Suns-Nuggets Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Feb 14 2012 2:32AM

Having snapped an overall five-game skid with a win on the road, the Denver Nuggets are hoping to carry the positive momentum over onto their own court.

Denver seeks to snap its longest home losing streak in nine seasons Tuesday night when it faces the Phoenix Suns, who have lost seven of their last eight visits to the Pepsi Center.

The Nuggets (16-12), who entered Saturday having been outscored by an average of 10.2 points during a five-game losing streak, seemed to put their woes behind them with a much-needed 113-109 victory at Indiana.

Ty Lawson scored 27 points, Arron Afflalo added 23, and Corey Brewer returned from a three-game absence due to the death of his father to post 19.

"We've lost a few games in a row and now we have to get back on the winning streak," said Brewer, who could draw a second consecutive start Tuesday. "We've got one. Time to get two or three or more."

Denver might settle for a solitary win at home, where it's lost five straight for the first time since a seven-game skid Feb. 6-March 2, 2003.

"Our opponents have been coming in here with more energy than us," Afflalo told the team's official website. "It's got to be the opposite. We have to feed off the crowd and take pride in defending our home court."

The Nuggets have to like their chances at home versus the Suns (12-16). Denver has averaged 121.8 points while taking seven of its last eight home games in the series, including a 132-98 win Jan. 11, 2011, behind a career-high 31 points from Afflalo. The Nuggets have also won three straight in the series overall.

With leading scorer Danilo Gallinari (chip fracture in left foot) sidelined, Afflalo seems to have taken it upon himself to pick up the slack. He scored a season-high 26 points in Thursday's 109-101 loss to Golden State before making 8 of 11 shots in the win over the Pacers.

"Those are the first two back-to-back games that we saw Afflalo give us what we know he can give us," coach George Karl told the Nuggets' official website. "We've never lost faith in Arron. We know Arron's going to be a good player for us and we want him to get back to that level as soon as possible - and then maybe a little bit better by the end of the year."

Phoenix lost 102-96 at Golden State on Monday, dropping the opener of its first back-to-back-to-back stretch of the season. The Suns led by as many as 12 points early on but couldn't keep up with the Warriors when it mattered most.

"You've got to finish games," coach Alvin Gentry said. "We did a terrible job of finishing the game."

Marcin Gortat had 25 points and 12 rebounds while Steve Nash recorded seven points and 14 assists. Nash is averaging 12.3 assists over his last six games, posting at least 10 in each.

Channing Frye scored 18 points, continuing his recent impressive play. He's averaging 17.8 in his last five contests.

The Nuggets could be playing this contest without Nene, who is day-to-day with a left calf injury. Starting center Timofey Mozgov (ankle), meanwhile, is expected to miss a sixth straight game. Kosta Koufos started in his place Saturday and finished with seven points and seven rebounds.

The Suns conclude their back-to-back-to-back set Wednesday at home versus Atlanta.

Afflalo has 20 points, leads Nuggets past Suns

Posted Feb 15 2012 12:45AM

DENVER (AP) With Steve Nash and Grant Hill not playing for Phoenix on Tuesday night, Arron Afflalo and Chris Andersen knew the Nuggets were getting a gift from the Suns.

They didn't let the opportunity go to waste.

Afflalo scored 20 points, Chris Andersen had 16 points, seven rebounds and six blocks and Denver broke open a close game in the third quarter to beat the short-handed Suns 109-92.

Ty Lawson scored 17 points and rookie Kenneth Faried had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets, who snapped a five-game home losing streak.

"It was huge," Afflalo said of winning at home. "It was a great win for us in Indiana but this was even more important because we've got to start establishing ourselves on our home court to let teams know it's not going to be an easy walk here."

Markieff Morris had 21 points, Michael Redd had 20 points and Marcin Gortat had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Suns.

Nash and Hill sat out to rest and avoid risking getting hurt Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said before the game.

"They're a little run down. I don't feel it's necessary to stick them out there with the possibility of injury," he said.

The Nuggets appreciated not having to face the NBA's assist leader.

"Phoenix kind of gave us a some slack by not playing Nash," Nuggets coach George Karl said.

Without them in the lineup the Suns struggled early but came on strong after halftime.

Denver was up 58-51 at halftime but Redd, who got the start for Hill and had 11 points at the half, led a Phoenix surge after intermission. He hit two 3-pointers and converted a three-point play to tie the game at 62-all with 8:47 left in the third.

"We played well enough to tie it up, we just couldn't keep up that pace," Redd said.

The Nuggets quickly grabbed control again with their defense and the scoring of Afflalo. Lawson had two steals, one of which led to a clear-path foul, and Kosta Koufas had two blocked shots as Denver went on a 24-8 run to end the third. Afflalo led the way on offense, scoring 13 points after it was tied, including a 3-pointer and two free throws that made it 86-70 heading into the fourth.

"We started running again," Afflalo said. "We were running the court hard, we made a few big defensive possessions - those feed our energy."

The Nuggets held Phoenix to 33 percent shooting.

Andersen has struggled to find minutes lately but he made the most of them Tuesday. It was the third time in his career he has registered at least 15 points, five rebounds and five blocks in one game.

"That's Birdman. Definitely a wild card," Lawson said. "He was blocking everything."

The Nuggets took advantage of the absence of Nash and Hill to jump out to a 10-0 lead. Denver stretched the lead to 33-19 on Rudy Fernandez's 3-pointer late in the first.

The Nuggets quickly increased the advantage to 16 points at the start of the second quarter before Phoenix made a charge behind Redd and Morris. Morris scored 11 of his 13 first-half points in the period and Redd scored seven points - including a 3-pointer - in the final 1:51 of the half as the Suns pulled to within five with 19 seconds left before half.

"We missed some early shots and that didn't shake us because we were able to get back into the game," Gentry said.

NOTES: Andersen has 605 blocks as a Nugget, surpassing Antonio McDyess for sixth all-time on the franchise list. ... Koufas tied a season high with three blocked shots. ... The road team is 2-14 in this series since the start of the 2007-08 season. ... The Suns are in the middle of their first of three back-to-back-to-back games this season.

Notebook: Nuggets 109, Suns 92

Posted Wednesday February 15, 2012 1:14AM

By Michael Kelly, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Arron Afflalo scored 20 points, Ty Lawson added 17 and the Denver Nuggets beat the shorthanded Phoenix Suns 109-92 on Tuesday night.

Chris Andersen had 16 points, seven rebounds and six blocks and Kenneth Faried had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets, who ended a five-game skid at home.

Rookie Markieff Morris had 21 points and Michael Redd had 20 for the Suns, who played without Steve Nash and Grant Hill.

QUOTABLE: "Phoenix kind of gave us some slack by not playing Nash."
-- Denver coach George Karl

THE STAT: After getting the dreaded DNP-CD in five of the last seven games, Andersen had a breakout performance. It was the third time in his career he has had at least 15 points, five rebounds and five blocks in one game.

TURNING POINT: After the Suns tied it at 62 on Redd's nine quick points to start the third, the Nuggets defense took over. Lawson had two steals, one of which led to a clear-path foul, and Kosta Koufas had two blocks to spark a 24-8 run to finish the third quarter.

HOT: Afflalo has struggled at times this season but came up big when the Nuggets needed him. He scored 13 of his points after Phoenix had tied the game. He hit two 3-pointers and two free throws to give Denver an 86-70 lead heading into the fourth. He is averaging 23 points over his last three games.

NOT: The Suns weren't sharp on either end of the court. Denver had 54 points in the paint and shot 52 percent from the field while Phoenix shot just 33 percent in the game.

QUOTABLE II: "You can't win in this league with numbers like that. Very rarely do you see that happen when you can get a win playing like that. It wasn't from a lack of effort. Just couldn't execute tonight. A lot of miscues. Tough way to lose like that."
-- Redd

GOOD MOVE: The game was well in hand with Denver up 20 but Afflalo was still playing hard. He hustled back to block Jared Dudley's layup attempt early in the fourth quarter, bringing the crowd to its feet in approval.

QUOTABLE III: "I just wanted to be an example. We haven't had the best energy on our home floor, so trying to show that energy for our home fans, to have that energy for 48 minutes was what it was about more than making a play."
-- Afflalo

BAD MOVE: With the game still close, the Suns got sloppy and quick-tempered. Ronnie Price, starting for Nash, had a lazy pass picked off by Lawson and then grabbed him to draw a clear-path foul. Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry added to the frustration by picking up a technical arguing the call and the Suns never recovered.

ROOKIE WATCH: Morris was solid. He came in averaging 7.5 points and gave the Suns some valuable points off the bench, scoring 13 points in the first half when Phoenix cut a 16-point deficit to five at the break.

NOTABLE: Andersen now has 605 blocks as a Nugget. He passed Antonio McDyess for sixth all-time on the franchise list. ... Redd scored 20 points for the first time since going for 32 against Washington on Dec. 23, 2009.

UP NEXT: For the Suns, Wednesday vs. Atlanta, Friday @ L.A. Lakers, Sunday vs. L.A. Lakers. For the Nuggets, Wednesday @ Dallas, Friday @ Memphis, Sunday @ Oklahoma City.

• Suns: --
• Nuggets: Gallinari

• Suns: Gentry
• Nuggets: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #66 Haywoode Workman, #74 Curtis Blair
• Attendance: 17873
• Duration: 2:08