RealGM

January 27, 2013
9:00 PM
Pepsi Center - Denver, CO


Indiana Pacers

(26-18) 2nd in Central Division, 5th in Eastern Conference

Rotation
PG - George Hill/DJ Augustin/Ben Hansbrough
SG - Lance Stephenson/Gerald Green
SF - Paul George/Dominic McGuire
PF - David West/Tyler Hansbrough
C - Roy Hibbert/Ian Mahinmi

Stat Leaders
Points - Paul George (17.4)
Rebounds - Roy Hibbert (8.2)
Assists - George Hill (4.9)

Denver Nuggets

(27-18) 2nd in Northwest Division, 6th in Western Conference

Rotation
PG - Ty Lawson/Andre Miller/Julyan Stone
SG - Andre Iguodala/Corey Brewer/Evan Fournier
SF - Danilo Gallinari/Wilson Chandler/Jordan Hamilton/Quincy Miller
PF - Kenneth Faried/Anthony Randolph
C - Kosta Koufos/JaVale McGee/Timofey Mozgov

Stat Leaders
Points - Danillo Gallinari (16.6)
Rebounds - Kenneth Faried (9.8)
Assists - Ty Lawson (6.8)

Injury Reports

Pacers
Danny Granger (knee) - OUT
Gerald Green (illness) - DTD

Nuggets
None

Game Preview
via ESPN.com
The Denver Nuggets' latest surge has come with solid play on both ends of the floor

While defense has been a staple of the Indiana Pacers, it wasn't up to their standards in back-to-back defeats.

Denver seeks a 10th victory in its last 12 games and a fourth straight win over visiting Indiana on Monday night.

The Nuggets (27-18) rank among the league leaders with 103.6 points per game and are averaging 110.1 over their last 11. Ty Lawson scored 26 points and Andre Iguodala added 20 in a 121-93 win over Sacramento on Saturday.

Though the offense has been impressive, Denver also has played well on the defensive end in the last two contests, including Wednesday's 105-95 win over Houston. The Nuggets forced 43 turnovers in those victories, and have forced at least 20 in four straight contests.

"We came out aggressive and it started with our defense," Kenneth Faried told the team's official website after Saturday's victory. "That really set the tone. That really ignited our offense and showed how we play Nuggets basketball."

Faried had 11 points as all five starters scored in double figures for the first time in seven games.

"I can't deny the starters deserve a lot of credit," coach George Karl said. "Our bench has been great but (the starters) were playing well offensively and defensively and made the game easy."

The Nuggets also played solid defense as Corey Brewer and JaVale McGee scored 20 points apiece off the bench in a 92-89 win at Indiana on Dec. 7, their third straight victory and 13th in the last 16 meetings in the series.

The Pacers allow only 89.9 points per game to rank among the league leaders, and had allowed fewer than 100 in 12 straight before their last two. They fell 100-80 at Portland on Wednesday before Saturday's 114-110 overtime loss at Utah.

It marked the first back-to-back losses for Indiana (26-18) since it fell to Oklahoma City two nights after it lost to Denver last month. It is on the verge of matching its season-worst losing streak set Nov. 5-9.

"We have to tighten the screws on defense," coach Frank Vogel said. "We put 90 percent of our emphasis into riding the ship on the offensive end (Saturday). You reach a point where you realize you have to tighten the screws. It's tough to beat good teams in their buildings when you aren't tied together on defense."

David West scored a team-high 24 points versus Utah, but was disappointed in the lack of a defensive presence from himself and his fellow frontcourt players.

Indiana has allowed an average of 55.0 points in the paint over the last two games -- 19.6 above its league-best average.

"Our defense has been solid all year. In particular, the last couple of games it has been (the opponents') big guys that have gotten going," West said. We didn't do enough at the hoop. We've been playing good team defense, we just abandoned that the last couple of games. We just need to get a little more active."

Paul George scored 22 points in the last meeting for Indiana, which has lost six of the last seven matchups in Denver.

Tradition






...it felt like a Kate Upton day.

Really need this one. This will have been a very ugly roadtrip otherwise.

I'm always wary with Denver, they're stacked. Need to control the boards and keep the game at our pace.

Nuggets getting up and down the floor on us.

Wow Lawson. I would really love to have him.

Down 2 at the half. Could be better, could be worse.

We really have to win this game, though.

We need to slow this game down. We won't beat Denver in a gunslinging match.

Jake0890 wrote:Wow Lawson. I would really love to have him.

Agreed. He's really impressing me on BOTH ends tonight.

Lawson killing DJ

Down 8 at the end of the 3rd. Please, don't lose

Now THIS is impressive ball.

This is a nail bitter.

Ugh, that was a foul.

That's poor. You can't call that if you don't call Iggy's "No foul".

THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLY DISGUSTING OFFICIATING AT THE END. THE NBA SHOULD BE **** ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

And yet if the Pacers (rightfully) say anything, they get fined $30,000. Why referees have become so damn untouchable is beyond me. They ought to be ashamed of themslves.

If I continually screw up at my job, I get scolded (and fairly so.) NBA refs can just skate by while still doing a piss-poor job time and time again.

it was a first to 100 game by my formula and I knew we were in trouble when Hill missed the free throw that would have given us 100. I love PG but question whether he should be the one to handle the ball at the end of games even if he is passed it for a final shot. his ball handling still needs work.

We're falling in the East because of all of these road losses.

we need a real point guard. look at all the easy shots Ty got for the nuggets. we also need to stop letting the Refs dictate the game for us. This team is so much better than this.

JONEAL wrote:we need a real point guard. look at all the easy shots Ty got for the nuggets. we also need to stop letting the Refs dictate the game for us. This team is so much better than this.

Ty pushes the ball constantly. The Nuggets' offense doesn't let up. We're not like that. I think it's unfair to expect Hill to play like that with the people around him.

Jake0890 wrote:We're falling in the East because of all of these road losses.

It is to be expected. But there's no need to worry. February is full of home games. We will climb back up.

JONEAL wrote:we need a real point guard. look at all the easy shots Ty got for the nuggets.

Look at all those athletic bigs that Denver has (Faried, McGee). Denver tends to play small with quick, athletic bigs that run the PnR. Even their bigger Cs (Koufos, Mozgov) are better athletes than our bigs. There's a reason that Denver runs.

We are not supposed to run like Denver. Our offense is not supposed to be run from the perimeter. It's supposed to be run from the post.