NBA Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder (27-8) vs. Denver Nuggets (17-17)
By Andrew Dill
Nov 18, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson (3) handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha (25) during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets (17-17) have bounced back from an eight-game skid and are riding a current three-game winning streak as the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town with an impressive record of 27-8 on the season. During Denver’s three-game winning streak, the team has averaged 125.7 points per game and are shooting 53.1% percent from the field.
What: NBA Regular Season: Oklahoma City Thunder at Denver Nuggets
When: Thursday, January 9th
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Time: 10:30 PM ET, 8:30 PM MT
TV: TNT or Altitude Sports
This is the third regular season meeting between the two teams as the Oklahoma City Thunder have taken both games. Most recently, the Thunder downed the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center by the final of 105-93. Kevin Durant scored a game-high 30 points on 11-of-23 shooting, collecting 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Teammate Russell Westbrook nearly collected a triple-double, scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists. For the Nuggets, Ty Lawson finished with a double-double, scoring a team-high 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting with 13 assists. J.J. Hickson was big in the post for Denver as he too would finish with a double-double. He would shoot 7-of-13 from the field, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Nuggets guard Randy Foye has caught fire off late as he has averaged a career-low 9.6 points per game this season. However, the shooting guard has scored in double figures in six-straight games heading into tonight’s game while scoring a season-high 23 points against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night. The Nuggets may be without small forward Wilson Chandler who strained his groin in the win on Tuesday. Good news for the Nuggets however is that Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will be out after opting to have knee surgery, his third once since April. The Oklahoma City Thunder are 4-3 without Westbrook in the line-up. Kenneth Faried has been a big part of the Nuggets winning streak as the forward has averaged 18.0 points per game and shot an impressive 20-for-29 from the field.
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The Sacramento Kings have inquired about Nuggets guard Andre Miller, offering Jimmer Fredette or Marcus Thornton in separate deals.
Projected Starting Line-Ups:
Oklahoma City Thunder:
PG: Reggie Jackson
SG: Thabo Sefolosha
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Serge Ibaka
C: Kendrick Perkins
Denver Nuggets:
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Randy Foye
SF: Jordan Hamilton
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: J.J. Hickson