(Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets' six-game winning streak will be put to
the test on Wednesday night when the Los Angeles Clippers invade the Pepsi
Center.
The Nuggets haven't lost since a Feb. 22 setback at Washington. Three of the
six victories during this recent run came at home where the Nuggets are
awesome. Denver is 26-3 in the Pepsi Center and the three losses is tied for
fewest at home in the NBA.
They've won 11 straight at home, with the last loss, ironically enough, coming
to those same lowly Wizards back on Jan. 18.
The Nuggets are in a positioning battle in the Western Conference. They trail
the Memphis Grizzlies by 1 1/2 for the all-important fourth seed, which gets
you home-court advantage, but are only 3 1/2 behind the Clips for third.
"I hate making predictions, but the month of March will tell us if we're in
that position (for the third seed)," head coach George Karl said. "Our team
has to realize you can't have a flat game and let someone who didn't play well
still win a game. I don't think we're going to go (undefeated), but we can't
beat ourselves."
On Tuesday, the Nuggets used a 36-29 third-quarter edge to hold off the
Sacramento Kings in California's capital.
"I thought the way we started defensively early in the third quarter was the
key," Karl said.
Ty Lawson, the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, had 24 points,
while Danilo Gallinari had 23. Kenneth Faried, Kosta Koufos and Andre Miller
also scored in double figures.
The Clippers head to the Mile High City after a good 117-101 win Wednesday at
home over the Milwaukee Bucks. It was the fifth victory in their last six
outings with the only loss, the nationally-televised setback on Sunday to the
Oklahoma City Thunder.
Blake Griffin recorded his third career triple-double on Wednesday with 23
points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
"It's exciting. I'm excited, but at the same time without my teammates hitting
those shots it doesn't happen," he said.
Griffin leads the team in scoring and rebounding, but took pride in his
excellence in that third category.
"Passing the ball matters to me," said Griffin. "Scoring and rebounding,
they're kind of staples. And that's part of my game, but being able to pass
and get guys open and create offense that way is important to me."
Jamal Crawford had 25 points and Matt Barnes chipped in 20 off the bench. The
reserves tallied 56 points for the Clippers on Wednesday. Chris Paul added 14
and DeAndre Jordan netted 10.
The Clippers have won five in a row on the road and six of their last seven.
The two teams have split the two matchups this season with each team
prevailing at home. Los Angeles won two in a row in Denver prior to its loss
New Year's Day, but before last season's two wins in Denver, the Clippers had
lost 10 in a row in the Pepsi Center.
The Sports Network