reflections
Kings-Nuggets Preview

The Denver Nuggets played well in their back-to-back-to-back stretch. The
Sacramento Kings are hoping things start looking up after a rough start to
theirs.

The Nuggets will try to keep their perfect home record intact when they face
the Kings on Wednesday night.

Denver (4-2) opened a stretch of three games in three nights with a 92-89
road loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, but bounced back with a 99-90
win over the Lakers the following night before recording a 91-86 victory over
Milwaukee on Monday.

The Nuggets, playing without starting forward Nene (bruised heel), showed
signs of fatigue, shooting 39.8 percent while committing 16 turnovers, but
outscored the Bucks 23-12 in the fourth quarter.

Danilo Gallinari finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Ty Lawson had
16 points and six assists.

“They didn’t look like they had three games in three nights,” Milwaukee’s
Stephen Jackson said. “That says a lot about how good of shape they’re in, and
they didn’t have Nene, so you’ve got to credit them for that.”

The win was Denver’s third in as many home games this season. They shut down
the Bucks in the fourth quarter after holding the Lakers to 19 points in the
final period on Sunday. Those teams shot a combined 40.9 percent and were 9 of
42 (21.4 percent) from 3-point range.

“In the fourth quarter it’s very easy to find extra energy,” Gallinari said
of feeding off the crowd. “You have a tight game, you want to win, especially at
home.”

Gallinari has elevated his play of late, collecting 41 points, 14 rebounds
and five steals in the last two games. He had 34 points and 14 boards in his
three previous contests.

The Nuggets may need another big game from him if Nene is sidelined again
Wednesday, although Al Harrington has been playing effectively off the bench. He
had 17 points and eight boards Monday and is averaging 15.7 points and 6.5
rebounds.

Like Denver, Sacramento (2-4) began its back-to-back-to-back series with a
113-96 loss to Memphis on Tuesday, but it could have a tougher time bouncing
back.

The Kings were outscored 31-17 in the first quarter, shooting 5 of 20.
Rookie Jimmer Fredette scored a season-high 17 points, shooting 4 of 6 from
3-point range, while J.J. Hickson contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.

DeMarcus Cousins came off the bench and had four points and eight rebounds
in 22 minutes. Cousins was told on Sunday to stay away from the team by coach
Paul Westphal after demanding a trade.

“I wouldn’t say it’s resolved,” Westphal said before the game. “We will see
how it plays out. I think DeMarcus has to continue to show maturity and a desire
to go the same direction as his teammates. We’re all hoping that happens.”

Cousins is third on the team with 11.2 points per game and adds 10.6
rebounds.

Sacramento will close this three-game stretch Thursday against Milwaukee.
The Kings starters should be rested after Westphal pulled most of them early
Tuesday. No starter played more than 27 minutes.

The Kings have lost four of five overall against the Nuggets and five
straight in Denver since a 118-115 win on April 5, 2008.

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Denver Nuggets Assign Hamilton and Stone to NBA…

January 3, 2012 – NBA Development League (D-League)
NEW YORK, Jan. 3, 2012 – The Denver Nuggets assigned guard-forward Jordan
Hamilton and guard Julyan Stone to the Idaho Stampede, the Nuggets’ NBA
D-League affiliate, it was announced today. The assignment marks the 13th
and 14th time in the 2011-12 NBA season a player has been assigned to an
NBA D-League affiliate. It marks the first assignment for each player.

Hamilton (6-7, 220) is in his rookie season and has not appeared in a
regular season game for the Nuggets. One of the 10 finalists for the Oscar
Robertson Trophy, the USBWA’s National Player of the Year award, as a
sophomore at Texas. Led Texas in scoring (18.6 ppg) and ranked second in
rebounding (7.7 rpg) and minutes played (32.2mpg).

Stone (6-6, 200) is also a rookie in the NBA this year and has not seen
action. He ranks first all-time in UTEP history in career assists with 714,
having passed Tim Hardaway in senior season. Played four seasons at UTEP,
averaging 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 30.7
minutes per game in 138 games (129 starts).

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• San Antonio Spurs Recall Gary Neal from NBA D-League Affiliate Austin Toros – D-League

• Hamilton, Stone Assigned to Stampede – Idaho Stampede

• Armor Acquire Damian Johnson – Springfield Armor

• Skyforce-Charge Complete Trade – Sioux Falls Skyforce

• Denver Nuggets Assign Hamilton and Stone to NBA D-League Affiliate Idaho Energy – D-League

• Reno’s Blake Ahearn and Andre Emmett Named Co-Performers of the Week – D-League

• Wizards Partner with Touchstone Energy Co-ops – Dakota Wizards

• Mad Ants and Erie Conduct Trade – Fort Wayne Mad Ants

• NBA D-League Update – D-League

• San Antonio Spurs Assign Cory Joseph to NBA D-League Affiliate Austin Toros – D-League

• Erie Acquires Phillips, Jr. from Fort Wayne – Erie BayHawks

• Houston Rockets Assign Marcus Morris to Rio Grande Valley – D-League

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

That’s all for today.

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Gallinari’s 21 points help Nuggets down Bucks

Updated Jan 3, 2012 3:53 AM ET

 

DENVER (AP)

Even short-handed, the Denver Nuggets finished their first back-to-back-to-back set of the lockout-compressed season on a high note.

 

Denver Nuggets

Looking for the latest on the Nuggets? Get the inside slant, stats, scores, schedules and more scoops right here.

 

Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 21 points, including a pair of free throws in the final seconds, and the Nuggets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 91-86 on Monday night to go 2-1 over the last three nights.

”The Bucks having two days off and us playing three in a row, we knew they had a little bit of an advantage, and they like to run like us,” said Al Harrington, who had 17 points for the Nuggets. ”But we always feel playing in Denver with the altitude, if we keep running in the fourth quarter we’ll be in a good position. At the end of the day they got tired.”

Ty Lawson chipped in with 16 points for the Nuggets, who were without Nene because of a bruised left heel. The Brazilian big man’s status is day-to-day.

Stephen Jackson had 17 points and Carlos Delfino added 14 for the Bucks, who were denied in a bid for a third consecutive win – which would have matched their best streak from last season.

The Bucks also were without Mike Dunleavy, who did not make the trip because of an undisclosed illness.

”When you play three games in three nights, the third one is very tough, especially when you play back-to-back (to start the set) with the Lakers,” Gallinari said.

Gallinari said when the going got tough, the Nuggets fed off the crowd.

”In the fourth quarter it’s very easy to find extra energy,” he said. ”You have a tight game, you want to win, especially at home.”

Jackson said the Nuggets didn’t appear fazed by the string of games.

”They didn’t look like they had three games in three nights,” Jackson said. ”That says a lot about how good of shape they’re in, and they didn’t have Nene, so you’ve got to credit them for that.”

Delfino’s 3-pointer gave the Bucks a 74-68 lead heading into the fourth quarter and Andrew Bogut’s 10-foot hook shot put Milwaukee in front 81-76 with 8:31 left to play.

Gallinari, who also had 10 rebounds, then got the Nuggets going. He drove in for a layup and tipped in a shot as part of a 10-0 run that Harrington finished with successive dunks as Denver went in front 86-81 with 4:01 remaining.

Jackson made a 20-foot jumper to pull Milwaukee to 87-86 with 1:55 remaining. Both sides missed jump shots before Lawson shook loose on a fast break and put in a layup with 10.9 seconds left for a three-point Nuggets’ lead.

Brandon Jennings, who had 12 points, missed a 3-point attempt from the top of the key with about 7 seconds to go. The rebound went to Gallinari, who was immediately fouled. He made both free throws with 5.3 seconds remaining to secure the win.

”We didn’t play very well. We kind of threw the ball all over the place,” said Bucks coach Scott Skiles. We gave ourselves a chance but we missed layups and we missed open shots.”

Milwaukee took a 44-37 lead after a basket by Luc Mbah a Moute. Denver came back to score 11 of the next 15 points, including tip-in by Gallinari as time expired to even the score at 48-all at halftime.

Notes: The Bucks failed to score at least 50 points in the first half for the first time in four games this season. … The Nuggets second back-to-back-to-back set is in the first week of February. … Gallinari’s previous season high was 20 points, scored the night before in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. … Jennings scored 20 or more points in each of his first three games before ending the streak with his 12-point outing against the Nuggets. … Denver has won eight of its last 10 meetings with the Bucks at the Pepsi Center.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

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Gallinari scores 20 as Nuggets beat Lakers, 99-90

Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points, Ty Lawson had 17 points and
10 assists and the Denver Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 99-90
on Sunday night.

Nene had 13 points for the Nuggets, who avenged a three-point
loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles less than 24 hours earlier.

Pau Gasol had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Andrew Bynum had 18
points and 16 rebounds for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant scored 16 points
on 6-of-28 shooting.

After a seesaw battle for most of the final period, the Nuggets
scored the final 11 points to pull out the win.

Gallinari scored two fast-break layups to give Denver a
two-point lead with 2:07 left. After Gasol missed a short
turnaround jumper, Lawson’s layup gave the Nuggets a 94-90 lead
with 1:20 left.

Bryant missed a 3-pointer from the top of the circle and
Harrington hit a 12-foot jumper to make it 96-90 with 49 seconds
left.

The Lakers took a 90-88 lead on Bryant’s layup with 2:47 left
and didn’t score again.

Trailing by 11 at halftime, the Lakers came out strong in the
third quarter. Bynum scored seven points in the first four minutes,
including a three-point play that tied it at 50-all.

Denver didn’t hit its first field goal of the second half until
Lawson’s drive gave the Nuggets the lead back with 7:03 left.
Gallinari followed with Denver’s first 3-pointer of the game to
make it 55-50.

Denver’s lead grew to nine late in the third before the Lakers
made another run to pull to 72-71 heading into the fourth.

Bryant missed his first five shots and committed two offensive
fouls before sitting in the final minute of the first quarter. He
returned midway through the second, hit a 3-pointer but missed his
next four.

The Lakers team didn’t fare any better. Los Angeles missed its
last 11 shots of the first half and shot just 32 percent at the
break.

The Nuggets struggled from the field, too, missing all nine of
their 3-point shots before the break, but they surged at the end of
the second quarter. Leading 39-36, Al Harrington hit four free
throws and had a nice interior pass to set up a dunk by Chris
Andersen that helped Denver take a 47-36 lead at halftime.

NOTES: Denver was 2 for 18 from 3-point range. … The Lakers
have played six games in the first eight days of the season,
including three in three nights to open the schedule. … Lawson
has scored in double figures in four of Denver’s first five games.
… Denver came into Sunday second in scoring in the NBA but 24th
in 3-point shooting.

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Lakers and Nuggets finish home-and-home set in…

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