Nuggets Take on Thunder in OKC
By Eric Meyer
Feb 20, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) drives for the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard O.J. Mayo (00) defends during the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee won 89-81. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Nuggets returned from a 10 day rest for the All Star game on Friday and lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 89-81 in a plodding game highlighted by Ty Lawson being a healthy scratch due to missing the first practice after the break. The Nuggets led nearly the entire game but lost their way in the 4th quarter as the Bucks came back from an 8 point deficit to win going away. Nuggets Head Coach Brian Shaw spelled out how the Nuggets lost that game.
"“There are no excuses. I thought we went flat at the wrong time,” coach Brian Shaw said. “I told our guys, ‘Some of us have to do better than we’re doing right now.’ That’s really what it comes down to.”"
They continue their second half of this discombobulated season with a contest against the surging Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Center tonight.
The Thunder was even more aggressive at the trade deadline than the Nuggets were, trading away Colorado Springs native Reggie Jackson and picking up a host of players they think will get them over the hump and back in contention for the Western Conference Championship. The Thunder still count on their 1-2 punch of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to make the team go but Durant has been working through a foot injury for most of the season and did not play Saturday in the Thunder’s game against the Hornets in Charlotte. Westbrook went off for 33 points and 10 assists in Durant’s absence and led the Thunder to a 110-103 win over the Hornets.
The Nuggets will most likely have Lawson back in the lineup tonight as Coach Shaw indicated that Lawson’s punishment for missing practice would be only one game. The Nuggets come into the game limping through a stretch in which they have lost 15 out of their last 17 games and are without Arron Afflalo who was traded to Portland at the deadline. Yusef Nurkic has been showing more signs of improvement as he was one of the Nuggets leading scorers against the Bucks and stayed out of serious foul trouble for the first time in several games. Wilson Chandler led the Nuggets with 23 points in the loss.
In a season that is spiraling out of control for the Nuggets, it would be a nice boost to play hard and stay in the game against the Thunder tonight. There is some doubt as to whether Durant will play tonight but either way, the Nuggets have an uphill battle against the Thunder who have won 10 of their last 11 at home. With Lawson back in the lineup and Durant’s status up in the air, I think the Nuggets can hang in against the Thunder but the Thunder will prevail in the end by a 113-100 score. Check back with NuggLove for more Nuggets news and notes and follow me @The EMAN155 on Twitter.
Update: 2-22-15 @ 3:04 P.M. MST: According to the Associated Press, Kevin Durant underwent a surgical procedure today to alleviate pain in his foot that was operated on earlier this season. They replaced a screw that had been inserted in the foot in the earlier procedure. He will be out indefinitely but the AP source says that the team expects him back before the end of the regular season. Durant has only played in 27 games so far this year and it appears he will be missing a significant amount of additional time. This is another setback for the surging Thunder but it may allow the Nuggets to hang with the Thunder tonight if they can contain Russell Westbrook.