Denver Nuggets Host Atlanta Hawks

The Denver Nuggets welcome the Atlanta Hawks to the Pepsi Center for a Monday night tilt.

The Denver Nuggets snapped a 2-game losing streak on Saturday night in a thrilling 104-101 victory of the Detroit Pistons. Danilo Gallinari‘s 30 points and 6 rebounds paced the Denver Nuggets over Detroit. Emmanuel Mudiay also had one of his best games as a rookie, scoring 18 points on 6-15 shooting, while Nikola Jokic added 17 points as well.

The Atlanta Hawks enter Monday’s game against the Denver Nuggets having lost their past two games in tight fashion against the Sacramento Kings and the Phoenix Suns. An Archie Goodwin 3-pointer with .1 seconds left doomed the Hawks on Saturday in Phoenix, handing them their second consecutive defeat on their 4-game road trip. All-Star power forward Paul Millsap missed Saturday’s game due to a personal matter, but will return for Monday’s game in Denver.

Despite losing 2 straight games, the Atlanta Hawks still present a marquee threat to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, as they sit in the 4th spot in the Eastern Conference. Paul Millsap leads a balanced scoring attack, averaging 18.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. The Hawks front-court and their ability to space the floor presents a challenge to the Denver Nuggets, who must defend Al Horford and Paul Millsap’s ability to shoot from range.

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The Atlanta Hawks also possess a three-headed monster in the backcourt with Jeff Teague, sharpshooter Kyle Korver and backup point guard Dennis Schroder. Jeff Teague is currently dealing with an ankle injury, and Kyle Korver has not rebounded well from two offseason surgeries, having his worst season in years. With Teague’s injury, Dennis Schroder has played extended minutes running the point for the Hawks.

The biggest advantage the Denver Nuggets possess over the Atlanta Hawks is their ability to rebound. The Hawks are one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA, and will give up a lot of offensive rebounds over the course of a game. On Saturday in Phoenix, the Hawks allowed Tyson Chandler to secure 27 rebounds, giving the Suns key second chance opportunities.

The Atlanta Hawks are often compared to the San Antonio Spurs in the way their offense runs (which makes sense, given that Head Coach Mike Budenholzer comes from the Gregg Poppovich coaching tree). The Hawks offense also runs in a similar fashion to the Golden State Warriors — a team that the Denver Nuggets have had success against this season.

If the Denver Nuggets are able to control the glass and mitigate the Atlanta Hawks ability to shoot from long range, Denver has a clear advantage in this game. This year’s Hawks are not the same team that won 60 games last season; and while dangerous, are not the same threat on the road as they are at Philips Arena.

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The Atlanta Hawks struggle when matched up against bigs who possess a size advantage. Nikola Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic are each taller and more physical than Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Tiago Splitter, giving the Denver Nuggets a distinct edge up front. The Nuggets must exploit this match up.

In the backcourt, the Hawks perimeter defense has been porous this season, giving up a lot of three-pointers. With players like Gary Harris, Will Barton and even Danilo Gallinari stretching the floor, the Denver Nuggets will have plenty of opportunities to make shots. Of course, the Nuggets success is predicated on how effectively they can shoot from the floor. The Hawks are by no means a bad defensive team, but they will give you chances to stay in a game. Like the Nuggets, they routinely blow leads.

Next: Denver Nuggets: Playoff Team in the Western Conference?

The Atlanta Hawks are a big challenge for the Denver Nuggets, but after beating Eastern Conference playoff teams like the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons, Denver is perfectly capable of handing Atlanta their third straight loss.

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