Out for revenge
The 22-9 Denver Nuggets got back in the winning column on Sunday after bullying their way into the Memphis Grizzlies, 119-110. They led by as much as 23 and scored 66 points in the paint.
As they aim for a revenge game tomorrow, we should see an assertive Jamal Murray (17.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 4.5 APG). He was stopped on two key plays in last month’s 100-97 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings – one where his shot got blocked at the end of regulation and another when he couldn’t even get a shot off before the game clock expired.
The Nuggets won the last time they faced the Kings at home. Through their first-ranked defense (102.5 PAPG) that was on full display, they earned a 101-94 victory despite only shooting 36.7% from the floor and Nikola Jokic scoring just nine points on 4-for-15 shooting.
Denver is 2-2 during consecutive playing nights, but is a solid 14-4 at home this season.
The Kangs. Oh, the Kangs.
The Sacramento Kings are on a bad, losing stretch. What’s new? They have now dropped six-straight – with the recent being a frustrating 112-110 loss to the Phoenix Suns – and will be on the second night of a back-to-back.
Even more frustrating is that the team is not a bunch of scrubs who are shorthanded on talent. The Kings are loaded, especially on offense – De’Aaron Fox is a rising playmaker, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Harrison Barnes, and Nemanja Bjelica are, at the very least, good shooters, and Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley are bruising, long-armed big men. In fact, all seven are averaging in double figures.
Hield (20.2 PPG), the team’s leading scorer, could be in for another rough night. He’s only scoring 13 PPG on a woeful 27.3% shooting against the Nuggets this season. Barnes (15.5 PPG), meanwhile, is on the other side of the spectrum as he had a season-high 30 points in the two team’s most recent match-up. The same goes for Holmes, who logged 24 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks off the bench against the Nuggets in late November.
PREDICTION:
Expect a considerably low-scoring game. The Nuggets and Kings have two of the slowest paces in the league.
The Nuggets win, 101-93.
