Slow, steady, and balanced

The Denver Nuggets are 11-3 and currently second in the Western Conference standings. They have won four straight and eight of their last nine. In that span, they have held seven opponents to just 98.9 points per game.

Much of the Nuggets’ approach have been all about disrupting the standard, fast-paced style of today’s basketball. They do it by slowing the game down, playing great team defense, and distributing the scoring attack everywhere.

Denver is 29th in pace, top four in scoring defense and efficiency, and have five different players averaging in double figures, four of which are at 14 PPG and above. Jamal Murray (18.7 PPG, 5.1 APG) and Nikola Jokic (17.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 6.1 APG) lead that pack.

The Nuggets eked out an overtime win in their recent meeting with the Suns, 108-107. Jokic notched a triple-double in that game with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.

Second night of a back-to-back

The Phoenix Suns ended a three-game skid and went over the .500 mark on Sunday courtesy of a 100-98 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Devin Booker scored 27 of his game-high 35 points in the second half and flirted with a triple-double as he also grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds and dished out nine assists.

Booker, who’s currently averaging over 25 points and six assists per game, will be in a tough match-up, arguably the toughest all season. He should look to have a better showing than his last appearance in Denver, where he had 18 quiet points on 6-for-21 shooting that included a potential game-winner getting swatted out.

Kelly Oubre Jr. will continue aiding Booker in the scoring duties with starting point guard Ricky Rubio still day-to-day with back spasms. Oubre is posting a career-high 19 points per contest and just had a 25-point, 11-rebound game.

With Monday’s game coming on the second night of a back-to-back, others will have to step up and contribute. Oubre and Booker were the only Suns to score in double figures against the Timbwerwolves and they can’t afford to let that happen again.

PREDICTION:

The Nuggets hound the Suns and collect another win, with their defense take center stage again.