Bobcats-Nuggets Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Dec 22 2012 2:36AM

Denver Nuggets coach George Karl knows the Charlotte Bobcats will end their long losing streak at some point. He just hopes it doesn't happen against his club.

Coming off an awful shooting performance, Denver looks to bounce back by sending visiting Charlotte to its 15th consecutive loss Saturday night.

The Nuggets (14-13) had their three-game winning streak end with Thursday's 101-93 loss to Portland. They also broke a short-lived NBA record for futility by missing all 22 of their 3-point attempts.

The Trail Blazers held the previous mark for most 3-point attempts without a make after going 0 for 20 on Dec. 10.

"The rhythm of the game was not in our favor, and our guys seemed to be worn out a little bit," Karl said. "If you make two 3s it's a different basketball game - a totally different game. It's not time to panic or anything. We just didn't have enough shooters out there."

Ty Lawson, Andre Iguodala and Corey Brewer scored 13 points each for Denver, which shot 50.0 percent from inside the arc, though, and nearly made a comeback from an 18-point deficit.

"We had a chance even though we shot terrible," Brewer said. "It shows that we can still win when we shoot bad, but we have to shoot better."

Charlotte can't afford any more bad shooting nights as it's mired in another dismal losing streak. It shot 36.7 percent while falling 115-100 at Golden State on Friday and has dropped the first three on a four-game road trip.

Since the Bobcats (7-19) matched last season's win total with a 108-106 double-overtime win at Washington on Nov. 24, they've allowed 109.3 points per contest - the worst average in the NBA.

Still, Karl isn't taking Charlotte lightly.

"It always makes me nervous," Karl told the team's official website. "They're going to be beat somebody. They could've and should've beaten the Lakers (101-100 loss Tuesday). They played the Knicks in a close game (100-98 defeat Dec. 5). They're spiraling in a negative way, but they'll find a way to break it.

"Hopefully it's just not against us."

The Nuggets have won six of the seven all-time home meetings against the Bobcats, who got a season-high 23 points from Gerald Henderson and 12 points and a season-best 14 rebounds from Bismack Biyombo on Friday.

Kemba Walker scored 16 points but missed 11 of 17 shots.

"I thought we just kind of went cold," Walker said.

Charlotte has three losing streaks of 14 or more games over the last two seasons.

"We played hard but when you get down to execution ... there's a two-point disparity and the next thing you know it's eight," coach Mike Dunlap said.

Karl believes Dunlap is the right coach for the Bobcats despite the rough start to his tenure.

"The mental toughness of Mike Dunlap will keep him on point with what he has to do," Karl said. "Wins and losses are what we judge people by, but his team's getting better and playing at a better level."

Brewer's 17 points off the bench helped Denver overcome a game-high 21 from Henderson in a 99-88 victory in the most recent meeting March 30.

Nuggets send Bobcats to 15th straight loss

By DENNIS GEORGATOS
Posted Dec 23 2012 12:44AM

DENVER (AP) The Denver Nuggets' inside game was at its best on Saturday night.

Kosta Koufos scored a season-high 16 points, and Kenneth Faried and Andre Iguodala added 15 points apiece as the Nuggets beat Charlotte 110-88 and sent the Bobcats to their 15th consecutive loss.

JaVale McGee added 14 points, and Danilo Gallinari had 12 for Denver, which won its sixth in a row at home behind a fast-paced offense fueled by 36 assists and 78 points in the paint, both season highs.

"We moved the ball very well," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We were unselfish from the beginning, and the defense got us in the open court."

Koufos (8 of 10), McGee (7 of 8), Faried (6 of 10), and Iguodala (6 of 9) were a combined 27 of 37 from the floor. They took feeds from teammates, finished fastbreaks, and put up high-percentage shots primarily from up close.

"It was because of the guards," Koufos said. "They drove into the lane and established themselves very well. They just dumped it off when we were there. I just played within the system, continued to play hard every possession. When the ball comes to me, I just try to finish. If not, do other things defensively."

Charlotte, playing the second of a back-to-back set on the road, was without injured guards Gerald Henderson and Ben Gordon. Henderson sustained a bruised shin during the second half of a 115-100 loss at Golden State on Friday. Gordon missed a second consecutive game because of soreness in his right knee.

Ramon Sessions had 23 points to lead Charlotte. Byron Mullens added 16 before he went down with a left ankle sprain in the final moments after getting his feet tangled in traffic near the basket.

"It was a tough one for us," said Kemba Walker, who had eight points for the Bobcats. "We've had four games in five nights. We struggled with energy. We just needed a little bit of energy tonight, but we really couldn't find a rhythm. They played tough. They played well."

Walker said the Bobcats are hurt by inexperience.

"We're a young team," he said. "We've got a few vets, but our core group is really young. Losing is one of the hardest things you can ever go through, especially losing as many as we've lost. But at the same time, you've got to keep your chin up. You've got to know that these losses will turn into wins one day."

Denver lost guard Ty Lawson to a left Achilles strain during the second quarter. He was held out the rest of the game for precautionary reasons, the team said.

The Nuggets, who missed an NBA-record 22 3-point attempts in Thursday night's 101-93 loss at Portland, missed their first six against the Bobcats. Jordan Hamilton finally found the range to give the Nuggets a 40-31 lead with 8:02 left in the second quarter.

That seemed to break the Nuggets' long-distance cold spell, complementing their sizzling inside game that was paced by the Nuggets' transition offense.

After a driving layup by Sessions pulled the Bobcats to within 44-39, the Nuggets went on a 15-3 run that included a pair of 3-pointers by Danilo Gallinari and Andre Iguodala. That stretched Denver's lead to 59-44 with 45.2 seconds left in the second quarter.

Gallinari hit another 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to put Denver in front 64-46, the Nuggets' biggest lead to that point.

By the end of the third quarter, the Nuggets stretched their advantage to 88-65 following a tip shot by McGee, who finished with 14 points. Denver began substituting freely the rest of the way, and the undermanned Bobcats didn't threaten.

NOTES: Charlotte hasn't won since Nov. 24, a 108-106 victory at Washington in double overtime. ... Since the 2009-10 season, visiting teams to Denver are 7-39 when playing the second of a back-to-back set. ... The Nuggets have scored at least 60 points in the paint eight times this season. ... Koufos led the Nuggets in scoring for the first time in his nearly three years with Denver.

Notebook: Nuggets 110, Bobcats 88

Michael Kelly, for NBA.com
Posted Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:33 AM - Updated Sun Dec 23, 2012 1:44 AM

THE FACTS: Kosta Koufas scored a season-high 16 points, Kenneth Faried and Andre Iguodala had 15 apiece as the Denver Nuggets beat the Charlotte Bobcats 110-88 on Saturday night.

Seven Nuggets scored in double figures.

Ramon Sessions scored 23 points and Byron Mullens had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Bobcats, who lost their 15th straight. It's the second straight season Charlotte has lost at least 15 in a row. Last year's squad had a 21-game losing streak, which is five short of the record set by Cleveland two seasons ago.

QUOTABLE: "Losing is one of the hardest things you can ever go through, especially losing as many as we've lost. At the same time you've got to keep your chin up. You've got to know that these losses will turn into wins one day."

-- Charlotte guard Kemba Walker

THE STAT: The Nuggets missed all 22 of their 3-pointers Thursday -- an NBA record for one game -- and then missed their first six against Charlotte. They finally found their stroke and finished the game 6-for-20, a veritable hot streak after their game against Portland.

TURNING POINT: After finally breaking their 3-point shooting drought on Jordan Hamilton's bomb with 8:02 left in the half, the Nuggets got hot from the outside. Danilo Gallinari and Iguodala hit consecutive 3s, Gallinari hit a long jumper and Koufas and Iguodala hit layups to turn a five-point lead into 15. Denver finished the half on a 20-7 run to lead by 18 at the break.

THE STAT II: The Nuggets had a season-high 36 assists but not one player had more than eight.

QUOTABLE II: "We all know Andre Miller is one of the best passes in the league and it's becoming contagious among the other guys."

-- Iguodala

HOT: Koufas missed just two shots in an efficient night of scoring his season high. Iguodala was also sharp from the field, going 6-for-9. He also had eight assists and eight rebounds.

NOT: The Bobcats have been searching for any formula that can produce a win. They almost had one against the Lakers in Los Angeles a few nights ago but it slipped away. Now with upcoming games against Miami and Brooklyn, the streak may not end for a while.

QUOTABLE III: "He's smart, he's philosophical, he's a great friend and I hope he gets a win very soon. I hope that's his Christmas present. The monkey gets awful heavy when you lose this many in a row."

-- Nuggets coach George Karl, on Charlotte coach Mike Dunlap

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Faried continues to be a monster underneath. Despite playing just 23 minutes, he had nine rebounds to go with his 15 points.

GOOD MOVE: The Nuggets took care of the ball. They had no turnovers in the first quarter, only two at halftime and eight heading into the fourth.

BAD MOVE: The Bobcats' defense ranks last in scoring and next to last in 3-point percentage, but it was the post defense that was really lacking against Denver. The Nuggets scored a season-high 78 points in the paint.

ROOKIE WATCH: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist was one of the few bright spots for the Bobcats. His 11 points gives him three straight games with double-figure scoring.

NOTABLE: Mullens suffered a severe left ankle injury toward the end of the game. He rolled the joint under the basket late and was helped off the court. X-rays were negative but he left the arena with the ankle heavily wrapped and on crutches. ... Ty Lawson left the game with a left Achilles strain in the second quarter and did not return. ... The Bobcats played without guards Ben Gordon (sore right knee) and Gerald Henderson. Henderson suffered a contusion on his right shin late in Friday's loss to Golden State. ... Denver had a season-high 12 blocked shots.

UP NEXT: For the Bobcats, Wednesday vs. Miami, Friday @ Brooklyn, Saturday vs. New Orleans. For the Nuggets, Tuesday @ L.A. Clippers, Wednesday vs. L.A. Lakers, Friday @ Dallas.

• Bobcats: Thomas
• Nuggets: Chandler, Stone

• Bobcats: --
• Nuggets: Faried

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
• Officials: #71 Rodney Mott, #40 Leon Wood, #56 Mark Ayotte
• Attendance: 17555
• Duration: 2:06