NUGGETS PROBABLE STARTERS POS. NO. PLAYER PPG RPG APG NOTABLE F 43 Linas Kleiza 6-8, 245 4.8 2.9 0.5 Had nine points (2-4 FG, 4-4 FT) and seven rebounds in 23 minutes at Portland on 1/14. F 30 Reggie Evans 6-8, 245 6.4 8.5 0.8 Started for the second time this season and contributed six points (3-6 FG) and five boards at Portland on 1/14. C 23 Marcus Camby 6-11, 235 11.5 12.1 3.0 Ranks 3rd in the NBA in rebounds (12.1) and 4th in blocks (2.80) and is tied for 15th in double-doubles (16). G 3 Allen Iverson 6-0, 165 29.4 2.7 7.3 Had 32 points (11-21 FG, 1-2 3FG, 9-10 FT), nine assists and three rebounds in 43 minutes at Portland on 1/14. G 25 Steve Blake 6-3, 172 4.5 1.5 2.7 Started for the first time as a Nugget on 1/14, posting a career-high 25 points and a season-high three steals. CAVALIERS PROBABLE STARTERS F 23 LeBron James 6-8, 250 26.8 6.7 6.1 F 90 Drew Gooden 6-10, 250 12.1 8.7 0.7 C 11 Zydrunas Ilgauskas 7-3, 260 12.1 8.3 1.3 G 32 Larry Hughes 6-5, 185 14.6 3.7 3.2 G 20 Eric Snow 6-3, 205 4.7 2.7 4.5 NUGGETS RED CROSS REPORT OUT: Kenyon Martin underwent successful surgery on his right knee on 11/15 and will miss the remainder of the season. PROBABLE: Eduardo Najera played at Portland on 1/14. He suffered a left shoulder contusion vs. Milwaukee on 1/8 and considered probable for tonight?s game ? Nen? has appeared in each of the last six games after missing four games due to right knee inflammation. He is considered probable ? Marcus Camby has played in four-straight games after missing one game due to a right hand/wrist sprain. His status is currently probable ? Allen Iverson had x-rays taken on his right foot big toe on 1/8, which came up negative. He is probable for tonights game. CAVALIERS RED CROSS REPORT NO INJURIES TO REPORT TONIGHT'S MATCHUP BY THE NUMBERS KEY FOR TEAM STATISTICS: PPG Points Per Game (measures offense) OPG Opponents Points Per Game (measures defense) FG% % of All Shots Made (2's and 3's) 3PT% % of 3-Point Shots Made FT% % of Free Throws Made RPG Rebounds Per Game APG Assists Per Game SPG Steals Per Game BPG Blocks Per Game TO Turnovers Per Game ...............PPG.. OPG.. FG% 3PT% FT%. RPG APG SPG. BPG.. TO NUGGETS 104.8 103.1 .452 ...316 .750.. 44.7 23.1 8.71 4.66 17.0 CAVS....... 94.9. 92.8 .439 ....353 .692. 43.3 19.7 6.45 4.71 14.4
Prediction: Nuggets 98 Cavs 96 The Nuggets are playing at home after 4 days off and the Cavs are nearing the end of a long western road trip. Plus, Evans is starting instead of Najera. At last. So how can I predict a Cavs victory even though they are one of a half dozen teams unaffected by injuries? I can't, so I'm predicting a Nuggets win. The Nuggets have tough road trips coming up so they definitely need this home win to stay on course for a playoff berth.
