(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets will try to avoid losing three consecutive games for the first time since last March tonight when they take on the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City. The Bulls (4-2) are looking to remain unbeaten through their first four games at the United Center for the first time since Michael Jordan was last in town on his way to his sixth NBA championship. However, Chicago’s task will be tough without power forward Tyrus Thomas who is expected to miss up to six weeks after breaking his left arm in a weight lifting accident last week whereas the Nuggets will be welcoming back from suspension one of their key performers, J.R. Smith.

Smith, who wants to reinvent himself under his birth given name, Earl, has served his seven-game suspension for a driving incident that killed his friend, Andre Bell, two years ago. Additionally, the Nuggets will welcome back Kenyon Martin from a lower leg contusion that kept him out of the second half of the Miami Heat loss and all of the loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

For Denver, this is the first time they will have their roster at full strength. For the Bulls, they will have to find a way to pick up Thomas’ missing energy.

The biggest struggle for the Bulls this season has been scoring the basketball. Chicago comes into tonight’s game averaging the league’s second lowest point per game total of 88.5 ppg. On other side of that coin, the Denver Nuggets’ biggest setback has been giving up points in bunches. The Nuggets have allowed their opposition at least one 30+ point quarter in four of their first seven games, including a 40-point explosion conceded to the Memphis Grizzlies, and are allowing over 104 points per game.

In tonight’s game, I feel that free-throw shooting is going to play a huge role in who walks away with the W. The Bulls are guilty of putting their first six opponents on the line for almost 30 attempts per game and against the NBA’s top free-throw shooting team by volume I wouldn’t be surprised if that number is near 40 shots from the charity line. However, with that being said, just shooting a lot of free-throws doesn’t guarantee a victory for the Nuggets. Denver shot 41 attempts against the Hawks and made 82% of those attempts, but still lost, 125-100.

What will ensure a Nuggets’ dub is playing some defense. Denver is allowing an alarmingly high 114.5 points per game over their last two losses compared to previously allowing 101.8 ppg in their first five wins. Hopefully, Kenyon Martin’s defensive toughness returning to the line-up will also bring the return of Denver’s stinginess which should in turn jumpstart the Denver offense with the fast break off of defensive rebounds.

In addition to buttoning things down defensively, the Nuggets would greatly benefit from J.R. Smith remembering that the Bulls were the team that disrespectfully traded him for Howard Eisely (who they then cut) before even giving him a look back in 2006. Since that trade, J.R. has loved to light up the Bulls. In fact, when J.R. is in powder blue his scoring average against the Bulls is a personal best 19 points per meeting.

But more than any statistic or trend, the Nuggets need to bounce back into their winning form by any means necessary in this the last of three back-to-back sets on this season-long, six-game road trip. I don’t care if they score 180 and give up 179, the bottom line tonight is win . And if they do win tonight, I believe tomorrow night’s game against the struggling Bucks will be nothing more than a demitasse and will hopefully set the Nuggets up to salvage a 4-2 record on this trip before coming home to host the Lakers on Friday night.

Go Nuggets!

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