Nuggets Gameday: Denver's defense set for toughest test yet vs. Pelicans

Scoring has skyrocketed through the first week and a half of the NBA season. As of Sunday night, there were nine teams averaging more than 112 points per 100 possessions and 18 teams averaging more than 108 points per 100 possessions. The rise in 3-point attempts and a faster pace league-wide has led to games like the Oct. 19 matchup between the Kings and Pelicans, when the Kings scored 129 points…but still got beat by 20.

Yep, you did the math right: The Pelican put up 149 points that night. Aside from the Warriors, no NBA team has scored more efficiently than them so far. The Pelicans are averaging 116.4 points per 100 possessions en route to a 4-1 start. They represent a tough test for the Denver Nuggets. The two teams face each other at 7 p.m. tonight at Pepsi Center.

“They’ve been really impressive,” Nuggets forward Torrey Craig said. “They had a really good start to the season as well. A couple of those guys have been playing at a high level. Obviously, A.D. (Anthony Davis) is going to be a handful to deal with, but I think we’re up for the challenge. We’re a pretty good team. We can compete with anybody in this league.”

Anthony Davis didn’t suit up Sunday as New Orleans fell to Utah, 132-111. He is listed as questionable with an elbow strain, and if he is able to play, he could pose massive problems for Denver. Davis is posting video game numbers across four games: 27.3 ppg (52.1 percent FG), 13.3 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.5 spg and 3.8 bpg.

The Pelicans also have sharpshooting Nikola Mirotic and Nuggets killer Julius Randle in their frontcourt. Randle, who averaged 20.3 points on 62.3 percent shooting and 8.0 rebounds against Denver last year, signed with the Pelicans in July after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Lakers. He’s been excellent in a reserve role, and if Davis can’t go, expect him to slide into the starting lineup.

The Nuggets and Pelicans are both trying to avoid their first losing streaks of the season. The Nuggets got out to a 4-0 start but fell apart down the stretch Thursday in a nationally televised game against the Lakers to take their first loss. Denver’s defense — so good through the first four games of the season — showed signs of slippage in L.A.

“They have a very high-powered offense,” Gary Harris said. “They’ve been playing at a really high level. We’ve just got to lock in on the defensive end and come ready to play.”

Offensively, the Nuggets are still trying to hit their stride. They’re shooting 29.2 percent from 3-point land — well below the 37.1 percent mark they finished at in 2017-18. Paul Millsap and Craig are trying to bounce back after scoring a combined eight points on 4-of-14 shooting against the Lakers.

“We know shots are going to fall,” Harris said. “If we have open shots, we have to shoot them. We can’t pass them up. As long as guys are confident taking shots, I think we’re going to be fine because once we start hitting, things are just going to start clicking.”

Nuggets Probable Starters

Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Torrey Craig, Paul Millsap, Nikola Jokic

Inactives: Will Barton (right hip/core muscle surgery), Isaiah Thomas (right hip surgery), Michael Porter Jr. (low back surgery), Jarred Vanderbilt (right foot surgery)

Pelicans Probable Starters

Frank Jackson, Jrue Holliday, E’Twaun Moore, Nikola Mirotic, Anthony Davis

Injury Report: Out; Elfrid Payton (ankle sprain); Questionable: Anthony Davis (elbow strain); Doubtful: Darius Miller (quad contusion); Probable: Julius Randle (plantar fasciitis)