Kentavious

DENVER (AP) — Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was playing for the Los Angeles Lakers the last time these teams met in the Western Conference finals in the 2020 NBA bubble.

Holiday started in place of the injured Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, missing his first game of the season due to concussion protocol after hard contact to the head on Tuesday night’s game vs the Chicago Bulls.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope rolled his ankle last night.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray will get plenty of accolades but this entire roster made key contributions throughout the season and role players like Bruce Brown, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Aaron Gordon all came up with huge plays to help close it out.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, left, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji and guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, right, defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan.

Paul injured his groin Monday with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, battling for a defensive rebound with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

The Nuggets answered with an excellent after-timeout play to get Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a three, and Aaron Gordon scored a driving bucket on the next possession to give Denver the lead back for the last time.

The Nuggets, minus Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-98.

With Aaron Gordon out and Jamal Murray dealing with foul trouble in the first half, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Vlatko Cancar stepped up.

Can the Denver Nuggets afford Kentavious Caldwell-Pope?

Clippers guard Kris Dunn and Orlando guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope battle for a loose ball in the first half.

Lakers star Anthony Davis takes a shot as the Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr., left, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope look on during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Smothering defense from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope pic.

Watson got up angry, but was restrained by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope also went to the Lakers’ locker room shortly before halftime after rolling his ankle, but the swingman walked it off and returned in the third quarter.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope replaced Bradley in the starting lineup Tuesday night.

McGee and Howard are up to split center duties, while the guard competition is hazy, with Rajon Rondo, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Avery Bradley, Quinn Cook and Alex Caruso all shuffled in the rotation.

The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard is defended by the Lakers’ Dwight Howard, right, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during Tuesday’s season opener at Staples Center.

Brook Lopez scored 18 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 16 for the Lakers, who have won two straight following a nine-game losing streak.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made four free throws in the final 15 to seal the victory.