If the playoffs started today, the Denver Nuggets would be on the outside looking in at the Western Conference playoff picture. A Friday night meeting with the NBA's worst team, the Charlotte Bobcats, should offer Denver an easy victory, but after one quarter at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets are trailing 28-23.
Charlotte is being led by guard Gerald Henderson and forward Corey Maggette. Henderson is 5-of-8 from the field and has 13 points. Maggette has already hit three thee-pointers and has 11 points through the first quarter.
Corey Brewer has seven points off the bench to lead the Nuggets. Rookie forward Kenneth Faried has five points and four rebounds. Three Nuggets players have four points.
Charlotte has connected on 5-of-7 three pointers thus far, though Denver is already out-rebounding the Bobcats 16-8.
For more on this matchup, check out the Bobcats blog Rufus On Fire and the Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs. Tune in to SB Nation's NBA news hub for more updates and commentary from around the league.