Denver Nuggets look to bounce back against Portland

 

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Regular Season Game No. 10 | Portland Trail Blazers (6-4) at Denver Nuggets (3-6)

Moda Center, Portland, Oregon | 7:00 PM MST | TV: Altitude

The Denver Nuggets look to bounce back from their sixth loss of the season to the Detroit Pistons and extract revenge from the Portland Trail Blazers at the same time tonight at the Moda Center. After failing to execute in the final moments of the last meeting between the two Northwest division teams look for the Nuggets to come out focused and prepared.

Here are a few storylines to watch for tonight.

WHO CAN WIN THE THREE-POINT LINE?

After struggling to defend the three-point line throughout preseason the Nuggets are now holding teams to 32% from beyond the arc, a mark that is the 6th best in the NBA. Not only are teams shooting a low percentage but they are struggling to get shots off. The opposition is only taking 22.6 three-point shots per game against the Nuggets through nine games.

On the other hand, the Portland Trailblazers own the third best percentage from beyond the arc to the tune of 37.5 percent while taking almost 30 three-point attempts per game. The duo of Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum have made 45.5 percent of the Trailblazers shots beyond the arc. If the Nuggets plan on leaving Portland with a win, they will have to slow the starting back court of the Trailblazers and control the game beyond the three-point line.

With Gary Harris listed as doubtful and the Nuggets still missing the services of Will Barton, the defensive responsibility will fall to the combination of Emmanuel Mudiay and Jamal Murray, the likely starter if Harris is unable to go.

STOP THE TURNOVER “EPIDEMIC”

The Nuggets leading the league in turnovers is not news anymore at this point. The Nuggets turnover problem has now cost them three games and the issue needs to be remedied as fast as possible. Malone was very adamant about this after the loss to the Pistons on Saturday night.

“Come on, we’re last in the league in turnovers. Alright? It is what it is.” Malone continued, “We’re last in the league in turnovers. We don’t value the ball. We just throw it around. We have no regard for the basketball. We give our opponent 20 points per game a night. It is a losing battle.”

Being last in the league in turnovers, with 17.9 per game, is the biggest issue of the year for the Nuggets so far. When you blatantly hand your opponent around 20 percent of their total points you will not be a winning team.

Tonight may be the Nuggets opportunity to bounce back. The Trailblazers are not a team that looks to force mass amounts of turnovers. So far this season they are the fourth-worst team in the league at forcing turnovers. Opponents against the Trailblazers only average 12.7 turnovers a game, a mark that the Nuggets have been below only twice all season.

INJURIES CONTINUE TO PILE UP

Darrell Arthur is still out and has only played in 15 combined minutes over two games. His right knee is still experiencing swelling and he is not ready to re-join the rotation. Jarnell Stokes is also out with a right foot injury.

Will Barton’s ankle sprain, which was originally thought to be serious and then was said to be better than expected, has now had his timetable extended as well. He looks to be back near the end the month or into early December as he continues to rehab his right ankle.

4-6 weeks puts Barton’s return date at the earliest Nov 28 (exactly 4 weeks from Halloween) Nuggets play in PHO Nov 27 at home vs MIA Nov 30

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) November 12, 2016

Now Harris will again join the injury-ridden being that he injured his ankle towards the end of the loss to the Pistons and had to be asked to be removed from the game. He is listed as doubtful and there has not been much light shed on the situation yet. Look for Murray to step into the starting lineup once again if Harris in unable to go and Malik Beasley to see a bump in playing time.

The injury report rounds off with Wilson Chandler, who played in the loss to the Pistons. He is listed as questionable with hamstring tightness. Being that the Nuggets are on the second game of a back-to-back it would not be surprising to see Chandler potentially sit out tonight to get more rest.