Pacers-Nuggets Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Jan 27 2013 12:59PM

The Denver Nuggets' latest surge has come with solid play on both ends of the floor

While defense has been a staple of the Indiana Pacers, it wasn't up to their standards in back-to-back defeats.

Denver seeks a 10th victory in its last 12 games and a fourth straight win over visiting Indiana on Monday night.

The Nuggets (27-18) rank among the league leaders with 103.6 points per game and are averaging 110.1 over their last 11. Ty Lawson scored 26 points and Andre Iguodala added 20 in a 121-93 win over Sacramento on Saturday.

Though the offense has been impressive, Denver also has played well on the defensive end in the last two contests, including Wednesday's 105-95 win over Houston. The Nuggets forced 43 turnovers in those victories, and have forced at least 20 in four straight contests.

"We came out aggressive and it started with our defense," Kenneth Faried told the team's official website after Saturday's victory. "That really set the tone. That really ignited our offense and showed how we play Nuggets basketball."

Faried had 11 points as all five starters scored in double figures for the first time in seven games.

"I can't deny the starters deserve a lot of credit," coach George Karl said. "Our bench has been great but (the starters) were playing well offensively and defensively and made the game easy."

The Nuggets also played solid defense as Corey Brewer and JaVale McGee scored 20 points apiece off the bench in a 92-89 win at Indiana on Dec. 7, their third straight victory and 13th in the last 16 meetings in the series.

The Pacers allow only 89.9 points per game to rank among the league leaders, and had allowed fewer than 100 in 12 straight before their last two. They fell 100-80 at Portland on Wednesday before Saturday's 114-110 overtime loss at Utah.

It marked the first back-to-back losses for Indiana (26-18) since it fell to Oklahoma City two nights after it lost to Denver last month. It is on the verge of matching its season-worst losing streak set Nov. 5-9.

"We have to tighten the screws on defense," coach Frank Vogel said. "We put 90 percent of our emphasis into riding the ship on the offensive end (Saturday). You reach a point where you realize you have to tighten the screws. It's tough to beat good teams in their buildings when you aren't tied together on defense."

David West scored a team-high 24 points versus Utah, but was disappointed in the lack of a defensive presence from himself and his fellow frontcourt players.

Indiana has allowed an average of 55.0 points in the paint over the last two games - 19.6 above its league-best average.

"Our defense has been solid all year. In particular, the last couple of games it has been (the opponents') big guys that have gotten going," West said. We didn't do enough at the hoop. We've been playing good team defense, we just abandoned that the last couple of games. We just need to get a little more active."

Paul George scored 22 points in the last meeting for Indiana, which has lost six of the last seven matchups in Denver.

Iguodala's last-second FT lifts Nuggets

By DENNIS GEORGATOS
Posted Jan 29 2013 1:17AM

DENVER (AP) Andre Iguodala's defensive stop in the final moments helped the Nuggets survive a nerve-racking finish against the Pacers.

Iguodala made a free throw with 0.4 seconds remaining after forcing a turnover to deny a last-second shot by Indiana, and Denver won 102-101 Monday night.

"I'll admit I was a little nervous (about) missing those other free throws," said Iguodala, who had misfired on four consecutive free throws earlier in the fourth quarter. "But we put ourselves in a bad position by giving up some buckets.

"Up 12 and put yourself in a position to give it away. But take a positive out of it, that you were able to gut it out. Got a big defensive stop and then got lucky and hit a free throw."

Iguodala finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, making up for his 5-of-10 shooting from the free throw line with the one at the end along with the defensive play of the game when he stole the ball from Paul George as the Pacers' guard maneuvered for a potential game-winning shot.

"It's happened a couple of times, last-second shots and guys have come at me," said Iguodala. "It's so surprising. I'm like, `Really?' I take pride in being a defender and getting stops."'

Iguodala signaled for time out with 0.5 seconds remaining. On the inbounds, Andre Miller lobbed a pass toward the basket that Iguodala and George both went after with George making contact and getting called for the foul.

"I knew he was going to throw it up," Iguodala said of the lob that both he and George jumped for. "I was just trying to get my feet set to go get it. George was off balance. It was kind of a pass interference play, and it just happened to work for us."

Iguodala coolly sank the tiebreaker and missed the second on purpose and the buzzer sounded as the ball rattled off the backboard.

George, who led the Pacers with 23 points, declined to comment after the game.

His teammate, David West, said the Pacers had their chances after coming back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit.

"We did a good job of fighting back under the circumstances," West said. "We were right there. We had opportunities. We just didn't get a chance to decide it. You just don't expect a whistle to be blown in that situation. They basically had one option and that was the option. You don't expect it, but stranger things have happened."

Danilo Gallinari had 27 points to lead the Nuggets, who won their fourth straight. Ty Lawson added 18 points and Corey Brewer had 16.

Lance Stephenson scored 20 points and West finished with 17 for the Pacers, who lost their third in a row, matching a season high.

The Nuggets got 10 points from Timofey Mozgov, who moved up in the rotation to play significant minutes in place of injured JaVale McGee. The 7-foot McGee was sidelined by soreness in his left shin. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday to try to determine the severity of the injury.

Denver also was without another top reserve, Wilson Chandler, a late scratch because of a left groin strain.

After Stephenson made a layup to pull the Pacers within a point with 5:47 remaining in the third, the Nuggets scored 10 of the next 13 points en route to taking an 82-74 lead into the fourth quarter. Gallinari got the run going by converting a three-point play and sinking a 3-pointer the next time down the floor.

Lawson's layup capped a 6-0 run and put the Nuggets up 96-82 with 6:44 remaining.

Roy Hibbert started a tying 13-0 run for the Pacers as he broke free underneath for a dunk and George had a four-point play to pull the Pacers to 99-97 with 3:08 remaining.

Iguodala went to the line twice in the next minute but missed four throws and Hill put in a floater from 10-feet away to even the score with 1:58 left.

Gallinari made two free throws with 59.7 seconds left before West answered with a putback to re-tie the score at 101 with 38.6 seconds remaining.

NOTES: The Nuggets did not make a field goal in the final 5:45. ... The Pacers re-signed F Sam Young, bringing him back to the team three weeks after releasing him. ... The Pacers have lost seven of their last eight games in Denver. ... Gallinari has led the Nuggets in scoring 14 times this season with the Nuggets going 11-3 in those games. ... Mozgov's 10 points represented a season-high. ... The Pacers have allowed at least 100 points in three consecutive games, a season high.

Notebook: Nuggets 102, Pacers 101

Michael Kelly, For NBA.com
Posted Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:26 AM - Updated Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:26 AM

THE FACTS: Andre Iguodala hit a free throw with 0.4 seconds left and the Denver Nuggets rallied after blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead to beat the Indiana Pacers 102-101 on Monday night.

Iguodala finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists on his 29th birthday. Danilo Gallinari had 27 points and Ty Lawson scored 18, dished out seven assists and had five steals for the Nuggets (28-18) who have won four straight.

Paul George scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pacers (26-19), who have lost three straight. Lance Stephenson added 20 points and David West chipped in with 17.

The game was tied at 101-all when the Nuggets inbounded the ball on the side. Andre Miller sent a lob pass to a cutting Iguodala, who was fouled by George. Iguodala, who earlier in the fourth missed four straight foul shots, sank the first one and intentionally missed the second to lift the Nuggets.

Indiana trailed 96-82 with 6:44 left before tying it at 99-all on George Hill's floater in the lane with 1:52. Gallinari hit two free throws and West a putback to tie it at 101 with 38 seconds remaining, setting up the final sequence.

QUOTABLE: "I thought he got fouled. I don't think it was a bad call. Perfect scenario he would have come wide open. He was partially open and Andre [Miller] makes good decisions and put the ball in a place where I thought he got foul. Five-tenths of a second you need to get something around the rim."

-- Nuggets coach George Karl on the last play

THE STAT: The Pacers had allowed just 100 points six times in their first 42 games but have allowed their last three opponents to eclipse the century mark. They are 1-8 when allowing 100 or more points.

TURNING POINT: With a chance to win the game the Pacers went to George in the final seconds. Before he could get a shot off, Iguodala stripped him with a half-second left. Denver called a timeout and set up a play to Iguodala.

QUOTABLE II: "It's happened a couple of times, last-second shots and guys have come at me. It's so surprising. I'm like, 'Really?' I take pride in being a defender and getting stops." -- Andre Iguodala on his defense

QUOTABLE III: "You just don't expect a whistle to be blown in that situation. They basically had one option and that was the option. You don't expect it, but stranger things have happened."

-- David West on the foul call on George at the end of the game.

HOT: Kosta Koufos plays under the radar most nights but he does the little things to help Denver. In the third quarter, Monday, he blocked Hill and West on consecutive possessions, which led to two fast-break buckets by the Nuggets when they grabbed a lead in the third quarter.

NOT: Tyler Hansbrough is averaging just 5.4 points a game and nights like Monday won't help his average. He scored just three points and had five fouls in 13 minutes. He has scored in double figures just twice in 14 games in January.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: Iguodala continues to be a stat-sheet stuffer. He is averaging 13.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game. He's also chipping in with 1.49 steals per contest.

GOOD MOVE: With center JaVale McGee out with a sore left shin, Karl called on little-used Timofey Mozgov for some minutes. He responded with 10 points in 25 minutes.

BAD MOVE: George looked like he was heating up late in the third quarter, hitting two mid-range jumpers, including one that beat the shot clock. But the Pacers didn't look towards him on their final five possessions of the period.

NOTABLE: The Pacers re-signed guard Sam Young. He will join the team in Indianapolis after for Wednesday's game. ... Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler missed the game with a left groin strain. ... George also had five assists and four steals for the Pacers. ... Denver didn't make a field goal in the final 5:45 of the game.

UP NEXT: For the Pacers, Wednesday vs. Detroit, Friday vs. Miami, Monday vs. Chicago. For the Nuggets, Wednesday vs. Houston, Friday vs. New Orleans, Tuesday, Feb. 5, vs. Milwaukee.

• Pacers: Granger, Young
• Nuggets: McGee, Miller

• Pacers: West
• Nuggets: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
• Officials: #19 James Capers, #26 Pat Fraher, #35 Kane Fitzgerald
• Attendance: 16032
• Duration: 2:17