Cavaliers at Nuggets
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggets survived a difficult February filled with injuries and difficult opponents. Already on a four-game winning streak, now they’re ready to make a run with a roster on the mend and a favorable home schedule that will keep them at the Pepsi Center for the better part of the month. The Cavaliers are in a tailspin and come limping into Denver on a six-game losing streak. Now they must play the top two teams in the Northwest Division this week – the Nuggets and the Thunder – both on the road.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio, Altitude
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (13-23): Coach Byron Scott challenged any of his players to get angry following Monday’s loss to the Jazz, then was pleased to see his team respond with one of their best practices of the season on Tuesday. Scott’s biggest complaint is the Cavaliers aren’t playing hard anymore, something that was a staple during the first half. Since the All-Star break, the Cavaliers have only given a good effort in short bursts and usually only when they’re behind by double figures. Scott is demanding that to change immediately.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (22-17): Nene and Danilo Gallinari returned to the lineup in Monday’s overtime victory against the Kings. Nene missed 10 games with a calf injury and Gallinari missed 13 games with an ankle injury, but both are slowly playing their way back into the starting lineup. They’re still waiting on Rudy Fernandez, who has missed eight games with a strained lower back, but they won’t have to get on a plane again for three weeks since Wednesday’s game marks the second in a lengthy nine-game homestand.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Cavaliers rookie Kyrie Irving said Tuesday he “spoke prematurely” when he announced Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski will return to coach Team USA in 2016. Irving, who played for Krzyzewski at Duke, said Monday night he wasn’t going to play for Australia in the Summer Olympics because he wanted to play for Krzyzewski again in four years. Irving said Tuesday that his old coach recently informed him he would be part of Team USA in some capacity in four years.
2. The Cavaliers assigned Luke Harangody and Christian Eyenga to their Development League team in Canton, Ohio on Tuesday. Neither has played much for the Cavaliers this season and this marks the second trip to the D-League for both.
3. Arron Afflalo scored 32 points and rookie Kenneth Faried had 20 points, both career highs, in the Nuggets’ overtime victory against the Kings on Monday.