Wizards 8-17 vs Nuggets 15-12
When: Wednesday, February 17th, at 7p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
TV: NBCSWA, NBA League Pass / Radio: WFED 1500 AM
Injury
Wizards: Thomas Bryant (Out/ Left ACL Surgery), Ish Smith (Out/ Quad)
Nuggets: Will Barton (Out/ Personal), PJ Dozier (Out/ Hamstring), Gary Harris (Out/ Left Adductor), Paul Millsap (Out/ Knee), Monte Morris (Out/ Shoulder), Greg Whittington (Out/ Knee)
Wizards -
113.2 - points per game
119.1 - points against
45.1 - Field Goal %
Nuggets -
114.9 - points per game
111.0 - points against
47.8 - Field Goal %
Keep an eye on:
Nikola Jokic: is having an MVP caliber season and everything involving the Nuggets starts and end with him. He's that valuable and complete as a player. Jokic leads the Nuggets in scoring (27.1), rebounding (11.3), assists (8.6), steals (1.6), field goal percentage (57%), and free throw percentage (86%) while shooting 39 percent from deep. Like I mentioned previously, Jokic is COMPLETE. Additionally, Jokic just may be the best passer in the game, which means he can dominate a game without scoring a lot. Washington as a team, has to be on point defensively, especially with help side and denial, or Jokic will be surgical with his passing and it'll be a VERY long night for the Wizards. Wizards bigs, Moe Wagner, Robin Lopez, Deni Avdija, Alex Len and on switches, Davis Bertans and Rui Hachimura, MUST keep pressure on Jokic at all times, keep a body on him as he attempts to crash the boards, and play sound smart defense or they will pick up cheap fouls and force Scott Brooks hand and have to play small, which is advantage Denver. The Wizards have been solid defensively in their last two games, continuing that trend is mandatory if they want to make it three wins in a row.
Depth: in this game will favor Washington, a complete reversal of fortunes that Washington experienced throughout much of January. Denver comes into this game with a host of injuries to key players and having just played the first game of a back to back in last night's loss to Boston. So more than likely, Denver will be fatigued and short handed. Advantage Wizards. Washington is tops in the league in pace, averaging nearly 104 possessions over 48 minutes per game. The Wizards moves the ball up and down the floor. Denver on the other hand ranks 28th in pace, averaging 97.3 possessions over a 48 minute span per game. Look for Washington to keep things up-tempo throughout the game to capitalize off Denver's lack of depth and their fatigue.