Zeke Nnaji knows what's needed to get more minutes and Denver Nuggets deal with Jeff Green's absence

Dec. 25—DENVER — On one hand, Zeke Nnaji might have his best chance to secure a spot in the Denver Nuggets rotation. On the other, nothing is going to be handed to the third-year forward.

Nnaji is an option to fill the void left by Jeff Green, who is expected to miss roughly a month with a fractured hand and finger sprain, but he's not the only option. Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he could play Nnaji and DeAndre Jordan, the two players who have split back-up center duties, together. Vlatko Cancar could also handle those minutes, giving Malone more flexibility to play the matchup, while Michael Porter Jr. and Bruce Brown are small-ball options, Malone said prior to Sunday's game against the Suns.

"Depending on the lineup we're playing, who's out there, we have the versatility to kind of give different looks without Jeff," Malone said pregame.

Nnaji has previously said he feels more comfortable at the power forward position, so the partnership with Jordan is appealing. Although the pairing hasn't played much together in the regular season, there is some familiarity.

"That would definitely be a unit that has size and strength," Nnaji said in the locker room an hour before the late tipoff. "We did that a little bit in training camp, and that was pretty effective. I think that's something we'd both like to see."

Minutes have been inconsistent for Nnaji through the first 31 games of the season. After being out of the rotation for a stretch, the 21-year-old played second-unit minutes in the last two games. He scored three points in both games, wins over the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers and grabbed a combined three rebounds in his 23 minutes, but the stats are of little concern to his coach. Malone said he's looking for Nnaji to defend, fight for rebounds, set screens and run in transition.

"I just want to feel Zeke's energy out there. I want to sense his physicality, his aggression," Malone said. "If he's doing those things and kind of anchoring that second unit, and that unit is playing well, that's what we're looking for."

Nnaji's minutes again appeared in jeopardy during Friday's game against Portland when he dislocated the pinkie finger on his left hand. He instructed head athletic trainer Dan Shimensky to pop it back into place on the court so as not to impact his playing time. Nnaji had the finger taped to his ring finger on his non-shooting hand as a means of protection for Sunday's game.

"It's weird, but I'm adjusting to it," Nnaji said.

One thing that sets Nnaji apart from his fellow bigs on the roster is his ability to switch onto opposing guards. Against Memphis, that meant a few possessions in isolation on the electric Ja Morant. Against Portland, it was Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons. With Phoenix in town, Nnaji was prepared to sit down and guard Suns shooting guard Devin Booker even if he wasn't his primary matchup.

"I study everyone that we play against, because I'm someone who blacks onto everyone, or switches onto everyone," Nnaji said. "So, I've got to be prepared for anything, because I might be on those guys at any point in time. Knowing their tendencies and knowing what they like to go to is important and helps me defend better."