Hawks vs Nuggets: Game Thread – Starting Lineups, Injury Report, Series Notes, etc.
By David Menze
Game Preview
Atlanta wraps up their 3-game West coast road trip tonight in Denver as the winless Nuggets host the Hawks in the Pepsi Center at 9:00 p.m. (ET).
The Hawks will be short-handed tonight as rookie point guard Dennis Schroder is serving his one-game suspension for taking a groin shot at Kings center DeMarcus Cousins during Tuesday’s 105-100 win in Sacramento. With Schroder out, third-string point guard Shelvin Mack will likely see an increased workload. The rookie will be able to play in Atlanta’s next game when they fly home to host the Orlando Magic on Sunday.
Atlanta is hoping the momentum from the win in Sacramento carries over to Denver where they have lost the last six meetings in a row dating back to Dec. 6, 2006. However, they might be in luck as the hometown Nuggets have yet to win this season (0-3), and have dropped both home games thus far to the Trail Blazers and Spurs.
It also bids well for the Hawks that they have been very competitive on this 3-game road trip. They came up just short of an epic 21-point comeback against the Lakers, losing 105-103 on a judgement call that was ruled a block which allowed Pau Gasol the opportunity to win the game at the free throw line if he could sink a pair of tiebreaking free throws in the final six seconds of the game, which he did. Then, Atlanta went into Sacramento and beat the Kings for the 11th straight time (sixth in a row in Sac-Town) thanks to the frontcourt duo of Al Horford and Paul Millsap, who combined for 52 points and 21 rebounds in the win.
Hopefully the Hawks can closeout this road trip on a good note and head back home to Atlanta with a two-game winning streak intact.
Quick Facts
Who?: Atlanta Hawks vs Denver Nuggets
What?: 3-game road trip finale (Game #5, Road Game #4)
Where?: Pepsi Center (Denver, CO)
When?: Thursday, November 7, 2013 – 9:00 PM (ET)
How?: SportSouth HDTV / 92.9 FM “The Game”
Probable Starters
Atlanta Hawks:
PG: Jeff Teague | SG: Kyle Korver | SF: DeMarre Carroll | PF: Paul Millsap | C: Al Horford
Denver Nuggets:
PG: Ty Lawson | SG: Randy Foye | SF: Jordan Hamilton | PF: Kenneth Faried | C: JaVale McGee
Injury Report
Atlanta Hawks: Dennis Schroder (suspension), Gustavo Ayon (right shoulder injury) and Lou Williams (right ACL rehab) are out.
Denver Nuggets: Kenneth Faried (lower back contusion) and Ty Lawson (left adductor strain) are probable. Wilson Chandler (left hamstring strain) is doubtful. Danilo Gallinari (left ACL rehab) is out. Anthony Randolph (left ankle sprain) is day-to-day.
Current Records, Streak & Hot, Lukewarm, or Cold
Records: Atlanta Hawks (2-2) / Denver Nuggets (0-3)
Streaks: Atlanta Hawks –> OVERALL: Won 1 | HOME: Won 1 | ROAD: Won 1 Denver Nuggets –> OVERALL: Lost 3 | HOME: Lost 2 | ROAD: Lost 1
Home/Away Records: Nuggets are (0-2) at home / Hawks are (1-2) on the road.
Atlanta Hawks: Lukewarm. The Hawks are 1-1 on this 3-game road trip and are coming off a 105-100 win over the Kings in which Al Horford and Paul Millsap combined for 52 points and 21 rebounds.
Denver Nuggets: Cold. The Nuggets have not won a game yet this season and are coming off two straight losses at home.
Season/Past Season Series
Atlanta travels to Denver for the first-of-two matchups this season. The clubs will end the season series at Philips Arena on 3/15. The home team won a game apiece in the two-game 2012-13 series, as Denver took the last contest 104-88 on 3/4/13. The Nuggets own a six-game home winning streak in the series. The last Hawks road victory was a 98-96 triumph on 12/6/06. Atlanta leads the all-time series 41-36 (11-28 on the road).
Common Threads
Paul Millsap and Randy Foye played together in Utah last season. Lou Williams (2006-09) and Kyle Korver (parts of 2006-07 and 2007-08) played with Andre Miller with the 76ers. Elton Brand and Miller were Los Angeles Clippers teammates in 2002-03, and 76ers teammates in 2008-09. Hawks President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Danny Ferry and Miller played together in Cleveland in 1999-2000. DeMarre Carroll and Darrell Arthur spent time playing together in Memphis. Nuggets broadcaster Scott Hastings wore a Hawks uniform from 1982-88. Denver assistant coach Lester Conner was on the Hawks’
coaching staff from 2010-13.
Information was used from the Hawks and Nuggets official gamenotes
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