening???

Nuggets team source says Aaron Gordon is still questionable for Game 3. "He will go through his pregame routine before we officially rule anything," the source said.

From this, one of the greatest game stories not only in @TheAthleticNBA history, but Red Smith, Bill Heinz, SI , etc. sportswriting history. An amazing piece of work from @jwquick. (Gift article.) nytimes.com/athletic/94248…

Victor Wembanyama getting in the lightest of light work at Spurs practice today.

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson says Victor Wembanyama is doing well after his concussion and will travel with the team to Portland today. His status for tomorrow’s Game 3 is still up in the air as he progresses through the NBA concussion protocol.

Wemby is walking around at practice, talking to Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.

“Losing my brother,” he says, “and understanding what life is really about.” My newest story @TheAthletic @TheAthleticNBA on the many dimensions of Aaron Gordon: nytimes.com/athletic/72140…

At age 34, Hardaway Jr. is not only surviving but flourishing on a team with championship aspirations. “It’s learning from my mistakes,” Hardaway said. “Embracing those mistakes.” More from @jwquick (free to read): nytimes.com/athletic/71908…

Tim Hardaway Jr. is a finalist for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award and a lifesaver for a Denver Nuggets season that could have easily gone off the rails due to injuries.

“Three years from now, or five years from now, people are going to love it. But over the next 12 months, they are going to hate it.” On the rocky start to the Tom Dundon era: nytimes.com/athletic/72139…