With four starters beaten up and possibly not available for this one, the Denver Nuggets will take to their home court at Pepsi Center to take on a slumping Mavericks squad.
The Denver Nuggets' starting lineup Tuesday night against the Dallas Mavericks at Pepsi Center could feature Kenyon Martin and four guys named Mo. All-Stars Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony, as well as center Nene are listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, shooting guard Arron Afflalo’s ankle is possibly a little more serious and it’s unsure whether he will face the Mavericks.
Struggling Dallas will be more than happy to take advantage, as the Mavericks did in their first visit to the Mile High City when they handed the Nuggets a rare home loss, 104-96, to snap a five-game series losing slide. Denver played that night without Billups and Dallas held Anthony to 16 points.
But that was a much different Mavericks team that the one that will take the court Tuesday. They ranked among the league leaders in defensive efficiency at the end of December. Not coincidentally, Dallas was second in the West at that time.
Since then, they’ve played defense that would have been substandard during Don Nelson’s days in Dallas. The Mavericks' last six opponents have shot at least 43 percent from the field.
Coach Rick Carlisle knows what’s wrong. He’s just not sure how to fix it, because he’s had the same problems — insufficient focus at home and a slip from the top five to 11th in defensive efficiency — for weeks.
If the Mavericks don’t dig down and find some pride soon, they could find themselves watching the first round of the playoffs from home, their run of nine consecutive 50-win seasons going up in flames.
Dallas began this three-game trip Monday at Golden State, looking to rebound from one of its worst losses of the season. The Mavericks bottomed out Friday night at home against lowly Minnesota, bowing as 11-point favorites, 117-108. It was their fourth loss in five games.
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Dallas began the week on a six-game spread skid and it has failed to cash in 12 of its past 14 trips to the post. However, the Mavericks are the best road team in the Western Conference with a 16-10 record.
Denver shocked the Los Angeles Lakers last Friday at Staples Center behind another monster night from Billups. But their floor leader didn’t play Saturday at Utah and the Nuggets fell, 116-106.
Denver dispatched Dallas in five games during the Western Conference semifinals last season. The Nuggets had cashed six of seven versus the Mavericks at home prior to their stumble in the first meeting and ‘covered’ 12 of 13 overall.
Dallas has come up short in six of seven ATS versus teams on the plus side of the ledger, dropped five straight spread decisions versus Northwest Division foes and failed to cash five straight on Tuesday. The Mavericks are 2-5 ATS when playing without rest as well.
Coach George Karl’s crew is 16-5 ATS against Southwest Division tenants, but only 5-12-3 ATS against conference competition.
Four of the last five series scuffles have ended on the high side. Denver has jumped the number in five of seven at home, but slipped below the limit in five of six against Southwest Division foes.
Tuesday's action begins a 9 p.m. (ET) with regional television coverage only.