Denver Nuggets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Preview
By Evan Wheeler
The Matchup: Cleveland Cavaliers (20-9) at Denver Nuggets (12-19)
Location: Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
Time: Tuesday, December 29 at 7 p.m. MT
How to Watch: Altitude
Betting Line (per Bovada): Cavs by 6.5
Projected Starting Lineups:
Denver – PG Jameer Nelson, SG Gary Harris, SF Kostas Papanikolaou, PF Kenneth Faried, C Joffrey Lauvergne
Cleveland – PG Kyrie Irving, SG J.R. Smith, SF LeBron James, PF Kevin Love, C Tristan Thompson
The Denver Nuggets will look to end a two-game skid on Tuesday night, when they face LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers who come to town. Denver has lost five of their last six games, including two that were at home to the lowly Los Angeles Lakers and injury-riddled New Orleans Pelicans.
Defense has been the main problem for the Nuggets during their recent struggles. The Nuggets have given up an average of 109.5 points per game, while allowing opponents to shoot 49.5 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from the three-point line over the last six games.
Denver hasn’t defended well at either level, allowing 44.6 points in the paint and 9.3 three-point shots made per game during that stretch. This doesn’t bode well for the Nuggets going into a game against a Cavs team that ranks fifth in three-point shots made per game (9.7) this season.
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Denver will face a hefty challenge offensively as well, facing a Cavs team which is one of the league’s elite defensive units. Cleveland is ranked third in points per game allowed (95.3), fifth in opponent field goals made (35.6), seventh in opponent field goal percntage (43.5), seventh in opponent three point percentage (33.2) and fourth in opponent points per shot (1.16) currently.
Making matters even more difficult for Denver will be the continued absence of their leading scorer Danilo Gallinari and leading assist man Emmanuel Mudiay. Head coach Mike Malone said both player’s won’t be ready to play until January 2nd’s game against Golden State at the earliest.
Player to Watch: LeBron James
The King has been doing the usual this year, leading the Cavs to the East’s best record and averaging at least 25 points per game for the 12th straight season. James should have his way against the Nuggets, expectedly facing Papanikolaou or Barton with Gallinari out once again.
He’s also had his way at the Pepsi Center during his career, making it his home away from home so to say. In his past fives games at the Pepsi Center, LeBron has averaged a ridiculious 29 points, 9.2 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc. Expect another excellent outing for The King at Pepsi come Tuesday night, especially with a healthy Kyrie Irving to now utilize at his disposal.
The Nuggets just aren’t very good and the increased toughness of their schedule is starting to expose that even more. Denver’s struggles should continue against Cleveland, especially with Gallo and Mudiay both still sidelined with ankle injuries.
The Cavs big three should all perform well led by LeBron, but watch out for old friend J.R. Smith to play well against his former team. Smith had 28 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals in his lone outing against Denver last season. Expect a Cavs win that comes fairly easily.
Final Score Prediction: Cavs 107, Nuggets 93