Nuggets – Nets Preview
By Matt Welch
The Denver Nuggets (33-20) have followed up their nine-game winning streak with a two-game losing streak. Now they’ll travel to Brooklyn to take on the Nets (30-22).
February 12, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) carries the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Nuggets 109-108 loss to the Toronto Raptors was largely due to the three players who were on the bench for the Nuggets but George Karl’s team isn’t one to make excuses. Ty Lawson has scored 29 points in each of the past two games and has been a large part of the Nuggets recent success. On Tuesday night, the Nuggets were without Danilo Gallinari and Andre Iguodala in the starting lineup. Gallo is averaging 17.2 points per game while Iggy is averaging 13.4 per game. They were replaced with Corey Brewer and Evan Fournier who combined for only 15 points. Gallinari and Iguodala, along with center JaVale McGee and forward Wilson Chandler, are all listed as day-to-day.
For the Nets, Brooks Lopez and Joe Johnson have been leading them. Lopez is averaging 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game this season while Johnson is averaging 16.8 points per contest. Reggie Evans has been coming up big on the block when it comes to rebounding. Last time out, Evans pulled in 22 boards. The Nets will need to bang with the Nuggets down low to keep up with the Nuggets bigs.
Stat to Watch: Rebounding
The Nuggets have Kenneth Faried and Kosta Koufos down low who can pull down rebounds seemingly at will. The Nets have two of those guys also in Lopez and Evans. Whichever team can create second chance buckets and take them away from the other team, will come out on top.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm ET (5:30 pm MST) from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @Welch1048.