Nuggets at Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers missed the playoffs last season and the revamped team begins the task of getting back to the postseason on Wednesday, when they host the Denver Nuggets. The Clippers made six consecutive playoff appearances before being left out last season while Denver is mired in a five-season postseason drought.
Los Angeles has fully moved on from the era that included Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and the team is now taking on more of a feisty persona, the best example being stellar defensive guard Patrick Beverley. "We don't have a lot of pushovers in this locker room," shooting guard Lou Williams told reporters. "I think that goes a long way. Especially with a lot of people just writing us off and saying we're a mediocre basketball team." The Nuggets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in overtime on the final day of the regular season to again sit out the postseason but feel standout center Nikola Jokic (18.5 points, 10.7 rebounds last season) is ready to help carry the team to a playoff berth. "We have an identity now and Nikola is a huge part of that identity," Denver coach Michael Malone told reporters. "He's slowly and surely having that confidence and that swagger to be a franchise player."
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Altitude (Denver), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (2017-18: 46-36): Denver cleared out most of its reserves - including forwards Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler and guard Devin Harris - and players such as forward Trey Lyles and guard Monte Morris will have bigger roles. Malone has the roster flexibility of either starting swingman Will Barton (15.7 points) or bringing him off the bench while veteran power forward Paul Millsap is impressed that everybody is on the same page. "We have guys who are willing to work and put the team first," Millsap told reporters. "Everybody is doing the right things."
ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (2017-18: 42-40): Los Angeles is banking on small forward Danilo Gallinari remaining healthy and being the key cog on the offensive end. Gallinari has been injury plagued throughout his nine-year NBA career and the trend continued last season when he played in just 21 contests, though he bristles at the always-hurt reputation. "It's tough because it's not the truth," Gallinari told reporters. "I had two big injuries, one in my back my rookie year (with the New York Knicks) and when I was in Denver, my knee. Other than that, I played every season. ... I had small injuries that everybody else has. A little strain, you're out one week. Twist your ankle, out two weeks."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Nuggets won four of the past six meetings.
2. Denver PG Isaiah Thomas (hip) is still recovering from offseason surgery while F Michael Porter Jr. (back), the team's first-round draft pick, has no firm timetable for when he will make his debut.
3. Los Angeles traded F Wesley Johnson to the New Orleans Pelicans for C Alexis Ajinca and immediately waived Ajinca.