Since the Nuggets picked up Russell Westbrook in the offseason the Nuggets have gone 13-4 with him as a starter. Westbrook has averaged 15.3 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and is 53.4 percent from the field.
The Denver Nuggets are fourth in the Western Conference, and have won 6 of their last 7 games. They are the third-best scoring team in the league and have benefited from the success of players like Kansas Jayhawk Christian Braun who just logged a 20-point double-double in Denver’s win over the Orlando Magic this past Sunday.
The chemistry in Denver is getting the attention of the rest of the league and players like Westbrook and Braun are without a doubt feeding off each-others success.
Last postseason the Nuggets were bested by the Minnesota Timberwolves four games to three. This season, two of the top four teams in the Western Conference didn’t make the playoffs but are well on their way, with plus .600 winning percentages (Houston Rockets, and Memphis Grizzlies).
The Nuggets are two games behind the Memphis Grizzlies and nine games behind the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Catching the Thunder would be a tall order for the Nuggets but not an impossible one with 40 games still left on the schedule.
This week the Nuggets are at home to host the Philadelphia 76ers (results of game not available at the time of this writing) and the Sacramento Kings. 76ers center, Joel Embiid has only played twice in the Mile High with his last game in Denver on November 8 of 2019. The 76ers lost to Denver after the Nuggets capped a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback with Nikola Jokic scoring the game winning shot.
In other sports the Colorado Avalanche lost at home to the Minnesota Wild at Ball Arena on Monday afternoon. The Avs and Wild were all knotted up after two periods with one apiece. Minnesota added two in the third to beat the Avs 3-1.
This week the Avs are at home to host the Winnipeg Jets and then will travel to Boston to face the Bruins on Saturday. The Avs lost to the Bruins on October 16, 5-3 at home so they now have a chance to return the favor in Boston.
The Avs remain on the East Coast on Sunday to face the New York Rangers in New York. The Avs beat New York 3-2 in overtime last Tuesday at Ball Arena.
The Final teams left for the NFL Conference Championships are set with the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Buffalo Bills, while the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Washington Commanders this Sunday.
The AFC Championship game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. MST. on Sunday in Kansas City while the NFC Championship game is slated for 1 p.m. MST in Philadelphia.
