GAMENIGHT

Denver Nuggets (33-19) @ Brooklyn Nets (30-22)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

The Brooklyn Nets are coming off an impressive road victory in Indiana 89-84 on Monday night.  They did it without their point guard, Deron Williams, and still managed to steal a game in a tough place to win.  The Nets were led by Brook Lopez’s 25 points, Reggie Evans 22 rebounds and a “Welcome to the NBA” moment from rookie guard Tyshawn Taylor.  The Nets forced overtime behind Taylor and he then watched him nail two big buckets in the extra session.

[blockquote]”We wanted to come out tonight and make a statement,” Johnson said. “We were just being very resilient. Guys were coming up big and making plays.”[/blockquote]

Taylor is a second-round draft pick, who was acquired from Portland on draft night, that has not gotten the playing time to show what he can do yet. Taylor came out of hibernation to score a career high 12 points in 34 minutes to help guide the Nets down the stretch and into overtime for the win. His ability to penetrate and break down the defense is something the Nets sorely need without Williams.

[blockquote]”I’m confident in my game, so when coach puts me out there I just want to be aggressive,” Taylor said, “It started getting down to crunch time and coach kept me in there, it just boosted my confidence.”[/blockquote]

The Nuggets won nine in a row before falling to the Boston Celtics in triple overtime and then heading to Toronto last night and losing to the resurgent Raptors in a hard fought game.  The game came down to a Rudy Gay jumper in the final seconds to win it.

The Nuggets are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now and can run any team out of the building with their fast break and uptempo pace.  The Nets will have to be very disciplined tonight with their transition defense if they want to hang with the Nuggets.  Injuries will be a factor in tonight’s game as the Nuggets are finishing a five-game road trip and a few of their guys are banged up and sick.  Quite a few players will be game-time decisions.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Nets PG’s vs Ty Lawson

Ty Lawson is averaging 15.4 points, seven assists and three rebounds for the streaking Nuggets and is the catalyst to George Karl’s offense with his speed.  Lawson is one of the, if not the fastest, player in the NBA with the ball and he can turn a simple outlet pass into a fast break with numbers.  The Nets backup point guards, CJ Watson and Taylor, will have to be ready for the challenge from the Denver point guard and keep the pressure on him to play defense and defend.  Watson needs to come out of his recent funk to help the confident Taylor offset Lawson’s numbers and overall floor game.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: The Nuggets have averaged 112.2 points while winning five of the last six meetings with the Nets.

Nets:

Deron Williams (synovitis both ankles) is out.

Nuggets:

Andre  Iguodala (Right Cervical Strain) is day-to-day

Wilson Chandler (left groin tightness) is a game-time decision

Danilo Gallinari (sinus infection) is questionable

Javale McGee ( left tibia irratation) is a game-time decision