SB Nation Denver - Nuggets Vs. Magic: Denver Looks To Solidify Place In Western Conference

Nuggets Schedule 2012: Denver Begins Final Week Of Season Vs. Orlando

2012-04-22T13:52:28Z

As the 2012 NBA regular season winds down, we now know one thing for certain: the Denver Nuggets will be in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. We also know that they will be either the sixth seed or the seventh seed, but beyond that, much is still up in the air. On Sunday they'll take the floor vs. the Orlando Magic as the No. 6 overall team in the Western Conference with the goal of staying there and avoiding a potentially fatal first round match up with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Magic, who are without star center Dwight Howard for the rest of the season and the playoffs, are free falling, though it's not due to lack of effort. Losses in their last two games— to the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz, the latter of which came in overtime— have consigned them to the No. 6 seed in the East and a series with the Indiana Pacers, and Sunday's game has little, if any, meaning to them.

With Howard out, the Magic have had to cobble together their scoring, with Glen Davis claiming an increasingly larger role in the offense as more responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of previously auxiliary pieces such as Ryan Anderson and Jason Richardson take on the brunt of the responsibility. But it's their defense that has suffered the most. The Magic has given up 100 points or more six times in April, and the Nuggets fast-paced offense will be looking to add to that number.

Game date/time: Sunday, April 22, 6:00 p.m. CT

Location: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colo.

Odds: Denver by 10

TV: ALT

For more on this game, stick with SB Nation Denver. For more on the Nuggets, head over to Denver Stiffs and for more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Nuggets Vs. Suns Final Score: Denver Picks Up Critical Win Over Phoenix

2012-04-22T00:05:12Z

The Denver Nuggets may have solidified their place in the Western Conference playoffs on Saturday evening with a 118-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Denver entered the game seventh in the West standings, while the Suns entered in the eighth and final spot with the Utah Jazz nipping on their heels. The win lifts Denver to 35-28 on the season, while Phoenix falls to 33-31.

The Nuggets were led by point guard Ty Lawson, who finished with 29 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds. Shooting guard Arron Afflalo had 19 points in the win. Rookie forward Kenneth Faried had 18 points and 13 rebounds on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor.

The Suns were led by shooting guard Shannon Brown, who had 28 points and six rebounds. Steve Nash had eight points and 13 assists for Phoenix. Marcin Gortat added 18 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs. And for updates from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Nuggets Vs. Suns Score Update: Denver Takes 13 Point Lead Into 4th Quarter

2012-04-21T23:27:00Z

The Denver Nuggets outscored the Phoenix Suns 33-22 in the third quarter on Saturday evening to take a 93-80 lead into the fourth quarter at in Phoenix. The Suns entered the game in eighth place in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets entered in seventh place.

Ty Lawson has done it all for the Nuggets. The point guard has 27 points, nine assists and three rebounds after three quarters. Rookie forward Kenneth Faried has 16 points and 11 rebounds for Denver on 8-of-11 shooting. Forward Danilo Gallinari has 13 points and four assists for Denver.

The Suns are led by Steve Nash, who ends the third with eight points, 13 assists and six rebounds. Marcin Gortat has 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns. Shannon Brown has 17 points.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs. And for updates from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Nuggets Vs. Suns Score Update: Denver Trails 34-28 After First Quarter

2012-04-21T22:11:14Z

The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns entered their Saturday afternoon contest as the seventh and eighth seeds in the Western Conference playoff picture respectively. Through one quarter in Phoenix, the Suns lead the Nuggets 34-28.

Shooting guard Shannon Brown leads the Suns through a quarter. Brown has 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Steve Nash didn't score in the first quarter, but does have a very impressive nine assists. Phoenix center Marcin Gortat has 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting after one.

Ty Lawson leads the Nuggets with 10 points and three assists on 3-for-4 shooting from the field. Rookie forward Kenneth Faried has eight points and three rebounds through the first quarter. Al Harrington has four points off the bench for the Nuggets.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs. And for updates from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Nuggets Vs. Suns: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

2012-04-21T18:10:12Z

The Denver Nuggets currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference playoff standings with just three games remaining. The Nuggets have a 1.5 game lead on both the eighth-seeded Phoenix Suns and ninth seeded Utah Jazz coming into tonight's date against Steve Nash and the Suns at US Airways Center. Needless to say, it's a huge game for George Karl's team.

The Nuggets have won two of their last three games, but fell to the Clippers on Wednesday night. The Suns scored a pivotal victory by defeating the Clippers the next night.

Phoenix plays Utah on Tuesday. With the regular season coming it a close, it appears as if the Western Conference playoff picture will be cleared up with the teams fighting for the final postseason spots battling head-to-head.

Game Date & Time: Saturday, April 21, 3:30 p.m. MT

Location: US Airways Center; Phoenix, AZ.

TV: Altitude, ESPN

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over toNuggets blog Denver Stiffs. And for updates from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Nuggets Vs. Suns: Playoff Hopefuls Look To Jump In Standings

2012-04-21T02:09:42Z

The Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns will enter's Saturday afternoon's game within punching distance of each other in the Western Conference playoff race. Currently, the Nuggets sit at 34-28 with the No. 7 seed in the West, while the Suns are 33-30, which is good for No. 8 in the West. Hot on both teams' heels is the Utah Jazz, who are also 33-30 but are behind the Suns thanks to a tiebreaker.

The good news for the Nuggets is that with two wins already vs. the Suns this season, they will hold the head-to-head tiebreaker should the two teams finish tied in the standings regardless of what happens in this final match up. With a win, the Nuggets would all but end Phoenix's chance of catching them for the seventh seed, making the Suns fight it out with the Jazz.

In the two teams' last game, which came on April 6, Andre Miller led the Nuggets on a fourth quarter comeback that helped Denver defeat Phoenix 105-99, a game in which Arron Afflalo scored 30 points.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over toNuggets blog Denver Stiffs. And for updates from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Nuggets Schedule 2012: Denver To Face Phoenix, Orlando This Weekend

2012-04-20T14:01:10Z

The Denver Nuggets will be busy during their final weekend of the 2011-2012 regular season as they play back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday night. Looking to hold onto a playoff spot in the tight Western Conference, the weekend could have key implications for how the middle of the standings stack up.

On Saturday, the Nuggets travel to Arizona to take on the Phoenix Suns in a key match-up of playoff hopefuls. The Suns are currently on the outside looking in with a 32-30 record, but they're just a half-game behind the Utah Jazz for the No. 8 seed in the West.

The next day, the Nuggets will be hosting the Orlando Magic. After it was announced this week that Dwight Howard will be out for the season after having back surgery, that team becomes a far less formidable opponent. Orlando has won just four of its past ten games.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over toNuggets blog Denver Stiffs. And for updates from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.

Clippers Vs. Nuggets Final Score: LA Surges In Second Half To Steal A Win In Denver

2012-04-19T03:49:18Z

Every game is a crucial one for the Denver Nuggets, who are one of three teams fighting for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference. On Wednesday night, the Nuggets fell to the L.A. Clippers 104-98 at the Pepsi Center. Denver held a 12-point lead after the first quarter, but was out-scored in every other quarter by six points.

Chris Paul had 21 points, eight assists and three steals for L.A. Mo Williams added 19 points and four assists for the Clippers off the bench. Blake Griffin was held to 12 points and seven rebounds.

Ty Lawson scored 24 points for the Nuggets on 9-of-12 shooting, to go along with six assists and four rebounds. Al Harrington came off the bench to add 14 points and eight rebounds. Center Kosta Koufos finished with 12 points and nine rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting.

The loss drops Denver 34-28. Los Angeles improves to 39-23.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage, head over to Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs. And for updates from around the league, check out SB Nation's NBA news hub.