Preview: Denver Nuggets try to gain ground in playoff race with game against Memphis Grizzlies

The Denver Nuggets have two games remaining in the regular season and could still land anywhere from the three seed to the eight seed. Fresh off a win for the first time under interim head coach David Adelman, Denver tries to make it two in a row against one of the teams they currently are battling for seeding: the Memphis Grizzlies. Like the Nuggets, the Grizzlies made a late season coaching change. They fired head coach Taylor Jenkins about two weeks ago. The Grizzlies are just 3-4 since that happened and star point guard Ja Morant is once again feuding with the league about firearm related shenanigans. Despite all that, Memphis and Denver are separated by one game in the standings and have split the first two games thus far giving this contest huge seeding implications. With a win Denver will clinch a playoff spot and guarantee themselves a higher seed than Memphis. Lose and the Nuggets will be fighting to not be a play-in team on the very last game of the year.

The Essentials

Who: Denver Nuggets (48-32) vs Memphis Grizzlies (47-33)

When: 7PM MDT

Where: The Can. Denver, CO.

How to watch/listen: Crackstreams bad, Blackbeard good, you know the drill. KTVD My20, Altitude+, NBA League Pass for those not in the Nuggets market, Altitude Radio 92.5FM. Show up with your coaching resume and one of the two teams might take you up on an interview.

Rival blog: Beale Street Bears

The Matchup

Injury report*: Jamal Murray – doubtful (hamstring), DaRon Holmes II – out (achilles); Zylon PUllin – questionable (knee), Jaylen Wells – out (wrist), Brandon Clarke – out (knee). *The Grizzlies injury report was not published at the time of writing.

The Three Things

The thing to watch for: Will the effort continue

The Nuggets showed renewed energy in their first game post firing Michael Malone and Calvin Booth and ended a four game losing streak. Thanks to said streak, the margin of error in these final two games is very thin. Denver can’t revert to their ho-hum funk that kept costing them games late. A loss tonight could be disastrous. Not only would it put Denver behind the eight ball with the Grizzlies, but a number of other teams Denver is battling with have very winnable games tonight. The Timberwolves, Lakers & Warriors are all double digit favorites tonight and the Clippers, while on the road, are playing a Kings team that may be going to the play-in, but also has a losing record. Got to get this one tonight.

The thing to remember: Unlikely these teams face each other in the playoffs.

I expect neither coach to be holding back tonight. While it certainly is possible Denver and Memphis end up seeing each other in the first round, it’s not likely. It will take a lot for Denver to move higher than the 4 seed meaning they’re far more likely to play one of the four teams in front of them than one of the three behind them. Getting the four seed means winning tonight which would basically eliminate any chance of Memphis getting the five seed (they do not have tie breakers against the Warriors or the Clippers). Losing tonight coupled with some of those double-digit favorites winning would make it a tall task for Denver to finish higher than sixth (Denver doesn’t have tie breakers against the Wolves and Clippers and would lose the tiebreaker with the Grizzlies). I think we’ll see the full gamut of players, plays and strategies tonight from both teams who have far too much to gain from a win.

The thing to bet: Jalen Pickett over 4.5 assists (+100)

Pickett has taken on the role of starting point guard while Jamal Murray is out with a hamstring and that is likely the case again tonight with Murray listed as doubtful. Last game Pickett logged 31 minutes and 4 assists. It was his fourth game this season playing over thirty minutes but just the first time in that scenario where he didn’t get at least five assists.