Nuggets – Bobcats Preview
By Matt Welch
For some reason, the Nuggets just can’t overcome the Washington Wizards this season. Now, looking to avoid a fifth straight road loss, the Nuggets (34-22) travel a little south to take on the Charlotte Bobcats (13-42).
February 22, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards center Nene (42) blocks the shot of Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson (3) in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 119-113. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
One good thing from last night’s game, though, was that point guard Ty Lawson didn’t seem to be too bothered with his sore ankle. He scored 27 points and dished out 12 assists in the 119-113 loss last night. Wilson Chandler added 22 points off the bench for the Nuggets, also. The Nuggets are looking to get back on track after losing four of their last five games, all coming on the road. Denver has been particularly hot this season but it seems that they’ve been doused just a little bit.
A game against the struggling Bobcats may be just what the doctor ordered. They’ve beaten them the last three times the teams have met, winning by an average of 21.0 points.
The Bobcats are led by second-year point guard Kemba Walker, who’s averaging 25.0 points per game over the last three contests. The Bobcats are in the lower tiers of every major statistical category so far this season, thus giving them the league’s worst record. Walker has little help on the floor, but one bright spot might be Byron Mullens. Mullens is averaging 12.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season. Last night against the Bulls, Walker scored 27 while Mullens scored just 2 on 1-12 shooting.
The key to the game for the Nuggets will be to bully the Bobcats in the low post. The Bobcats are ranked 21st in rebounding while the Nuggets are ranked 2nd.
Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm ET (5:00 pm MT) from the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte.