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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Michael Malone blasts Sacramento Kings for firing Mike Brown via phone call: “No class”
"I'm not surprised that Mike Brown got fired, because I got fired by the same person," Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Injuries keep hindering Nuggets as Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon battle resurfacing ailments on Christmas
"We've got some kinks to work out," Jamal Murray told The Denver Post after the Nuggets lost to Phoenix on Christmas.

Michael Malone happy to continue playing DeAndre Jordan at backup center while Nuggets’ second unit thrives
In their 5-1 stretch before Christmas, the Nuggets won Nikola Jokic's rest minutes by 18 and registered an 8.6 net rating with backup center DeAndre Jordan on the floor.

Nuggets’ offense gets sloppy in Christmas Day loss to Phoenix Suns
Nikola Jokic was contained after the first quarter as the Nuggets committed sloppy turnovers while Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal knocked down shots for Phoenix on Christmas.

Michael Porter Jr. reacts to trade rumors amid Zach LaVine smoke: “I don’t take it personally”
With sincerity and a sense of humor, Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. discussed his reaction to hearing his name in trade rumors on Monday.

Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. lead Nuggets to blowout win over Suns to finish back-to-back
Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. combined for 56 points on 29 shots as the Nuggets held firm without Jamal Murray on Monday.

Michael Malone on trade rumors involving Nuggets: “There’s nothing to that”
"Whenever that stuff is happening, (Calvin Booth) is in touch with the guys and their agents to let them know what is real and what is not real," Nuggets coach...

Nuggets’ Jamal Murray out with sprained ankle against Suns, not ruled out for Christmas game
Jamal Murray is out Monday against the Suns, but Michael Malone didn't rule him out for the Nuggets' Christmas day rematch in Phoenix.

Jamal Murray scores in clutch again as Nuggets pull off 17-point comeback to beat Pelicans in overtime
Michael Malone went with Christian Braun and Peyton Watson for the last defensive possession of regulation on Sunday night in New Orleans -- a change from three days earlier --...

Nuggets Mailbag: Who cares about ratings? Let’s talk about the Russell Westbrook-Nikola Jokic connection
What to make of the NBA ratings discourse? How good has the connection been between Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic? Denver Post beat writer Bennett Durando answers those questions and...