Jan 23, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Denver Nuggets small forward Wilson Chandler (21) shoots a there point basket over Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) in the first quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
The Nuggets come off a tough loss against the Portland Trailblazers on Thursday with a Saturday Night Prime Time tilt against the Eastern Conference leading Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center tonight. The Pacers lead the Eastern Conference by 3 1/2 games over the 2 time defending Champion Miami Heat and sport a shiny 8-2 record in their last 10 games. The Pacers are led by NBA All Star Paul George, he of the 23.6 points per game scoring average. George has become a bonafide star in the NBA the last couple of seasons and shown improvement in his game virtually every season of his career. George doesn’t do it alone. Emerging star Lance Stephenson is George’s “Partner in Crime” and carries with him a 14 point scoring average along with helping distribute the ball for the Pacers fairly potent offese.
The Nuggets are limping in to this game a bit as they have lost their last 3 including the difficult defeat at the hands of the red-hot Blazers on Thursday Night. Denver will have to control George and that will most likely fall to the capable defensive hands of Wilson Chandler with some help from his friends. Chandler has always been known as a good defender but he has his hands full with George tonight. Ty Lawson will need to get the Nuggets offense moving like it was in the first half against the Blazers on Thursday. The Nuggets held an 8 point lead at the half and stretched it all the way to 15 points in the 3rd quarter before LaMarcus Alldridge went crazy in the second half to put the nuggets away late. The Nuggets need to pick up the pace at home starting tonight as they are currently only 11-9 at home whereas the Pacers are a very respectable 13-7 on the Road. With the Nuggets sputtering some and the Pacers leading the way in the Eastern Conference, this is a tough test for the young Nuggets. It will take a great team effort both offensively and defensively for the Nuggets to beat the Pacers. They need a win in a big way and there is no better time to start than tonight against a difficult foe in the Indiana Pacers.