The Denver Nuggets to retaliate against the Suns tonight
The Denver Nuggets who gave the Los Angeles Lakers their first defeat of the season will now play against the Phoenix Suns who gave the same team their second defeat. The game is surely going to be a very interesting encounter as both the teams have proven their metal by beating the NBA defending champions- Lakers.
The two teams will be battling it out to prove a point on Monday night although the recent record does favor the Nuggets. The Suns faced defeat at hands of the Nuggets 144-106 the last time they met in a pre-season finale in what proved out to be almost a one sided match towards the end.
Both the teams have an equal record (5-4) and are the only ones who have beaten the Lakers this season.
The Phoenix Suns outclassed the Lakers with the most 3 pointers of the season and second most in the history of NBA. Jason Richardson scored 34 points, and seven of the 22 three pointers as the Suns recorded their win over the Los Angeles team. They fell one short of the record of 23 three pointers set by Orlando Magic against the Sacramento Kings in January 2009.
The Suns made it look easy with their precise shooting and control of the ball leaving the Lakers somewhat shocked.
"You just feel like the basket is huge and that every shot you throw up is going to go in," Richardson who scored 35 points said later.
"(Coach) Alvin (Gentry) was calling plays for me and my teammates were finding me. It was just fun to have a night like that."
The Suns' shooting percentage has raised noticeably to an impressive 47.5 during the 11 game run. They made 14 of 24 in a 123-101 win in April during their regular season home finale during the last visit of Nuggets there.
Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points and 11 rebounds during their last win at Phoenix 111-96 back in 2004. Anthony has an average of 20.5 points on 38.8 percent that he scored while playing at the US Airways Center.
The Denver Nuggets should be concerned about defending their 3 point arcs after their 114-113 loss to Indiana Pacers last Tuesday. The Pacers were fabulous with their 16 of 30 three-pointers and 20 of 21 shots that they played in the third quarter alone.
The Nuggets took that defeat wisely and kept their stance cool as they beat the Lakers on Thursday.
Anthony who had scored 32 points and 13 boards in that game later said, “We dropped two in a row against Chicago, that record-setting game against Indiana,” He added, “We came back here and got that monkey off our back. The way we bounced back tonight, the way we responded, I'm proud of my team.”
The Phoenix Suns are looking extremely good offensively and the Nuggets will have to slow them down in order to win. Steve Nash who had 21 points and 13 assists on Sunday is also one of the players who they need to be careful of. The two time league MVP Steve Nash had an average 13.3 in his last four contests. Number 23 Jason Richardson of the Denver Nuggets has become a focal point of the offense and has conquered 30 points in his two games that match his total from 2009-10.
Having defeated the defending champions, both the teams will be running tremendously high on confidence and their match will surely be an adrenaline pumping encounter.
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