NBA Preview: Denver Nuggets (20-19) vs. Phoenix Suns (22-17)
By Andrew Dill
Nov 8, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns power forward Marcus Morris (15) dribbles the ball under pressure from Denver Nuggets shooting guard Randy Foye (4) during the fourth quarter at US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Nuggets 114-103. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets (20-19) look to get back on the right track as they are in Phoenix taking on the Phoenix Suns (22-17). The Nuggets struggled to keep the Cleveland Cavaliers off of the boards Friday night as they got out-rebounded 49-to-41 and lost by the final score of 117-109. Ty Lawson would record his third-straight double-double as the guard scored 19 points on 5-of-16 shooting, making all seven of his free-throws. Wilson Chandler would tie Kyrie Irving for a game-high of 23 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-12 from downtown.
What: Regular Season: Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns
When: Sunday, January 19th
Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Time: 8:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
This is the third of four meetings this year between the teams as the Suns took both games. Most recently, the Suns defeated the Nuggets in Denver on December 20th by the final score of 103-99. Denver had no answer for forward Markieff Morris who came off of the bench hot. He would score 25 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 11-of-15 from the charity stripe. Gerald Green was on fire from deep as well as the guard shot 6-of-12 from the field, all six of his shots were three-pointers. Green finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. Denver played well but couldn’t get the stops late as Phoenix won by four points. All five of Denver’s starters scored in double-figures led by forward Wilson Chandler who scored 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Power forward/center J.J. Hickson did his part to keep the Nuggets in the game as he shot 6-of-10 from the field, recording a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Here is what rookie head coach Brian Shaw said about the teams loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night via ESPN:
"“I don’t think our offense was hurting us, it’s defense,” coach Brian Shaw said after his team gave up 50 points in the paint. “Middle penetration hurt us all night. … We’re a team that tries to keep the ball out of the middle and we weren’t able to do that.”"
The Phoenix Suns will be without their star point-guard Eric Bledsoe who had his meniscus removed from his right knee and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks. Denver might be without power forward Darrell Arthur for another game as the forward is dealing with a groin injury.
Projected Starting Line-Ups:
Denver Nuggets:
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Randy Foye
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: J.J. Hickson
Phoenix Suns:
PG: Goran Dragic
SG: Gerald Green
SF: P.J. Tucker
PF: Channing Frye
C: Miles Plumlee