Wizards (38-24) at Nuggets (29-34)
March 8, 2017 at 9:00 PM Pepsi Center | Denver, CO TV: CSN Mid-Atlantic Radio: 1500 AM
Last time they met was..
December 8, 2016: Wizards 92, Nuggets 85
What to watch:
How will the Wizards fare in back-to-back road games?
This is near the middle of a four game in five nights swing. Tonight is also the second game of the first back-to-back set for the Wizards. They’ll have another back-to-back affair on Friday and Saturday. How will the Wizards respond after a thrilling win last night? Will they be hungover or fatigued from the night before? To make matters more complicated they’ll have to deal with the high altitude from being in Denver. Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris aka the “Phoenix outlaws” could be more well rested than the rest of the team. Their minutes last night were limited due to the foul trouble both players got in.
Key Matchup:
Marcin Gortat vs. Nikola Jokic
A young stud vs. the Polish Hammer at the center position will be the key matchup battle tonight. Jokic is one of the best young centers in the league. He averages 15.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. Jokic also shoots 58.1 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. Gortat on the other hand averages 11.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Gortat scored six points last night but only played for 19:07 of the 48-minute game. With the extra rest from foul trouble, expect Gortat to have a big game tonight.
X-Factor:
The bench.
Once a problem early in the season, now it all seems like a distant memory. The Wizards reserves put together arguably their best effort this season, scoring a combined 65 points last night. It was the most points the bench has scored this season. Acquiring Bojan Bogdanovic, who hit a clutch three for the second game in a row, and Brandon Jennings was very crucial.
Fun Factor:
A gorilla came on the court in the fourth quarter last night. Will Nuggets mascot Rocky the Mountain Lion make a surprise appearance on the floor during the game? Speaking of gorillas, RIP Harambe.
Prediction:
Back to back games means back to back dubs.