Nuggets at Cavaliers
Until recently, the defining moments of Timofey Mozgov's NBA career had consisted of winding up on the wrong end of some rather emphatic dunks. But the 7-foot-1 Russian has been carving out a more positive path of late, and he'll look to keep the good times going Wednesday night as he leads the Denver Nuggets into Cleveland in search of their eighth straight victory. The Cavaliers defeated the Chicago Bulls on Saturday to halt a five-game skid.
For Cleveland, achieving its first two-game winning streak of the season will be a tall task against the hottest team in the league. At the center of Denver's success - quite literally - is Mozgov, who has taken his expanded role off the bench and thrived. The undrafted 27-year-old put up 16 points and 15 rebounds in Sunday's 112-98 win over the Toronto Raptors, then exploded for 17 points and a career-best 20 boards two nights later as the Nuggets beat Brooklyn 111-87.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ALT (Denver), FSOH (Cleveland)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (11-6): Kenneth Faried proclaimed following Sunday's victory over the Raptors that the Nuggets boasted the best bench unit in the league. And while it's an easy thing for Faried to say after the Denver reserves torched Toronto for 72 points in a comfortable visit, give the Nuggets credit for following it up with 57 bench points against the shorthanded Nets. Mozgov has played the biggest role in Denver extending its winning streak over the past two games, connecting on 12-of-21 shots while hitting 9-of-11 free throws.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (5-12): Cleveland may look to counter the size and strength of Mozgov with the rapidly improving Andrew Bynum. The seven-footer is also coming off his best game of the season - and his best showing since the 2012 postseason - after victimizing the Bulls for 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Bynum made 8-of-14 shots and, more importantly, played a season-high 30 minutes as he continues to work his way back from a major knee injury.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Denver has won six of the last seven meetings between the teams.
2. Bynum averages 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in 20 career games versus the Nuggets.
3. Cavaliers PG Kyrie Irving is shooting just 37.9 percent over his past five games.