Denver (5-1) at Atlanta (4-2)

Cloudy Currently: Atlanta, GA
Temp: 53° F
  • Game info: 7:00 pm EST Sat Nov 7, 2009
  • TV: NBATV, SS

By MATT BEARDMORE, STATS Writer Nov 7, 12:15 am EST

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The Denver Nuggets are coming off their longest postseason run in 24 years.

The Atlanta Hawks advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season for the first time in a decade.

Neither team looked playoff-ready Friday.

Denver looks to rebound from its first loss of the season Saturday night, when it faces a Hawks team returning home from a disappointing trip.

After pushing the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers to six games in their first Western Conference finals appearance since 1985, the Nuggets opened 2009-10 with their first 5-0 mark since 1985-86.

With the franchise-record 8-0 start within sight, Denver (5-1) fell to Miami 96-88 on Friday. The Nuggets were averaging a league-best 115.4 points.

Carmelo Anthony(notes) had 30 points on 12 of 22 shooting, but the Nuggets’ other starters hit a combined 6 of 20.

“I’m not going to give anyone an ‘A’ on this one,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “We all have to be disappointed on how we showed up.”

If Karl is going to pick up his 939th career victory Saturday and move past Red Auerbach for eighth place on the all-time coaching wins list, he likely won’t have forward Kenyon Martin(notes), who left Friday’s game in the second quarter with a leg injury.

Karl said Martin could be sidelined for “a week or two.”

The Nuggets will also continue to be without guard J.R. Smith(notes), who serves the final game of his suspension Saturday, stemming from his guilty plea for reckless driving in an accident that killed his friend in 2007.

While Denver tries to get its six-game eastern trip back on track, the Hawks (4-2) are hoping to erase bad memories of Friday’s 103-83 loss at Charlotte.

Atlanta shot a season-low 39.8 percent from the field and was handed its worst defeat since a 121-97 loss to Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 7.

“Ain’t no way (Charlotte) is 20-some points better than us,” guard Joe Johnson(notes) said after scoring a season-low 13. “It can’t continue to go like this.”

Johnson, though, continued by calling out his teammates following the Hawks’ 2-of-16 effort from 3-point range.

“Everybody who touches (the ball) wants to score,” he said. “I really think guys on this team don’t know their roles, so it’s killing us. And it’s going to continue to kill us.”

Atlanta, though, looks for its third straight home win. The Hawks were 31-10 at Philips Arena last season when they defeated Miami in seven games for their first playoff series win since 1999.

In Denver’s last visit to Atlanta, the Hawks won 109-91 on Dec. 29 behind Johnson’s 25 points and 16 points and 10 rebounds from Al Horford(notes).

Anthony picked up a technical foul in that game while scoring 16 points on 4 of 17 shooting. He is averaging 25.0 points and 7.8 boards in six career games in Atlanta.

The Nuggets have lost two in a row and seven of 35 all-time visiting the Hawks. Denver’s last victory in Atlanta was 100-87 on Dec. 12, 2006.

Updated Nov 7, 12:15 am EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Denver 10-4 1st Northwest / 3rd West 107.4 100.3 Road 4-4 Won 2 6-4
Atlanta 11-3 2nd Southeast / 2nd East 105.5 98.9 Home 7-0 Lost 1 8-2

Notes

April 22 G Chauncey Billups' previous playoff high for threes was seven at Orlando in 2003, and his regular season high was also seven, which he accomplished three times, the last on Jan. 11, 2004, against Dallas. ... C Nene briefly left the game after getting poked in his left eye by Devin Brown late in the third quarter. ... Grammy-award winning rapper Lil Wayne, a native of New Orleans, had a front-row seat.

Apr 20, 1:53 am EDT

Former Hawks owner Ted Turner watched from a front-row seat. ... With G Acie Law sidelined by a back injury, the Hawks dressed G Speedy Claxton. The $25 million bust went more than two years without playing until the final week of the season, and he actually got on the court in the waning minutes with the outcome long since decided.

Apr 19, 11:06 pm EDT
NBA

25 Comments

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  1. anonymous
    25. Posted by anonymous Sun Nov 8 6:07pm EST

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    Big surprise the wack lakers will be going to the finals. The hawks are inconsistent, but they have progress. Give props when props are due. There's no excuse of why the Nuggets played poorly. You didn't have that excuse, when they won 5 straight, did you? No. JUST GIVE HAWKS PROPS on dominating the game. These games are set this way. It's no excuse, it's flat out true. I give props when props are due. Lakers get baby too much. I admire Kobe for team effort, but besides that, I could give a rat's tail about the Lakers. I noticed the same teams go to the finals. Boston, Lakers, Orlando, Miami, San Antonio, etc. It's not so much the Lakers are "deep" but I am absolutely sure, most of their calls are based on favoritism, which gives a win 80% of the time. Besides having Kobe and Pau Gasol, they wouldn't be anything. This article is about the Hawks and Nuggets. Who cares about the Lakers and Celtics? I believe it will comes down to Eastern Division:Magic vs Celtics and Western Division:Lakers vs Nuggets. Let's be frank, it's too early to determine who's going to win. By the way, an eastern team will become a champion next year. The east is TOO serious and deep this year. There's no way a western team can win,unless, of course, the spoiled lakers pay off to win.
  2. Dian
    24. Posted by Dian Sun Nov 8 5:12pm EST

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    nugget is good if they play phisical. this lose is a prove of they runing out energy. I remember last year play off again new orlean, cp couldnt do nothing. but I dont worry because laker are big and strong. phil is gona fire them up.. go laker..
  3. D. Skin
    23. Posted by D. Skin Sun Nov 8 2:29pm EST

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    ...sleep on ATL if you Want To...we are gonna surprise a LOT of teams this year...
  4. C Bear
    22. Posted by C Bear Sun Nov 8 1:22pm EST

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    they need their offencive shooter back. Jr helps them win against playoff teams
  5. Dan
    21. Posted by Dan Sun Nov 8 12:59pm EST

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    you're all not so smart.. you didn't notice that josh smith scored 125 points? (Look in the article)
  6. Eloy Caesar
    20. Posted by Eloy Caesar Sun Nov 8 10:43am EST

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    hey, you think chauncey, nene, jr, can't be the #1 or #2 option on some of the other teams? and do you seriously think that bynum can bully nene? cmon! but anyway, i didn't say that they are sure to beat LA, i'm just pointing out that their bench is already deep as it is, deep and well-balanced. i actually agree that it's going to be boston and la come june but i think boston's going to win it all..but that's just me.
  7. Bryan N
    19. Posted by Bryan N Sun Nov 8 10:41am EST

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    Write your opinion on the news at nelsonnews1.webs.com! Become a member today!
  8. Saisen
    18. Posted by Saisen Sun Nov 8 2:24am EST

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    it's ok nuggs. just get back on the game.

    i know it is difficult, because you have 6 straight road games.

    just bounce back next game.

    MELO play hard, you're my favorite player.
  9. Jesse Kumin
    17. Posted by Jesse Kumin Sun Nov 8 1:14am EST

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    Denver was playing without JR Smith or Kenyon Martin tonight. Graham and Balkman aren't the same offensive threats or as good on defense. Martin's absence was reflected in how well Atlanta shot. It will be interesting to see how Denver plays when JR and Kenyon are both back. With Melo, JR, Billups, Nene and Kenyon, that's a fairly competitive team with a lot of offensive weapons. They still need work on their defense. The front court bench isn't as competitive as it should be. Ty Lawson is possibly a future all-star in a few years.
  10. <i>wjrudy</i>
    16. Posted by wjrudy Sun Nov 8 1:05am EST

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    "Go Back to Ireland" - I've noticed a few of your posts... you're really not the sharpest crayon in the box are you? Are you aware that the season is 82 games long with a multitude of variables that will play into the final outcome - many of which cannot possibly be imagined at this stage? Your comments do little more than betray your ignorance. Try filtering a few of your thoughts before writing them down. Unless, of course, you're a jr. high kid... is that true?
  11. Jack
    15. Posted by Jack Sun Nov 8 1:04am EST

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    just one hand down? commit to something man!!
  12. Jarrod
    14. Posted by Jarrod Sun Nov 8 12:27am EST

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    Denver is the best team in the NBA right now, hand down. So what they lost 2 straight even the best do that.
  13. Silas
    13. Posted by Silas Sun Nov 8 12:02am EST

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    Eloy (#12), Los Angeles has four players (besides Kobe) that would be the #1 or #2 option on most other teams. Gasol, Bynum, Artest, Odom. They have bench players that would be starters on other teams. Denver is a great team, don't get me wrong, I'm just saying that Anderson can't outplay Odom, Nene can't outplay Bynum, Kenyon can't outplay Gasol, and Artest will limit Melo to normal levels. The only edge DNV has is with Billups but with a PG tandom like Fisher, Farmar, and Shannon Brown LA will manage.

    And San Antonio? Those names you mentioned are good but really... They are NOT at LA's level. Again, Gasol, Bynum, Artest, Odom, oh and this small guy named Kobe Bryant... SA is good but not good enough. Remember this conversation in a few months when LA wins the series. What was it last season? 4-1...
  14. Eloy Caesar
    12. Posted by Eloy Caesar Sat Nov 7 11:52pm EST

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    atlanta added jamal crawford..dude! and look at jsmoove right now.. he's like..

    hmmm, jr smith, chris andersen, arron afflalo, ty lawson, anthony carter, renaldo balkman. that's a well-balanced bench right there, just the right amount of offense and defense plus a huge amount of hustle. but you're right, they are inconsistent..

    say what? SA doesn't have the offensive options to outscore a team? with manu, parker, duncan, jefferson, finley, bonner, mason? okay if you say so.
  15. Silas
    11. Posted by Silas Sat Nov 7 10:59pm EST

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    Henry, (#10) There is a difference between a realistic expectation and a fantasy. The truth is most of these teams have the same rosters as the last two years except for one or two players. The questions are:

    1) Have teams improved dramatically because of experience?
    2) Have the roster changes been enough to make a team better than another through the end of the season?
    3) What role will injuries play.

    Denver - they haven't made any changes. They are probably hungrier and Melo has improved but is that enough to beat LA?? Kobe seem very hungry still and adding Ron will surely add toughness.
    ATL - Are you serious?? What adjustments have they made?
    DAL - No killer instinct and while they are good adding Marion doesn't get them over the top.
    SA - Adding Jefferson helps but is it enough? They are probably the biggest threat to LA but they will get tired and they don't have the offensive weapons to outscore a team.

    Bottom line is: In order to get different results a team has to do something different. Have the teams done enough to outmatch LA? No. The only team with a system and ability to give LA problems over a series is Boston.
  16. Henry H
    10. Posted by Henry H Sat Nov 7 10:47pm EST

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    Long season. The ups and downs are just beginning. All your sure-thing predictions are laughable. An athletic team like Atlanta can win on most any night, not that they will necessarily win big all year long. Let's watch all these teams lace 'em up for another 25 games or so before we start talking dares and money as regards our predictions.
  17. Steve E.
    9. Posted by Steve E. Sat Nov 7 10:33pm EST

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    Clippers "Joke of the Decade?" Try decade times four. Speaking of which http://www.stupidgsa.com/american/newlywed-game/many-decades-your-husband-say-his-mother-has-lived
  18. Silas
    8. Posted by Silas Sat Nov 7 10:22pm EST

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    Denver is good but they are NOT championship material! They aren't deep enough and they are too inconsistent. I think only Billups and Melo have what it take but the rest are wack!!!

    SA - Not enough offense
    POR - Not enough experience
    NO - Not enough talent
    UT - Deron can't carry the team the whole way. They made no significant changes this year. And they expect different results??
    Clips? - Joke of the decade.

    Lakers versus Boston... I'll put money on it. LA in 6. They are too strong... Especially with Ron.

    ~I dare anyone to try and prove me wrong~
  19. RichardB
    7. Posted by RichardB Sat Nov 7 10:21pm EST

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    nuggets r the fifth best team in da west
  20. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    6. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Sat Nov 7 10:03pm EST

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    THE THUGGETS GO FROM 1st IN THE WEST to 3rd. ha ha ha ja ja ja
  21. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    5. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Sat Nov 7 9:58pm EST

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    Texas_hurricane is a retard!
  22. GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS
    4. Posted by GO BACK TO IRELAND STUPID BOSTON KELTICS Sat Nov 7 9:57pm EST

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    Denver sucks! for all those people who said that the loss to miami was just 1 game, now its 2 games! the denver thuggets suck @ss. denver sucks against the east coast!
  23. Minch
    3. Posted by Minch Sat Nov 7 5:33pm EST

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    Go Hawks. You guys rock at home
  24. Brandon
    2. Posted by Brandon Sat Nov 7 8:27am EST

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    These nuggets need to pull off a win
  25. Joel D
    1. Posted by Joel D Sat Nov 7 5:01am EST

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    go nuggs
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