Denver Nuggets vs. Grizzlies: Matchup to watch
By Mathew Huff
The Denver Nuggets will be in for a dog fight with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Both the Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies are post season teams in the Western Conference as of right now.
The Grizzlies won the first matchup between these two teams and the Nuggets are going to have a tougher time during this game as seven different players are injured. For this piece, we will look at the matchup to watch in this game.
Of course, we are going to go with Nikola Jokic vs. Marc Gasol. Both of these players have had some great battles in the past couple of years and both are having great seasons so far.
Denver Nuggets
Jokic is averaging a total of 16.7 points per game on an effective field goal percentage of 50.9% this year. He is also averaging a career low defensive rating of 102 to go along with an offensive rating of 118. Jokic is also averaging a box plus/minus of 9.1.
For Marc Gasol, he is having a bounce back season. He is averaging 17.1 points per game with an effective field goal percentage of 52.3%. Gasol’s defensive rating currently sits at 102 as well and he is averaging an offensive rating of 110 which is an increase from his 104 rating from last season. His box plus/minus is currently at 4.5 on the season.
This is going to be a clash of an offensive juggernaut in Nikola Jokic going up against a stingy defensive presence in Marc Gasol. Who wins this matchup will most likely determine the outcome of this game at the Pepsi Center.
The Nuggets are going to be heavily reliant on the Joker as they will be short handed, so he will have his hands full trying to outsmart the three time All Star.
All in all, this should be a very entertaining matchup to watch regardless of who you may be rooting for in this game.