Los Angeles Clippers guard Norman Powell is off to a fantastic begin this season, and it might be even higher if he performed in opposition to the Denver Nuggets extra usually.
Powell is averaging 23.5 factors a sport total this season, together with 27 in three video games in opposition to Denver. He’ll get an opportunity to extend that common when the Clippers go to the Nuggets on Wednesday night time.
Powell scored 37 factors within the first assembly on Oct. 26, when he made a season-high seven 3-pointers. He added 28 factors in opposition to Denver on Dec. 1. However he scored simply 16 on Dec. 13, and it was the one time this season Los Angeles has misplaced to the Nuggets.
The Clippers, nevertheless, have one other weapon for the ultimate sport between the groups this season in Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard made his season debut in opposition to Atlanta on Saturday night time and scored 12 factors. He had eight in Monday’s loss at Minnesota however stated he is not frightened about his numbers after simply two video games.
“We’re nonetheless easing me into the sport. We’re on no person’s timetable,” Leonard stated after the win over the Hawks. “Anyone watching that wishes to see me rating 20, 30 factors, or be aggressive, we aren’t on nobody’s time-frame. We all know what’s forward of us, and we have now to maintain constructing in the fitting path.”
Los Angeles has been treading water with out Leonard, led by Powell’s career-high scoring whole. James Harden is second in scoring at 21.6 factors a sport and leads the group in common assists (8.0).
The Clippers ought to be extra rested than Denver, which misplaced 118-106 to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night time. The Nuggets had been with out Aaron Gordon for the seventh straight sport attributable to a proper calf pressure, and it’s uncertain he’ll swimsuit up Wednesday night time.
Extra of a priority for Denver is the supply of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who missed Tuesday’s sport with a non-COVID sickness. Jokic left the sector earlier than tip-off in opposition to the Celtics.
“He wasn’t feeling nice (Monday), and that has solely gotten worse (Tuesday), which is unlucky,” coach Michael Malone stated. “He is attempting to battle by way of it.”
The Nuggets are 1-3 in video games with out their greatest participant. Jokic is second within the NBA in scoring (31.5 factors a sport) and assists (9.7) and third in rebounding (13.0). He’s additionally main the league in 3-point capturing at 47.3 % and has a league-leading 14 triple-doubles this season and 144 for his profession.
Gordon has missed 17 whole video games due to his proper calf. Russell Westbrook, who has moved into the beginning lineup, scored 26 factors within the loss to Boston and has a triple-double and double-double since turning into a starter.
Denver has misplaced two of its final three video games, with each losses coming at house. The Nuggets are simply 10-7 on their house court docket this season after going 33-8 and 34-7 at house the earlier two campaigns.
–Subject Stage Media
