Philadelphia Sixers Vs. Denver Nuggets Preview
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Sixers (10-3) will begin their toughest three game stretch so far this season tonight at the Wells Fargo Center against Danilo Galinari and the Denver Nuggets (7pm, listen live on 94WIP).
The Nuggets (9-5) present the biggest challenge the Sixers have faced at home so far. The front line of Gallinari, Nene, Timofey Mozgov and Chris Andersen could present problems for a Sixers team who could be without Spencer Hawes, who is a game time decision with a strained achilles. Hawes is also suffering from a strained back, which has kept him out of one game this year and limited him in others.
The two match-ups to watch tonight will be Gallinari vs. Andre Iguodala, and the point guard duel of Ty Lawson and the Sixers' Jrue Holiday.
Gallinari is having a breakout year, posting career highs in points, assists and steals per game. Iguodala has lived up to his reputation this season as one of the premier defenders in the NBA and is playing the best basketball he has in years.
Lawson is also posting career highs in points, assists, steals and rebounds. Jrue Holiday is coming off perhaps his best game of the season, with 24 points and 5 assists in the Sixers win Monday afternoon over the Bucks. H
The schedule could favor the Sixers, as the Nuggets are playing the second of back to back games on the road after defeating the Bucks in Milwaukee last night. Back-to-back games on the road has historically been a problem for teams in the NBA.
The Nuggets will be the first of three playoff-bound teams the Sixers face this week, with the Atlanta Hawks visiting the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, and the Sixers travelling to Miami to take on the Heat on Saturday. The Sixers will be in that same back-to-back on the road position that the Nuggets face tonight. It'll be a crucial stretch for the Sixers, who if nothing else look to prove themselves by beating better teams, as most of their 10 wins have come against the bottom dwellers of the league.
Evan Turner, who sat out Monday's game with a quad contusion suffered in Saturday's game against Washington, is likely to play for the Sixers.
Tickets are still available for the game at Sixers.com.
