(Denver-CO) No team in the NBA has allowed themselves to be New Jersey’s first win of the season. Furthermore, the Nuggets haven’t given an NBA team a win at Pepsi Center in nine months.

The Nuggets will look to continue their current 15-game win streak at the Pepsi Center in what I’m going to call, “The Biggest Trap Game of the Year - So Far.” The Nets have struggled, there’s no doubt about that, but what most casual fans don’t realize is New Jersey hasn’t just been everybody’s sacrificial lamb. In fact, it’s actually more a case of New Jersey finding a way to lose in tight games as they have lost four games by three or fewer points so far this season.

As for the Nuggets… they may just be entering one of the easiest stretches of their schedule. Along with the Nets tonight, Denver will play host in four out of their next five games with teams like the Timberwolves (once at home and once in Minnesota), Warriors, and Knicks before the Heat come to town on December 12th.

And did you know… The Nuggets are ranked overall #1 overall in Hollinger’s Power Rankings, but when numbers aren’t the measuring stick Doc’s Sports NBA Power Rankings have the Nuggets down in the eighth spot?

All that aside, I really do believe that the key in tonight’s game will be which team’s bench gives them the most energy.

For New Jersey, they will be looking for a spark from Devin Harris. In his first game back from a groin injury, Harris came off the bench and scored twelve points and handed out seven assists. And make no mistake… Harris is still an All-Star caliber point guard in this league who can change a game single handedly with his change of pace, passing, or his scoring ability regardless of whether he starts or comes of the pine.

For the Nuggets, the hoop star momentarily known as Earl Smith is the key offensively while the Birdman is Denver’s defensive wild card. J.R. is averaging 19 ppg over while shooting 47% from the field in his last five games and Chris Andersen is giving the Nuggets seven boards, six points, and nearly two blocks in his last five games after a slow start and suffering from tendonitis in his right knee.

Now let’s talk turkey, Nuggets Nation. Denver has already lost games to the Bucks (who, to their credit, are surprising a lot of people) and Clippers, and an embarrassing loss tonight would be a real shot in the breadbasket for the Nuggets momentum going into the aforementioned future schedule. And it’s never too early to take a peek at the division where the Trailblazers have now taken half game lead with two more wins than the Nuggets and are laying in wait for the New Jersey Nets tomorrow night. This means, assuming the Nets lose tomorrow to Portland, the Nuggets would fall a full game backfrom the Trailblazers before heading up to Minnesota tomorrow night if they somehow lose tonight.

Don’t let it happen!

Go Nuggets!

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