<div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"> @ </span> Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO National TV: <span style="color:red">ESPN</span>Time: 10:30 pm ESTDate: Wednesday, 22 March 2006 ---</div><span style="color:darkslategray"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">San Antonio Spurs (53-14)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:darkslategray">PG: Tony ParkerSG: Manu Ginobili SF: Bruce BowenPF: Tim DuncanC: Nazr Mohammed</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:darkslategray">Michael Finley</span>Coach: <span style="color:darkslategray">Gregg Popovich</span>---<span style="color:royalblue"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Denver Nuggets (38-30)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:royalblue">PG: Andre MillerSG: Ruben PattersonSF: Carmelo AnthonyPF: Kenyon MartinC: Marcus Camby</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:royalblue">Reggie Evans</span>Coach: <span style="color:royalblue">George Karl</span>---Nuggets' 7-game road trip recapWe began with a trip to Philly. After trailing by as many as 15, we started to chip away and trailed by 7 entering the final quarter. Things got tight in the fourth quarter but with the scores tied in the final minute, Melo drove past Iguodala for what proved to be a game-winner, and seconds later he iced the game with a couple of free throws, 97-93. The next night, we were at Toronto to face Chris Bosh & Co. but it was no contest as we easily earned the W. A late rally by the Raps made the final score more respectable. Two nights later, it was at Boston and the interesting matchup between Melo & Pierce. Melo held his own against the all-star and possibly MVP candidate. Both scored 36 points each but Pierce got the last laugh with two amazing clutch shots over Patterson. We lost 101-106.The next night, it was at New York and we wanted to vent our frustration. Guys felt like we let the game slip away in Boston and we're not gonna do the same here. So we took care of business and won handily, 108-96. We led throughout the game in Indiana against the Pacers. But two consecutive three-pointers by Stojakovic and Johnson tied the score at 99 with less than a minute to play. Melo then missed a layup and Stephen Jackson couldn't convert on the other end, giving us another last possession. Of course we went to Melo, who didn't disappoint with a long jumper over rookie Granger. It was his 4th game-winning shot this season. We still survived the scare though as Peja's potential game-winning three pointer went in and out. Two days later, we were at Memphis, who we had won convincingly against in the previous two meetings. In this game though, things are a little different. Mike Miller came off the bench to score a career-high 41 points, lighting it up from everywhere. We were trounced 102-116. However, this is a meaningless game between us and them, because we had won the series and we still would have a homecourt advantage should we meet them in the playoffs. The next night, we were at New Orleans to play one of the home city's only four games for the season. The fans came out and were supportive of the home team, but we realised we had a job to do. We attacked early and never relinguished the lead in winning 109-94. Melo capped his amazing play on the trip with 28 pts. He would later be named the West player of the week, averaging a league-high 31.8 points on .578 shooting, while posting 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. 9/3 - Sixers <span style="color:blue">W</span> 10/3 - Raptors <span style="color:blue">W</span>12/3 - Celtics <span style="color:red">L</span>13/3 - Knicks <span style="color:blue">W</span>15/3 - Pacers <span style="color:blue">W</span>17/3 - Grizzlies <span style="color:red">L</span>18/3 - Hornets <span style="color:blue">W</span> vs. SpursThis is the first time I'm gonna watch the Nuggets live :yess: :yahoo: :yahoo: This also could be the only Nugget game of the season I'm watching, because ESPN Australia doesn't show much besides the Bucks and Cavs Well, except if they show the Nuggets in the playoffs too. The Spurs are a true test for us. They have won five straight and their lineup is looking healthy than ever. Manu Ginobili returned from a sore left calf and provided immediate sparks against the Warriors last night. We have to be aware that this is the first of a 5-game road trip for them. They will definitely want to get rolling good early and a win here will definitely serve as confidence booster although they're still the defending champs. That's why I think the Spurs are gonna give everything they have in this game, just to get a W. And it's exactly why they're a true, good test for us. The last Spur game I watched was March 10 against the Lakers where they were handed a rare loss on their homefloor, their 2nd loss in three games. In that game, they looked real sloppy and nobody really did a good job on defensive rotation. But obviously they have rebounded with 5 straight wins coming into this game. Slowed by a troublesome knee, Duncan hasn't been his dominant self most of this season. But the Spurs are a collective team that any given night his teammates are gonna pick up the slack, e.g. Mohammed exploding for 30 pts and 16 rbds in a win over the Suns. But surely and slowly Duncan is warming up as the playoffs approaches. And of course they have the king of floaters, king of the paint, All-Star point guard Tony Parker, who's leading the team with 19.3 ppg and 5.9 apg. Then the wild and crazy Argentinian Manu Ginobili, who can play inside-out by shooting the lights out and knifing though defenders like no other. And they do have Michael Finley, who would start on most teams today, coming off the bench. Together with Barry, Horry, Udridh, Nesterovic they have the necessary depth that usually makes the difference in ballgames. <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:red">+</span></span> Nene out for the year... Boykins out indefinitely with fractured left hand... K-Mart, Najera probable. Closing comments and predictionsI'm not gonna make any prediction for any game that I'll watch :shades: But this is gonna be a close one. :beerchug:
Huge win for us tonight. We were playing without 3 of our main pieces and we still beat the defending champs.Melo looked great against the defense of Bowen. Then he just raped the defrense of Finley.Greg Buckner also came up huge for us. I missed some of the game but the parts that I saw Buckner was not only playing great defense but knocking down some 3 pointers.I think the deal to bring Patterson and Evans to Denver was one of the smartest moves all season by any GM in the league. They bring so much needed defensive toughness.Melo 32 pointsCamby 21 rebounds :rock:
Rock on :rock: I thought we're gonna lose when the Spurs erased that lead in the third quarter. But we fought back... it seems like guys have learned from the losses to this team last season... we need to keep building on that.:beerchug:
