NBA Preview: Charlotte Bobcats (19-27) vs. Denver Nuggets (22-21)
By Andrew Dill
Feb 23, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats power forward Josh McRoberts (11) blocks Denver Nuggets small forward Kenneth Faried (35) during the second half at Time Warner Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets (22-21) are coming off of impressive back-to-back wins against the Indiana Pacers and a feisty Sacramento Kings squad. In their game on Sunday against the Kings, point guard Ty Lawson stole the show as the all-star hopeful had 27 points and 6 assists to go along with 2 steals. Tonight they open up a four-game homestand with the Charlotte Bobcats.
What: Regular Season: Charlotte Bobcats vs. Denver Nuggets
When: Wednesday, January 29th
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Time: 9:00 PM ET, 7:00 PM MT
TV: Altitude Sports
This is the first meeting between the two squads this season as Charlotte has fallen into a rough patch of late. They have lost two consecutive games, one in which was at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks where former Nugget Carmelo Anthony dropped 62 points. In their most recent game on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls, Bobcats center/power forward Al Jefferson would record a double-double with 32 points and 13 rebounds.
Wilson Chandler said in a post-game interview that the team is starting to come together at one and if so it is about time. It’s been a up-and-down year for the Nuggets but they look to have picked up their game, including the win over one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams in the Indiana Pacers. Speaking of Wilson Chandler, in his last five-games, the forward is averaging 20.6 points per game, 5.0 rebounds while shooting 39.0% percent from downtown. His free-throw percentage has been an issue however as he is only shooting 68.0% percent, (17-for-25).
Charlotte Bobcats point-guard Kemba Walker will most-likely not suit up as he suffered a second-degree ankle sprain. He has been steady running the offense this year for Charlotte as he has averaged 18.7 points per game, 5.0 assists, and 4.2 rebounds with a player-efficiency rating of 17.98 according to ESPN.
Ty Lawson suffered an injury in the fourth quarter against the Kings on Sunday and is day-to-day.
INJURY UPDATE: #Nuggets PG @TyLawson3 (left shoulder rotator cuff strain) will not practice today. Listed as day-to-day.
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) January 28, 2014
Projected Starting Line-Ups:
Charlotte Bobcats:
PG: Ramon Sessions
SG: Gerald Henderson
SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
PF: Josh McRoberts
C: Al Jefferson
Denver Nuggets:
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Randy Foye
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: J.J. Hickson