Reply With Quote
Getting up at 4 AM to catch this game two hours before i wake up normally. have class afterwards from 9 - 5:20. Don't disappoint me, Spurs.
Note the early start.
Denver (31-15) at San Antonio (27-18)
Game info: 1:00 pm EST Sun Jan 31, 2010
TV: ABC
By Anthony Giornalista
Without NBA leading scorer Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets had their worst scoring game of the season. The San Antonio Spurs, meanwhile, haven’t let the loss of Tony Parker hurt their play.
Both players had big games in the last meeting between the Nuggets and Spurs, but their status is uncertain as the clubs continue their season series Sunday.
Anthony scored 22 of his 34 points in the second half of Denver’s 106-99 win over San Antonio on Dec. 5, while Parker had 15 of his 27 points in the fourth.
Parker is now hobbled by a mild left ankle sprain. He sat out against Memphis on Friday night, but the Spurs (27-18) still won 104-97.
Anthony also has a left ankle sprain, which has kept him out the last three games. Denver (31-15) had been able to extend its winning streak to eight before shooting 40.3 percent in a 101-84 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night.
It was the worst scoring game of the season for the Nuggets, who are third in the NBA in that category at 107.0 points a contest. Anthony, averaging a career-best 29.7 points, is Denver’s only All-Star.
“That’s 30 points sitting over there,” teammate Kenyon Martin told the Nuggets’ official Web site.
Coach George Karl said Anthony had regressed since Denver’s 97-92 win over Houston on Wednesday. He said it would be a “wait-and-see process” to determine when the forward will play again.
Denver is 5-3 in games Anthony has missed this season.
Joey Graham, who has been starting for Anthony, was held to two points versus the Thunder and is averaging 4.2 this season.
Chauncey Billups has been Denver’s top scoring option with Anthony out. The veteran point guard is averaging 24.1 points while shooting 46.9 percent from 3-point range in 11 games since missing his previous five due to a groin injury.
Billups may not have to contend with Parker, who has been bothered by the same foot all season. He’s been limited him to 16.9 points per game, 5.1 fewer than last season.
If Parker can’t play, George Hill will likely run the offense again. He had 18 points and three steals versus the Grizzlies.
“Tony’s aggressive, so you have to make up that aggressiveness,” said Hill, averaging 15.5 points over his last six games.
Roger Mason added 17 points off the bench as San Antonio won its second straight after losing five of its previous six. He shared point guard duties with Hill.
“This team is built for its depth,” Mason said. “For me, running the point definitely helps my game. … You get in a rhythm and you get other guys involved, and then when you get opportunities it’s a little sweeter.”
Michael Finley may also get some playing time again for San Antonio. He didn’t play against Memphis even though he was listed on the Spurs’ roster for the first time since spraining his ankle in this season’s first matchup with the Nuggets.
*********************
Team Stat Leaders
Points
Carmelo Anthony Den 29.7
Tim Duncan SA 19.8
Rebounds
Kenyon Martin Den 9.2
Tim Duncan SA 10.7
Assists
Chauncey Billups Den 5.9
Tony Parker SA 5.8
Getting up at 4 AM to catch this game two hours before i wake up normally. have class afterwards from 9 - 5:20. Don't disappoint me, Spurs.
hmm. still wondering whats going to happen with finley
Preview: Spurs vs. Nuggets
by Jesse Blanchard
The Denver Nuggets, if the rumor mill is to be believed, have been searching for an additional big man since being dispatched by the Lakers in last season’s Western Conference Finals.
While the Nuggets have been sifting through names like Jeff Foster or Brendan Haywood, the Spurs may have settled on a permanent starting frontline partner for Tim Duncan. Ironically, it’s in the same big man that might have pushed Denver over the top last season.
It’s a small sample, but reintroducing Antonio McDyess into the starting lineup has left the Spurs looking like a Gregg Popovich-coached team once again as Tim pointed out in his last recap.
With the gradual return of Matt Bonner and the inclusion of Antonio McDyess into the starting lineup, the Spurs are not featuring as much small-ball. This is a two game sample, and other factors come into play, but their interior defense looks better because of it.
Keep reading →
Sunday: Nuggets (31-15) at Spurs (27-18)
Time: Noon
TV: ABC
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350
STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - NUGGETS
PG - 3 George Hill (6-2, 2nd yr) - 1 Chauncey Billups (6-3, 13th yr)
Hill thrived in place of Parker vs. Memphis, but faces tougher test here.
SG - 10 Keith Bogans (6-5, 7th yr) - 6 Arron Afflalo (6-5, 3rd yr)
Afflalo has made 13 of his past 21 3-point attempts.
SF - 24, Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 14 Joey Graham (6-7, 5th yr)
If Anthony plays, Denver starting five looks that much more formidable.
PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 4 Kenyon Martin (6-9, 10th yr)
In past six games, Duncan shooting 37.5 percent (36 of 96).
C - 34 Antonio McDyess (6-10, 15th yr) - 31 Nene (6-11, 8th yr)
McDyess in double figures in three straight games for first time as Spur.
SPURS RESERVES
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 6th yr
45 DeJuan Blair, C/F, 6-7, 1st yr
4 Michael Finley, G/F, 6-7, 15th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 6th yr
28 Ian Mahinmi, C/F, 6-10, 3rd yr
42 Theo Ratliff, C, 6-10, 15th yr
NUGGETS RESERVES
30 Malik Allen, F, 6-10, 9th yr
11 Chris Andersen, F/C, 6-10, 8th yr
32 Renaldo Balkman, F, 6-8, 4th yr
25 Anthony Carter, G, 6-2, 11th yr
3 Ty Lawson, G, 5-11, 1st yr
27 Johan Petro, C, 7-0, 5th yr
5 J.R. Smith, G, 6-6, 6th yr
COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Nuggets: George Karl
INJURIES
Spurs: Tony Parker (sprained left ankle) is out. Michael Finley (sprained left ankle) is day-to-day.
Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony (sprained left ankle) is questionable.
PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Malik Hairston, Parker
Nuggets: Anthony
NOTABLE
Winners of two straight after opening homestand 0-3, Spurs look to salvage a .500 finish before embarking on their annual rodeo road trip. ... Denver’s Anthony, the NBA’s leading scorer at 29.7 ppg, has missed three straight games with ankle injury. He had 34 points in 106-99 win over Spurs on Dec. 5 at the AT&T Center.
— Jeff McDonald
Referee Assignments
Sun. Jan 31
Denver @ San Antonio: Ken Mauer; Tony Brown; Gary Zielinski
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
