Nuggets-Timberwolves Preview

By TOM CASTRO
Posted Nov 20 2012 3:34PM

The streaky Denver Nuggets ended a three-game skid with their most impressive victory of the season their last time out. They'll try to build on it Wednesday night when they visit the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves, a team they've dominated in recent years.

Denver (5-6) snapped its slide by defeating Memphis 97-92 on Monday, ending the Grizzlies' eight-game winning streak and dealing them their first home loss. Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 26 points and hit a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to seal the victory.

The Nuggets' victory fit with the early theme of their season. Denver, which bounced back from a lackluster 126-100 loss at San Antonio on Saturday, had sandwiched a four-game winning streak between three-game skids prior to Monday.

"We've had a rough (first) 10 games," point guard Ty Lawson said. "For (Gallinari's) shot to go in was big for us, for our morale. To get a big one like this is huge."

Denver is battling to stay competitive during a road-heavy first six weeks. The Nuggets play 17 of their first 23 away from home, where they are 3-5 thus far.

"This is the first game on the road where I think we executed at a high level both offensively and defensively," coach George Karl told the team's official website. "... We've got to get better at making shots and I think we will once we win games, and I think confidence comes by winning."

One area where the Nuggets haven't been inconsistent is under the basket. Denver leads the league in total rebounding at 49.3 per game, offensive rebounds at 16.8 and points in the paint at 52.2.

The Nuggets overpowered the Grizzlies on the boards, winning that battle 47-33 and 21-12 on the offensive glass. Kenneth Faried, the NBA leader with 63 offensive rebounds, had seven among his 13 boards and added 13 points.

Denver could be in for another big night on the glass as Minnesota is averaging just 40.4 rebounds, and that's only one of several factors that bode well for the Nuggets on Wednesday.

Denver has won nine of 10 meetings in Minneapolis and 19 of 21 overall against its Northwest Division rival. The Nuggets will also be facing a banged-up Timberwolves team that has reverted to form after a fast start.

Minnesota has gone 1-3 since winning four of its first five, averaging 88.8 points in the last four games. It averaged 96.3 in the first four victories.

The Wolves appear to be wearing down due to injuries that have left them with nine players for the last three contests.

"We're running out of gas a little bit," forward Andrei Kirilenko said after a 106-98 loss to Golden State on Friday.

Working in the Timberwolves' favor is a well-timed four-day break. Center Nikola Pekovic is expected back Wednesday and could make it more difficult for Denver to dominate down low, while guard J.J. Barea could also return. The Wolves, though, are still missing guards Brandon Roy and Ricky Rubio along with forwards Kevin Love and Chase Budinger.

"We're really just trying to focus on our team and get better defensively," point guard Luke Ridnour told the team's website. "The last couple games we kind of slipped away from that. We can't worry about guys coming in and out; we just have to focus on what we have now. And we have to get back to what made us good."

Nuggets spoil Love's surprising debut for Wolves

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Posted Nov 21 2012 11:44PM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Target Center crowd stood and watched in disbelief as Kevin Love was introduced in the starting lineup, at least a week ahead of schedule from a broken right hand that had kept him out for the first nine games of the season.

The only problem was his Minnesota Timberwolves teammates spent the rest of the night standing and watching Love as well.

Andre Iguodala had 18 points and nine rebounds to spoil Love's surprise season debut in the Denver Nuggets' 101-94 victory Wednesday night.

Love had 34 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Wolves take a 17-point lead in the first half. But he didn't get a whole lot of help in his first game in nearly five weeks. Nikola Pekovic had 10 points and seven rebounds, and J.J. Barea was the only other Wolves player in double figures with 12 points.

"You've got to be able to go to other players rather than just him," coach Rick Adelman said.

Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points for the Nuggets, who withstood a furious start by a Timberwolves team buoyed by the return of their All-Star power forward.

Ty Lawson had 18 points and nine assists, and Kenneth Faried had 14 rebounds for the Nuggets, who overcame 20 turnovers. After a sluggish start to the season, the Nuggets (6-6) have picked up two straight quality road wins against Memphis and Minnesota.

"Kevin Love's an All-Star player, but it's a 48-minute game and thank God we hung around," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "The balance at both ends of the court was probably the best we've played all year."

Love broke his right hand Oct. 18, about two weeks before the start of the regular season, and the team estimated a recovery time of six to eight weeks. But he quietly rejoined the team at practice during a four-day break between games, and the Wolves did their best to keep a lid on his return for as long as possible.

Adelman even dodged a question about Love's progress about 75 minutes before the game, but word leaked out a few minutes later that Love was back in the starting lineup.

"I didn't want to make a big deal about it," Love said. "I told my teammates, and they didn't really believe me. Once they saw a jersey in my locker, they believed it was true."

During his halftime interview with FoxSports North, Love said he called his father on Wednesday to tell him he was playing, then asked if he had any advice.

"Let it fly," Stan Love told his son.

Did he ever.

Love scored 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting in the first quarter, an incredibly fluid performance considering his long layoff. Barea and Pekovic returned from injuries as well, and the Wolves led by 17 points in the first half, but Iguodala, Love's Olympic teammate, helped Denver come roaring back in the third quarter.

Still, Love said he didn't feel like his normal self over nearly 35 minutes. He missed six free throws and was just 2 for 9 from 3-point range and was constantly flexing his hand to work out some of the residual pain.

"I haven't even practiced, so I just kind of threw myself into the game hoping something good was going to happen," Love said. "I missed some free throws, missed some 3s that I don't usually miss. A lot of those could have saved us the game."

Iguodala hit three 3-pointers and then unleashing a spin move in transition and a dunk over two Timberwolves to tie the game at 67. Lawson added another from long range and Faried threw down a dunk that gave the Nuggets a 92-87 lead with 2:41 to play, and Denver was able to hold on.

Andre Miller scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter for Denver.

"I saw him shooting before the game and I didn't think he was playing, but they said he was playing before the game," Iguodala said. "The whole thing is the NBA is about adjustments anyway. ... That's good that our team was able to adjust to his presence. He started off great and then we had to adjust and try to slow him down a little bit in the second half."

NOTES: Faried had just four points before fouling out. ... Love picked up a technical foul in the third quarter for tossing former teammate Kosta Koufos to the ground after they got tangled up underneath the basket. ... Timberwolves PG Luke Ridnour picked up a rare technical foul in the third quarter for gesturing after a foul call from referee Danny Crawford. ... Crawford gave Faried a technical for the same thing later in the period.

Notebook: Nuggets 101, Wolves 94

Tom Coyer, for NBA.com
Posted Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:29 PM - Updated Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:29 PM

THE FACTS: The Denver Nuggets overcame a sluggish start and the surprising return of Minnesota's Kevin Love to defeat the Timberwolves 101-94 in Minneapolis Wednesday night. The win for Denver spoiled the return of the Wolve's All-Star forward, who broke his right hand in training camp and was not expected back until mid-December. He finished the night with 34 points and 14 rebounds, but it was not enough and Minnesota dropped their third consecutive game, all on their home court. Danillo Gallinari led the way for Denver with 19 points while Andrew Iguodala and Ty Lawson each contributed 18 in the balanced offensive attack.

QUOTABLE: "I thought they would get a bounce with Kevin Love playing, I just didn't think they'd get that kind of a bounce. You know 16 points in the first, it caused us to scramble a lot and the rhythm of the first half we never got any rhythm. When we got good shots we didn't make them, our defensive alertness and a tentativeness to what we were supposed to do. We yelled and screamed a little bit at halftime and they did great." -- Nuggets coach George Karl

THE STAT: Denver ranked last in the NBA in free throw percentage coming into tonight's game. But the Nuggets made 22 of 26 attempts tonight (84.6%). In a game that was decided by single-digits overcoming what has been has been a struggle was certainly a factor in their road win.

TURNING POINT: Karl's halftime speech is probably what should get credit for the turning point. Denver trailed 44-58 at the half but opened the third quarter with a 14-2 run. They didn't actually take the lead until 2:11 was remaining in the quarter but the opening run quickly got them back in control of what previously was a Minnesota controlled game. Andre Iguodala got it started with a three, scoring six in the run while Gallinari scored seven in the 4:28 stretch.

QUOTABLE II: "I didn't want to make a big deal about it. I told my teammates and they didn't really believe me and once they saw a jersey in my locker they believed it was true. More than anything I'm just upset we didn't win." -- Timberwolves forward Love.

HOT: Love's first quarter was significantly more than what anyone in Target Center was anticipating. In the first 12 minutes Love scored 16 points, shot 7-of-12 from the field and grabbed six rebounds. Not exactly a tentative start for someone returning a few weeks early from a fractured shooting hand.

NOTABLE: The Nugget's second half defense stifled the Timberwolves after trailing by 14 at the break. Minnesota scored 32 points in the second quarter but were held to 36 in the entire second half. Denver's defensive pressure held Minnesota to just a 27.3 percent field goal percentage in the final two quarters.

UP NEXT: For the Wolves, Friday at Portland, Saturday at Golden State, Tuesday at Sacramento. For the Nuggets, Friday vs.Golden State , Sunday vs. New Orleans, Tuesday at Utah.

• Nuggets: Chandler, Miller
• Timberwolves: Budinger, Roy, Rubio

• Nuggets: Faried
• Timberwolves: Love, Ridnour

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #78 Scott Bolnick, #42 Eric Lewis
• Attendance: 16879
• Duration: 2:10