Nuggets try to maintain balance against the Clippers

The Denver Nuggets stumbled out of the gate in their opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, with Denver coming off a loss at home, but the Nuggets have a chance to get healthy quickly against the struggling Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers were much more competitive in their opener, but still lost by 3 in overtime to the Phoenix Suns. The Clippers are trying to see how far James Harden can take them with a ragtag lineup, while the Nuggets are looking for their mojo to become a championship contender. Both teams want to get it right, but only one can correct course today.

The essentials

WHO: Denver Nuggets (0-1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (0-1)

When: 3:00 PM MDT

Where: The tin. Denver, CO

How to watch/listen: Denver Stiffs doesn't tolerate piracy…unless it's the romanticized 17th century kind. Fubo, height. 92.5 FM altitude radio.

Rivals Blog: Clipperholics

Injury report: DaRon Holmes II – out (Achilles); Kawhi Leonard – out (knee), Mo Bamba – out (knee), PJ Tucker – out (private/commercial request).

The three things

What you should pay attention to: The James Harden Experience

Spirits in Clipper Land are low. After losing Paul George in the offseason, they'll be without Kawhi Leonard again to start the season, and now there's a lawsuit from Kawhi's personal trainer alleging tampering and poor injury management by Los Angeles. This isn't the team they wanted to bring to the stage in their new $2 billion arena, but James Harden is always dangerous and had some incredible games against Denver. Harden had a game-high 29 against the Suns, but his main collaborators are center Ivica Zubac and possibly Norman Powell as scorers. Without Harden as their engine, the Clippers don't have much scoring potential right now, so it's up to Denver to pour some sugar into Harden's tank.

Here's what you should remember: A bad start doesn't set the tone for the season

Denver lost its season opener to the Utah Jazz and started the season poorly 22-23 with an incredibly poor and sloppy performance. This season went well for Denver as they hung the first championship banner in franchise history. The Nuggets have several new substitutes who have only played a few minutes together, and Christian Braun is finding his rhythm in the starting lineup. Braun came out of the gate well in the starting lineup, but the whole “most guys play well next to Jokic” thing makes that easier than building instant chemistry on the bench.

Russell Westbrook needs to get comfortable with Dario Saric in the pick-and-roll up high, Julian Strawther needs to figure out how to make himself available for the drive-and-kick game, and Vlatko Cancar just needs to get on the floor. This should be a game where they can work out their weaknesses against a team they were supposed to beat, unlike the Thunder game where the pressure was non-stop. However, it's up to Denver to put on a much better team performance than they did against the Thunder, taking care of the ball and playing their brand of Nuggets basketball. The quality of the opponent matters less than the quality of effort and execution from Denver itself, as Denver tries to make the final game look like a one-off rather than a harbinger of the season.

What to bet on: Below the total score of 221

Denver will continue to play at a slower pace than most teams this year, and limiting possession is likely to lead to lower scoring, especially early in the season. The Nuggets have plenty of long defenders to throw at Harden, including Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther, all of whom are available to play on the future Hall of Famer. If Denver can try hard enough to defend the three-point line, which the Clippers team is unlikely to bomb away from anyway, then their pace and interior effectiveness should lead to a win without breaking the combined points. Looking for a suitable game for the Mile High crew.

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The return of the Nuggets season also means the return of Stiffs Night Out at #38 in Rino! Join us on November 8th to watch the Nuggets take on the Miami Heat. There are live podcasts, prize draws, drink specials, great food and the best Nuggets fans in town! Number 38 offers a wide selection of beers as well as numerous other drink options. The meeting point is at 7:00 p.m. and there is enough space for everyone. However, come early to get the best seats on the terrace (weather permitting). I can't wait to see everyone there at 3560 Chestnut Pl.

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