Nets at Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have been surprisingly good but they will be looking to bounce back from a setback when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. Denver struggled during Wednesday's road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies when it tallied a season low for points in an 89-87 defeat.
The Nuggets shot just 39 percent from the field, including 8 of 32 from 3-point range, while falling against a Memphis squad that established its deliberate pace. "It was a slow, slow game and I think that benefitted them a little more," Denver backup center Mason Plumlee told reporters. "We probably should've got out and run a little more." Brooklyn notched back-to-back victories by an average of 23.5 points, including a 104-82 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday in the opener of a four-game trip that features a visit to the Golden State Warriors. "Not to look forward, but you look at the schedule and you know who you have next and this one is definitely a winnable game," Nets power forward Ed Davis told reporters after the rout. "It's a game we definitely needed to win and handled business."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), Altitude (Denver)
ABOUT THE NETS (5-6): Shooting guard Caris LeVert continued his strong play with 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting against the Suns. LeVert is averaging 25 points over the past three games - making 8-of-15 from 3-point range during the stretch - and has seven 20-point outings while averaging 20.5 per game. Point guard D'Angelo Russell is having trouble with his long-range stroke as he is just 3-of-23 from 3-point range over the last four games after making 21 over the first seven.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (9-2): Point guard Jamal Murray scored just 15 points on 6-of-21 shooting against Memphis after registering a career-best 48 two nights earlier against the Boston Celtics. "I don't know what it was, but the ball didn't like me," Murray told reporters after he went 2-for-9 from 3-point range and couldn't find the flow against the Grizzlies. Standout center Nikola Jokic matched his season low of four points - his fourth straight single-digit effort - and his only field-goal attempt was a missed 3-pointer at the buzzer.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Nuggets won the past three meetings, including both of last season's matchups.
2. Davis registered a season-best 12 rebounds against the Suns for his fifth double-digit effort on the boards.
3. Denver PF Paul Millsap scored a season-low two points on 1-of-7 shooting against Memphis.