Nuggets-Wolves Preview

Nov 16, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Denver Nuggets forward JJ Hickson (7) celebrates a score with guard Andre Miller (24) during the first half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

After starting the 2013-14 season 0-3, the Denver Nuggets have seemed to turn it around, while the Minnesota Timberwolves hot start has somewhat cooled off. Denver is entering tonight’s game at 7-6; their first time being above .500 all season. Upon getting Wilson Chandler back from injury, the team has cruised to a 5-2 record, and 7-3 in their last ten ballgames. They recently defeated the Dallas Mavericks both times in a home-to-home match-up.

Match-up To Watch For: Minnesota Timberwolves power-forward Kevin Love head-to-head with Denver Nuggets power-forward Kenneth Faried. Love has been the topic of conversation of MVP talk in the early goings of the season. Coming into tonight’s ballgame, he is averaging 24.6 points per game, 13.8 rebounds, while shooting 45.1% percent from the field. Faried on the other hand, is almost averaging a double-double per game, sitting at 11.0 points per game and 9.6 rebounds.

Keys To Victory: Denver Nuggets: Limit the turnovers, Denver is sixth in the National Basketball Association in turnover ratio sitting at 13.7. Box-out: Denver has been bad at boxing the opposition leading to easy buckets, continue to rebound the ball in which they are fourth in the NBA. Minnesota Timberwolves: Give it to Love. Love has been the main focus of this offense for many years, if he is on, they always have a good chance. Protect the basketball: The Nuggets like to get out and run as they led the league in fast break points a season ago. Although its not the same mentality on offense for them, they still have the same players who like to run.

X-Factor: Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson. The offense goes as he does, he has done a wonderful job of creating shots for his teammates as he continues to dominate the opposition by penetrating to the rim. He has a career-high in points 20.7 and same with assists sitting at 8.7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Martin. Martin has fit in nicely with this Timberwolve offense as he provides a second scoring option behind Kevin Love. He is averaging 22.5 points per game, a 8.5 point boost from last season.

The game is set to tip-off at 8:00 eastern time.