2-in-1 Recap: Denver Nuggets fall, Colorado Avalanche lose in shootout

Dec 23, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) drives to the basket during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Nuggets:

The Denver Nuggets would fall to the Golden State Warriors, 89-81 behind David Lee‘s big game. The power forward would score 28 points adding 10 rebounds and 2 assists. Denver however did do a good job in limiting Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The two guards would combine for just 27 points as Steph Curry battled foul trouble for most of the game.

Andre Iguodala faired well in his debut back at the Pepsi Center against his former team after hearing the boo’s rain out. The forward would score 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting hauling down 6 rebounds. Meanwhile, Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov was moved to the starting line-up in wake of power forward Kenneth Faried‘s ankle injury. The Russian played well with an increased role, scoring 14 points on 6-of-11 from the field with 11 rebounds, recording a double-double in 32 minutes. Randy Foye‘s struggles would continue as his minutes took a hit. Foye would start the game 0-for-5 from the field as Brian Shaw would pull him, finishing the game with just 10 minutes of game-time.

Wilson Chandler has been the rock of this Nuggets team of late, but he too would struggle. The forward would shoot 4-for-12 from the field, 1-of-5 from three scoring just 10 points. Andre Miller put together a solid game for Denver, stuffing the stat sheet. The veteran would add 14 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists with a block and a steal. The Warriors were deadly from behind the three, shooting 7-for-16, 43.8% percent, while the Nuggets shot a dismal 3-for-13, 23.1% percent.

Colorado Avalanche:

Dec 23, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks celebrate with center Patrick Marleau (12) after he scored the winning goal during the shootout against the Colorado Avalanche at SAP Center at San Jose. Sharks won 5-4 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Avalanche would fall to the San Jose Sharks in a shootout as Patrick Marleau would score the game-winning goal lifting the Sharks, 5-4. Nathan MacKinnon would get the Avalanche going early scoring a power-play goal 11:05 into the game, assisted by Ryan O’Reilly and Erik Johnson. Jason Demers would put the Sharks on the board with a power-play goal of their own scoring his second goal of the season. With 49 seconds left in the first period, Gabriel Landeskog would score his 10th goal of the season, as Paul Stastny and P.A. Parenteau picked up the points.

The Sharks would dominate the second period as Brent Burns tallied his 10th goal of the season, Joe Thornton and Matt Irwin with the assists. 13:02 into the second, the Sharks would convert on the power-play as Matt Irwin would score his second of the season putting the Sharks ahead 3-2. Erik Johnson would score his sixth goal of the season to tie it up a three. Just twelve seconds later, winger Jamie McGinn would also score his sixth goal, putting the Avalanche up 4-3.

The lead would be short-lived, as Joe Pavelski would notch his 15th goal of the season, as Joe Thornton picked up another point. The Sharks would go on the power-play in the overtime period as Erik Johnson picked up the penalty. The Sharks had chances to score but couldn’t convert as the Avalanche would head into a shootout for the second-straight game. Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene would be up for Colorado one and two as both were stopped by Antti Niemi. Logan Couture would score first for San Jose, then Patrick Marleau would score the game-winning goal to lift the Sharks to victory, 5-4.