Hawks at Nuggets
After playing three times in four days, the Denver Nuggets hope a two-day break before hosting the Atlanta Hawks on Friday reinvigorates their offense. The Nuggets ran out of juice in Tuesday’s 119-102 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers, but return home having won four of their past six while averaging 115.6 points per game during that stretch.
“This is one of those games that you have to throw out the window,” Denver guard Emmanuel Mudiay told reporters after Nuggets’ starters were outscored 77-42. “Learn from it, but still, just move on.” The Hawks are trying to get back on track following a seven-game losing streak, winning four of their past seven but losing 92-84 to Minnesota at home on Wednesday. Atlanta has been without center Dwight Howard the past two games due to back tightness, and could not follow up Monday’s stirring victory at Oklahoma City against the Timberwolves. “That’s life in the NBA,” Atlanta forward Paul Millsap told reporters after Wednesday’s loss. “You win a big-time game on the road and then come home against a team you’re supposed to beat, and you lose.”
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), Altitude 2 (Denver)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (14-15): Howard ranks in the top five in the NBA in rebounding (13 per game) and field-goal percentage (63.2 percent), and was not ruled out until minutes before tipoff Wednesday, raising the hope he can play Friday. Guard Dennis Schroder scored a team-high 21 points against Minnesota and is averaging 20.6 points on 50 percent shooting from the field in his past 14 games. The Hawks are among the league leaders in assists (24 per game) and steals (8.6), but failed to score 100 points in two of their past three games.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (12-17): Guard Will Barton matched his season high with 22 points Tuesday, the fourth time in the past seven games he scored 15 or more points. Forward Kenneth Faried recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, bouncing back after going scoreless in 10 minutes in Monday’s victory over Dallas. Denver averages 107.5 points per game, ranking in the top 10 in the league, but is allowing 109.7 points as opponents are shooting 46.8 percent from the field (fourth-worst in the NBA entering Thursday’s games).
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Atlanta’s offense faltered down the stretch Wednesday, scoring just four points on 1-of-8 shooting from the field in the final 5:41.
2. Denver F Danilo Gallinari hit 4-of-8 3-point attempts Tuesday, finishing with 17 points.
3. Hawks G Tim Hardaway Jr. missed most of Wednesday’s game with a right groin injury.