The Denver Nuggets are back in action Monday night as they welcome John Wall and a talented Washington Wizards squad to the Pepsi Center
When: Monday, October 23rd at 7 p.m. MST
Where: Pepsi Center
Video/Audio: Altitude Sports and Entertainment/KKSE Altitude 950 AMĀ
Monday will mark the end of a quick, two-game homestand for the Denver Nuggets before they set out on a four game east coast road trip that starts Wednesday in Charlotte.
The Nuggets (1-1) will face off against a tough Wizards team who comes into Pepsi Center with a 2-0 record to start the year. The defensively challenged Nuggets will be tasked with figuring out a way to slow down the Wizards big three of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr.
Wall is a threat whenever he has the ball in his hands. His electric athleticism and devastating dribble moves make him a nightmare match up for both Jamal Murray and Emmanuel Mudiay. Neither player has the physical tools to stay with the former Wildcat.
Bradley Beal vs. Gary Harris will be an exciting match up to watch as well. Harris and Beal’s games are similar: both have the ability to light it up off the catch and shoot. These are two of the most effective shooters in the NBA and two of the better shooting guards on the planet.
Another interesting match up to watch for is that of small forwards Wilson Chandler and Otto Porter Jr. The latterĀ is shooting over 50 percent from the field to start the season and is deadly from behind the arc. Chandler, on the other hand, has yet to get going so far. “ILLson” is averaging just seven points per game through his first two contests. His field goal percentage sits at a lowly 31 percent. Denver will need a strong two-way performance from him tonight.
Another key will be getting Nikola Jokic going as a scorer. Jokic went scoreless against the Kings and only took three shots from the field in the Nuggets home opener. What Jokic hasn’t produced in terms of points per game, he’s made up for in other ways. The big man is averaging 10.5 rebounds and seven and a half assists per game.
Jokic looked passive against the Kings and seemed to over pass at times instead of looking to score the basketball. Perhaps tonight’s the night he gets it going. Stay tuned to Dig In Denver for the postgame coverage.