The Nuggets (7-2) will be looking to prolong the NBA’s second-longest active win streak when they host Trae Young and the Hawks (3-6) Tuesday.
Denver returns to Pepsi Center having won its last four games, second only to Boston, which has won eight in a row. The Nuggets have relied on some exceptional defensive play to grind out results recently. In their last four games, the group is first in points allowed (92.8) – which is eight points per game less than the No. 2-ranked Lakers (100.3) in that stat. They are also first in defensive rating (93.2), opponent field goal percentage (39.5) and three-point percentage (26.4) in that span. It will be interesting to see how that vaunted defense holds up against Young, one of the NBA’s most exciting emerging talents.
Atlanta comes to Denver off three-straight losses, but Young is one of the few NBA players who can take over games and can almost single-handedly secure results on his own. The Hawks second-year guard is ninth in the NBA in scoring at 26.3 points per game and is a strong playmaker, adding 8.4 assists per contest (fifth). The Nuggets will need to focus on limiting his teammates. John Collins is serving a 25-game suspension, sidelining the team’s third-best scorer (17.0) and Young’s favorite pick-and-roll partner. Aside from Jabari Parker, who averages 17.6 points per game, there is no other player in double figures on the roster.
The key for Denver will be limiting turnovers. Atlanta is struggling offensively, but it is sixth in the league in steals (8.9). If the Nuggets take care of the ball, this should be a relatively straight-forward game. Last season, the two teams split their season series, with each side winning at home.
Projected starters: Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Will Barton, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokić
TUNE IN: 7 p.m. MT, TV: ALTITUDE 2, RADIO: KKSE 92.5FM
Here is what to watch for:
Trae vs. Jamal
Two of the NBA’s top young point guards face off in what should be an entertaining matchup Tuesday night. Although neither player stood out in the two games between Atlanta and Denver last season, that could easily change this campaign.
Despite a tough 6-of-19 shooting night in Minneapolis Sunday, Jamal Murray is enjoying arguably his best NBA season so far – averaging career bests in points (18.8), rebounds (5.0) and free throw attempts per game (3.7).
Young is making his case for inclusion on the Eastern Conference’s All-Star team and has come along way from his rocky start as a rookie, including a six-point, five-assist showing in a 45-point loss in Denver last November. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone discussed the challenges of facing Young after Monday’s practice.
“I think Trae Young has got a flair in how he plays – his passing ability and scoring ability,” Malone said. “Some of the shots he makes and takes are just incredible. He’s kind of found his way and he’s not even close to being where he’s going to be in a few years. So that’s the scary thing about it. Hell of a player.”
He added, “Obviously, one guy can’t guard a guy like Trae Young, we’re going to need a team effort. It’s going to be a challenge for our guards tomorrow and our team tomorrow.”
Capitalize from behind the arc
The Hawks are playing with a depleted roster with having as many as four players potentially out for Tuesday’s game. Collins (suspension), Vince Carter (personal reasons), Evan Turner (Achilles injury) will not play and Alex Len is questionable with an ankle injury.
While the absences haven’t affected Atlanta in guarding the rim, with the team being first at defending the rim in their past four games (56.5 percent on opponent shooting in that area), it could be the reason why the team is struggling to guard the three recently. In October, the Hawks held opponents to 29.9 percent from downtown (fifth). In November, that’s ballooned up to 38.3 percent. Though the Nuggets have struggled to find consistency from behind the arc this season, it would prudent for them to keep launching against the Hawks.
Last season, the Nuggets were able to power to a dominant win against the Hawks at home due to hitting 13-of-31 threes in the contest. A repeat performance in that area could be pivotal.
Can the bench get back to its best?
The Nuggets are constantly lauded for their strength in numbers, but recently their second unit has struggled to find consistency.
Denver’s bench is third to last in plus/minus at -3.8 and 22nd in scoring at 32.7 points per game. Malone admitted Monday he’s searching for solutions and hoping to find the balance that made the unit so effective last season.
“Yeah, it’s been inconsistent [the bench production],” Malone said. “A question and concern of ours is how can I help our second unit more? I feel like I’m relying on my starting lineup way too much right now…I have to find a way to help that second unit find their way to get easier shots [and] give them some confidence so that we’re not so [reliant] on that starting unit.”
There have been some positives lately. Jerami Grant has been effective in his past three games, averaging 9.3 points while shooting 37 percent from downtown. The group remains effective at sharing the rock, as it is eighth in bench assists at 9.1 per game. One area that could help in reestablishing the rhythm from last season is improving assist to turnover ratio. Last season, the team was fourth in allowed turnovers at 4.8 turnovers against 9.3 assists (a 1.93 ratio). This season, the team is 17th in turnovers, giving up 6.5.
It is very likely the holdovers from last season’s group in Monte Morris, Malik Beasley, Torrey Craig and Mason Plumlee are still adjusting to Grant’s arrival and Michael Porter Jr.’s inclusion. As the two men continue to adapt and adjust, the production from the group should improve.
“There are games where they look great and there are other games where they are those struggles,” Malone said. “It’s something we’re aware of and we’re trying to help them the best we can.”