Colorado Avalanche beat writer
Bennett Durando
Bennett Durando joined The Denver Post in 2022 as the Colorado Avalanche and NHL hockey beat writer. He previously covered college sports in the SEC, first Mizzou for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Columbia Missourian, then Auburn for the Montgomery Advertiser. He is an 11-time Associated Press Sports Editors contest nominee and a two-time winner, including for best beat writing in 2022 while in Alabama. Born and raised in St. Louis, he is a graduate of Missouri.
Featured Stories

How Avalanche’s Evan Rodrigues won over Colorado hearts with pregame puck ritual with sons
Here's how there got to be a mountain of about 30 pucks sitting on Evan Rodrigues' kitchen counter.

The malleability of Cale Makar: From taking on bigger opponents to bigger ice time, Avalanche defenseman is different kind of All-Star
Little brothers often have to play dirty to win. Itap their natural instinct. Such was the case in the Makar front yard, where younger Taylor matched up with older Cale...

After expanding from Nuggets to Avalanche games, Celly Squad drummers revel in “rock star” status: “No one would treat me like this at my day job.”
The performers were setting up equipment. The players were taking their places, families in tow. They would all begin the parade route soon, but Andrew Brickman's day was made before...
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🔊 Nuggets Podcast: Jamal Murray puts annual slow start to rest, Russell Westbrook fits in and Nikola Jokic chases history
In the latest Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene as the calendar flips to 2025 with a Denver rout of Atlanta.

Why Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. admires Trae Young, “one of my best friends”
Trae Young continued his impressive season on New Year's Day in Denver, amassing 30 points and nine assists against his friend Michael Porter Jr.

Nikola Jokic, Nuggets pull away from Hawks in third quarter to welcome new year
Following a dominant second half against the Hawks, the Nuggets have won eight of their last 11 to go six games over .500 for the first time this season as...

Jamal Murray: Nuggets get “too unselfish” sometimes, but in wins like Utah, “It looks really good”
"When the ball is moving like that and everybody's eating, there's really nothing to complain about," Murray said.

Nikola Jokic, Russell Westbrook go for triple-doubles as Nuggets hang on in Utah
Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook went for triple-doubles as the Nuggets pulled away in the fourth quarter for a hard-earned win over the Utah Jazz on Monday.

Jamal Murray responds to critics after 34-point game: “I just let people talk. That’s what they do best.”
"I know that everybody is really riding Jamal Murray really hard right now. That's not gonna do him any favors, man," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.

Nuggets Journal: How clutch is Denver’s offense in crunch time? Take a GOLP and find out
Clutch shots from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are fun, but what should we make of the trend?

Michael Malone “disappointed” after Nuggets survive late comeback from Pistons
Jamal Murray scored 21 of his 34 points in the third quarter as the Nuggets built a big enough lead to hold off Detroit on Saturday.

Are too many 3s bad for basketball? Nuggets insulated from NBA-wide debate: “That’s not the make-up of our roster”
Are too many 3s bad for the game of basketball? While a hot topic across the NBA garners debate, the more appropriate question in Denver remains this: Are not enough...

Nuggets give up season-worst 149 points in home loss to Cavaliers
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 33 points, and the Nuggets couldn't keep up defensively in a 149-135 loss, even if Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic were able to score...