Nuggets at Spurs
The Denver Nuggets have not been so sharp on the road in the early going, dropping four of their first six outside the thin air of Colorado. Another road trip begins on Saturday at San Antonio, where the Spurs have traditionally been one of the best home teams in the NBA. San Antonio suffered its first home loss on Thursday and has not dropped back-to-back games at the AT&T Center since Mar. 28-31, 2011.
The Nuggets have had little luck as far as the schedule is concerned and will end up playing 22 of their first 32 games on the road, with just one homestand of more than one game - a two-game stop on Nov. 23 and 25. Denver has dropped two straight to fall back below .500 but has to be encouraged by the play of Kenneth Faried, who has turned into a double-double machine. Faried will get a challenge from Tim Duncan, who is also averaging a double-double.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), KENS (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (4-5): Denver failed to take advantage of a rare home game against a tired, banged up Miami Heat squad on Thursday, dropping a 98-93 decision. Ty Lawson went scoreless in 36 minutes and is shooting 30 percent over his last four games. The bright spot has been Faried, who grabbed 20 rebounds against the Heat and has posted five straight double-doubles. In two games against San Antonio in his 2011-12 rookie campaign, Faried was held to 7.5 points and 5.0 rebounds.
ABOUT THE SPURS (7-2): San Antonio had won three straight before coming home and fading down the stretch against the New York Knicks in a 104-100 loss on Thursday. The Spurs have shown an ability to play at whatever pace their opponent sets, winning a 112-109 shootout at Portland or grinding out an 84-82 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Duncan is having his minutes monitored just like in the past few seasons but has shown some extra spring lately, averaging 19.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks over the last four games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The road team took each of the meetings last season, with the Nuggets posting a 99-94 triumph at AT&T Center on Mar. 4, behind 22 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds from Lawson.
2. San Antonio guard Gary Neal sat out Thursday and is questionable for Saturday with a finger injury.
3. Denver forward Wilson Chandler (hip) also sat out on Thursday and is questionable for Saturday.