Nuggets – Pacers Preview
By Matt Welch
The Denver Nuggets (27-18) look to continue their winning ways against one of the better teams in the East, the Indiana Pacers (26-18).
Denver will play at home and is 17-3 there this season while the Pacers are 10-15 on the road this season.
Dec 7 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Denver is coming off a game where they completely dismantled the Sacramento Kings, scoring 121. The Nuggets have looked in sync in their back-to-back wins, with Ty Lawson playing exceptionally well. On Saturday night, Lawson scored 26 while Andre Iguodala had a refreshingly good game, adding 20 points to the large total. Denver is playing great solid basketball, averaging 103.6 points per game and now leading the NBA in rebounding, averaging 45.7 per game. On the defensive side, Denver has been getting after the ball and creating turnovers and creating scoring opportunities with that.
The Pacers are hoping to rely on their defense to slow down this prolific offense of the Nuggets. Indiana ranks 2nd in points allowed, only allowing just over 89 per game. Paul George and David West have been pacing (no pun intended) the offense all season. West is averaging 16.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while George, fresh off his first All Star selection, is averaging 17.4 points and 7.7 boards.
Stat to Watch: Points in the paint.
The Pacers are allowing 55.0 points in the paint per game in their last two contests. Denver is a team that loves to get under the glass and get to the rim. Thier guards like to drive and pull up and their big men like to pound it inside. It’ll be interesting to see this offense matchup with the Pacer’s defense.
Tipoff is slated for 9:00 p.m. ET (7:00 MST) in Denver at the Pepsi Center.