Nuggets at Grizzlies
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets are coming off their lowest-scoring performance in over a month and might not have any of their starting frontcourt available when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. The Nuggets, who rank second in the NBA in scoring, shot just 35.7 percent from the floor in a 102-84 loss at Dallas on Wednesday and have dropped six of their last eight games. The Grizzlies are one of the stronger defensive teams and have allowed 100 points or more only four times in 2011-12.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ALT2 (Denver), SSO (Memphis)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (17-13): Denver is without Danilo Gallinari (ankle), Timofey Mozgov (ankle) and Nene (calf), leaving it thin up front. Injuries are only part of the story, however, as the Nuggets have gone from 14-5 and challenging Oklahoma City for the Northwest Division on Jan. 28 to 17-13 less than three weeks later. Never strong defensively, Denver has not been able to generate enough offense to overcome the 102.4 points it has surrendered over the past 11 games. The Nuggets lost at Memphis 100-97 in overtime on Jan. 31, squandering a 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES (16-14): Memphis is streaking in the opposite direction, winning four of its last five. The Grizzlies had one of those rare games in which they yielded 100 points on Wednesday but overcame it by pouring in 105 of their own – their highest total since Jan. 21 – in a win at New Jersey. Memphis has taken eight of their last 11 at home while allowing an average of fewer than 90 points. Rudy Gay is averaging 21.1 points in February and joined Marc Gasol in totaling 20 points and 13 rebounds in the win over the Nuggets on Jan. 31.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The home team has won the last five games in the series.
2. Nene and Mozgov will be game-time decisions on Friday.
3. Gay has averaged 17.7 points in 17 career games against Denver.