Game thread: New York Knicks @ Denver Nuggets 9:00 pm 12/17/2016 [Game 27]
- Thread starter rady
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Playa2
Benchwarmer
Carmelo Anthony returns to the roots of his NBA career on Saturday night. Whether he will be in uniform is uncertain.
Anthony's New York Knicks (14-12) wrap up their five-game road trip against the Denver Nuggets but the star forward's status is questionable going into the game. He was a late scratch in Thursday's 103-90 loss at Golden State due to a right shoulder injury.
Before the injury, Anthony had talked about sitting out games to rest, a practice that has gained popularity among NBA coaches in recent years. Earlier this week the reigning champs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, didn't bring stars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on a one-game road trip to Memphis.
"I think everyone needs a rest day, to be honest with you," Anthony told Newsday. "I think if you're an NBA player, professional athlete, you need a rest day. It's a matter of when you take it, how you take it. The decision is not just mine, it's a collective as a whole. Whatever is the best situation for that individual."
Derrick Rose (lower back injury) also missed the game against the Warriors. New York trailed by as many as 25 before making it a respectable score in the fourth quarter.
Nuggets fans hope Anthony suits up for his one trip to Pepsi Center, where he cut his professional teeth. He was the third overall pick in 2003 and helped Denver (10-16) reach the playoffs in each of his seven full seasons with the team and the Western Conference finals in 2009.
The Nuggets traded him to New York in February 2011 in a 10-player, three-team blockbuster deal. Only Anthony remains with the Knicks while Denver still has Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler on the roster from the trade.
Not only are they on the roster, they are, for the time being, starting together. Coach Michael Malone had been bringing Chandler off the bench when Gallinari is healthy, but after Denver's recent struggles he had them on the floor together from the opening tip.
Malone also put Nikola Jokic back at center to start and Gary Harris at shooting guard in his return to the lineup.
It worked out well. Gallinari scored 27 points and Wilson Chandler 17 as Denver scored 38 points in the first quarter against Portland on Thursday night and never trailed in beating the Trail Blazers by 12.
"Those guys responded," Malone said after the game.
The Nuggets snapped a three-game home losing streak with the victory and want to build on that with a game against the Knicks. New York is 2-2 on the road trip, but if Anthony and Rose do not play it will make it tougher to finish the Western Conference swing with a winning mark.
Anthony said he hurt his shoulder against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, and when he went through drills Thursday morning the pain was too much.
"When I was doing workouts and not being full strength, there was no way I could get out there (Thursday) night," Anthony told Newsday.
Rose missed two games last week with the back injury and aggravated it in Phoenix on Tuesday. Before the game against Golden State he sounded hopeful he could return Saturday.
"Just got to be smart about it," he told Newsday. "It's frustrating as hell, but just have to be smart about it. It's improving, but it's not where I want it to be, so I'm looking for hopefully playing in Denver."
Anthony's New York Knicks (14-12) wrap up their five-game road trip against the Denver Nuggets but the star forward's status is questionable going into the game. He was a late scratch in Thursday's 103-90 loss at Golden State due to a right shoulder injury.
Before the injury, Anthony had talked about sitting out games to rest, a practice that has gained popularity among NBA coaches in recent years. Earlier this week the reigning champs, the Cleveland Cavaliers, didn't bring stars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love on a one-game road trip to Memphis.
"I think everyone needs a rest day, to be honest with you," Anthony told Newsday. "I think if you're an NBA player, professional athlete, you need a rest day. It's a matter of when you take it, how you take it. The decision is not just mine, it's a collective as a whole. Whatever is the best situation for that individual."
Derrick Rose (lower back injury) also missed the game against the Warriors. New York trailed by as many as 25 before making it a respectable score in the fourth quarter.
Nuggets fans hope Anthony suits up for his one trip to Pepsi Center, where he cut his professional teeth. He was the third overall pick in 2003 and helped Denver (10-16) reach the playoffs in each of his seven full seasons with the team and the Western Conference finals in 2009.
The Nuggets traded him to New York in February 2011 in a 10-player, three-team blockbuster deal. Only Anthony remains with the Knicks while Denver still has Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler on the roster from the trade.
Not only are they on the roster, they are, for the time being, starting together. Coach Michael Malone had been bringing Chandler off the bench when Gallinari is healthy, but after Denver's recent struggles he had them on the floor together from the opening tip.
Malone also put Nikola Jokic back at center to start and Gary Harris at shooting guard in his return to the lineup.
It worked out well. Gallinari scored 27 points and Wilson Chandler 17 as Denver scored 38 points in the first quarter against Portland on Thursday night and never trailed in beating the Trail Blazers by 12.
"Those guys responded," Malone said after the game.
The Nuggets snapped a three-game home losing streak with the victory and want to build on that with a game against the Knicks. New York is 2-2 on the road trip, but if Anthony and Rose do not play it will make it tougher to finish the Western Conference swing with a winning mark.
Anthony said he hurt his shoulder against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, and when he went through drills Thursday morning the pain was too much.
"When I was doing workouts and not being full strength, there was no way I could get out there (Thursday) night," Anthony told Newsday.
Rose missed two games last week with the back injury and aggravated it in Phoenix on Tuesday. Before the game against Golden State he sounded hopeful he could return Saturday.
"Just got to be smart about it," he told Newsday. "It's frustrating as hell, but just have to be smart about it. It's improving, but it's not where I want it to be, so I'm looking for hopefully playing in Denver."
Both Melo and DRose participated at shootaround but Horn said DRose said he felt tightness so my guess is Melo plays and DRose doesn't.
Chasson Randle went 9-11 from 3 with Westchester, the kid can flat out score the ball. Guys don't want to bring him up because he's a scorer and not a pass first PG and I say to hell with that if he can add to the 3 pt firepower in today's NBA game. If you don't want to cut N'Dour or Baker to make room for him, cut Sasha then.
Chasson Randle went 9-11 from 3 with Westchester, the kid can flat out score the ball. Guys don't want to bring him up because he's a scorer and not a pass first PG and I say to hell with that if he can add to the 3 pt firepower in today's NBA game. If you don't want to cut N'Dour or Baker to make room for him, cut Sasha then.
Some decent surprises on this team, but still hard to watch on most nights. #kporzee having a better yr than any Nugget thus far. This team needs to call up Chason Randle to see what he can do, Jennings is and has always been dreadful. Too bad for Noah but Thibs/Bulls milked him for all his worth
mafra
Legend
I thought Lee was a good defensive player? Words can't describe how bad the perimeter defense has been tonight. Mudiay 9-12 shooting having a solid game. Making BJ look bad.
Hard to evaluate what this 3 game losing streak means.... like most thought before the season, all
boils down to health for NYK.... If Rose plays 65+ games this team will
battle for a top 4 spot.... if not, and he misses 20+ games.... this team
nattles for the 6-8 seed.
Hard to evaluate what this 3 game losing streak means.... like most thought before the season, all
boils down to health for NYK.... If Rose plays 65+ games this team will
battle for a top 4 spot.... if not, and he misses 20+ games.... this team
nattles for the 6-8 seed.