NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks (36-25) vs. Denver Nuggets (25-34)
By Andrew Dill
Nov 23, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets shooting guard Wilson Chandler (21) guards Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets (25-34) are coming off of a game where very little defense was played as they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves at home, 132-128. Star point guard Ty Lawson returned to the lineup after missing nine games with a fractured rib and provided a spark in the offensive which was so desperately needed. Lawson would be rusty in the first half but turned it on in the second. He would record 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, knocking down 3-of-4 shots from deep and 6-of-7 from the stripe.
What: NBA Preview: vs.
When: Wednesday, March 5th
Where: Pepsi Center
Time: 8:00 PM ET, 6:00 PM MT
TV: ESPN
This is the third meeting between the two clubs as Denver currently leads the series, 2-0. Their most recent match-up was back on Nov. 25th where the Nuggets would defeat the Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 110-96. J.J. Hickson led the way for the Nuggets as he scored 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, collecting 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Mavericks shooting guard Monta Ellis was tough to contain as he scored 22 points on 8-of-15 while going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Denver has fallen 10 games back of the eight-seed while they are currently on a six-game losing streak (currently the longest losing streak in the NBA) and the Dallas Mavericks currently sit as the seventh seed; a game back of the Golden State Warriors for the sixth seed.
Kenneth Faried has shown the Nuggets management that he is worth keeping around as his post-game seems to get better game-after-game. In Denver’s last five-games, Faried is averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.0 steals in 28.4 minutes of action.
Projected Starting Lineups:
Dallas Mavericks:
PG: Jose Calderon
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Shawn Marion
PF: Dirk Nowitzki
C: Samuel Dalembert
Denver Nuggets:
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Randy Foye
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: J.J. Hickson