Denver Nuggets Vs Utah Jazz: NBA Preview
The Denver Nuggets will take on the Utah Jazz in their last game of the 2010-11 season at Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night. The Nuggets are currently in fifth spot in the Western Conference and are on a two-game winning streak,
following two losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The short-handed Nuggets made season-high scores in their previous two games, so the visitors will try to stay hot in Wednesday's game against Utah. In their last contest on 3rd March, the Nuggets edged past the Jazz in a 103-101 victory. In that game, the
Nuggets made a late rally, as they overcame the Jazz in the fourth quarter. Point guard Ty Lawson led the Nuggets attack with his game-high 23 points.
When the Nuggets traded Carmelo Anthony to New York Knicks earlier this season, Denver were in seventh spot in the West, and at that stage experts thought they would be unable to hold onto their playoff berth.
However, the Nuggets didn’t just keep themselves in the playoff race, they also improved their position in the Conference. The Nuggets went 18-6 since trading Anthony and not a single team in the West has been able to match this record.
Forward Kenyon Martin said that, "All that's been going on all year, injuries, trades, whatever you want to name, we've been through it. For the new guys to lock in, 50 wins is always good. It's a h**l of a season. We let some slip, could've been better,
but we'll take it."
On Saturday night the Nuggets thrashed the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-106, and followed it up with a 134-111 win against the Golden State Warriors two days later to secure fifth spot. In Monday’s win the Nuggets were missing Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari
and Timofey Mozgov due to injuries while Al Harrington was rested.
The Nuggets playoff opponents have still not been decided, but they could potentially face the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks or Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Coach George Karl said he would like to face the Mavericks in the first round,
while guard Raymond Felton hoped to play the Thunder, but J.R. Smith didn’t mention any preference.
Smith said, "I don't really care who we play. To be the best team in the league, you have to play the best teams. I don't think we have to be afraid of anybody. We can take on any challenge and be successful as long as we keep believing in our team."
Denver's Arron Afflalo and Nene Hilario are out of Wednesday's game through injury. Kenyon Martin and Raymond Felton have also not been included in the squad, as they are being rested. However, Chandler and Al Harrington are likely to play. Nuggets Coach
George Karl is confident that he will have a full squad in the post-season, except Mozgov, who is uncertain.
Utah have struggled big time since trading Deron Williams, as they continued to slip down the standings. However, they were finally able to pick up some encouraging victories last week.
Gordon Hayward spearheaded the Jazz with his season-high 22 points in an 86-85 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, while C.J. Miles and Devin Harris tallied 18 points apiece for the Jazz in a 90-78 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.
Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said, "We continue to grow, that’s the most encouraging thing is that we're getting better with the things we're talking about, especially on the defensive end."
In their last meeting in February, Utah defeated the Nuggets 113-106. Centre Al Jefferson stood out for the Jazz, as he thumped a remarkable double-double (28 points and 10 rebounds) to help the Jazz seal the game.
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