Nuggets continue Battle of New York as they take on Brooklyn Nets

In what looks to be a relatively easy match-up against the struggling Brooklyn Nets, the Denver Nuggets look to build upon their two thrilling victories and start a win streak. But beware of “easy match-ups” with a young team like the Nuggets — nothing has come easy this season for Michael Malone’s squad.

Projected Starters
Nuggets		Nets
Emmanuel Mudiay (R) Gary Harris Danilo Gallinari Kenneth Faried Nikola Jokic (R)		Donald Sloan Wayne Ellington Joe Johnson Thaddeus Young Brook Lopez

Injury report:

Nuggets: Wilson Chandler – out (right hip arthroscopic surgery), Jameer Nelson – doubtful (sprained left wrist), Darrell Arthur – questionable (sore left quad)

Nets: Chris McCullough – probable (right ACL surgery), Jarrett Jack – out (right ACL tear), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – out (broken bone in right ankle)

The next test

Amidst a terrible Nets season, Brook Lopez has been the one bright spot, dominating big men with his crafty post play and soft touch. That should sound familiar to Nuggets fans as it’s the same way Nikola Jokic produces. Lopez is averaging an impressive 20.3 points per game to go along with a 50 percent field goal shooting. He’s not the greatest defender, but he can score with the best of them. This game will serve as a true indicator of Jokic’s post defense, as the Nets will be going to Lopez early and often. Hopefully the rookie can take away a few things from the veteran as well, adding to his already vast arsenal of moves.

Ice in his veins

Emmanuel Mudiay has shown plenty of times this season that he has what it takes to become a bona fide closer. He gave us a teaser all the way back on the very first game against the Rockets, where he made a pair of back-to-back jumpers in a close fourth quarter game:

His clutch abilities have really come into fruition the past two games where he’s made a number of absolutely huge plays in crunch-time. Here’s Mudiay driving aggressively to the rim on the Derrick Rose and the Bulls to get an and-1, tying the game up with 1:31 left in the fourth.

And here Mudiay is last night with a gorgeous drive, crossing over Kristaps Porzingis and finishing the play with a tough reverse layup.

You have to love how the team reacts to seeing young Mudiay blossoming in the clutch. The Nuggets drafted Mudiay 7th overall back on June 25th to be a franchise star, and it looks like the rookie is taking that responsibility very seriously. We may have a new closer on our hands, and even more fortunately — he is one who can finish plays on his own while always being a threat to make a jaw-dropping pass to an open teammate. Mudiay could simply be unstoppable in his prime.