When Eric Bledsoe is playing at a high level, the Phoenix Suns are a tough team to beat.
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The Denver Nuggets swept a three-game homestand and will seek to continue their winning streak when they visit the Phoenix Suns on Saturday. Denver G Emmaunel Mudiay came into the game averaging 11.9 points, 6.8 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.22 steals. Will Barton also was phenomenal once again for the Nuggets, leading the team in points (19), rebounds (12) and assists (four) against the Suns. Deron Williams came into Friday as the only player qualifying for the statistical category who remained flawless from the free throw line (14 of 14).
“When you just start to be a starter and you start to make your way in this league, you’re anxious about what you can do”, said Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek. “It’s definitely with a better flow”. The defense has been atrocious, often unable to halt the other team’s momentum when they get hot.
I understand the Rockets are essentially just now playing fully healthy because the team was so slowed with injuries in training camp and the preseason.
There’s no ignoring that the relationship between the Nuggets and the 28-year-old point guard crumbled ahead of the trade in July that sent him to Houston.
Losing Gallinari would put the offense in the hands of Faried and rookie Emmanuel Mudiay. Denver shot 35 percent (34 for 98) from the field and was hurt by a 57-42 rebounding deficit. Bledsoe had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting and Archie Goodwin added six off the bench. Sadly instead of pushing the pedal to the medal, they let off the gas and allowed the Suns to respond with a 10-2 run of their own before Mike Malone called a timeout. “So he’s playing great right now”.
The Suns made just two of their first 10 shots, but grabbed control with a 17-0 run and led 27-13 when the quarter was over. Gallinari’s 3-pointer with 2:12 left made it 104-91. The same injury prevented him from playing a game this season, which kind of a big blow to a Nuggets team that needs offensive firepower after the departure of several key players past year, including point guard Ty Lawson. “That’s the National Basketball Association. Our selfish play we saw in the first half was bothersome”.
Since a 14-point, 17-rebound game against the Clippers with four alley-oop dunks, Suns center Tyson Chandler has had three field-goal attempts in each of the four games after that.
“Our defense was disgusting, especially in the first half”, Barton said.
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With the game already virtually wrapped up by half, Kenneth Faried was dealing with back spasms and sat for the second half. Give them credit: we’re not going to say it’s the second night of a back to back, we have injuries. Malone had Lauvergne, a native of France, check in with his family Friday night in the wake of the shootings in Paris. Lauvergne has missed the last seven games…. Barton had his sixth career double-double and first since March 2015….
