Amare32
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Phoenix Suns (18-6 ) @ Denver Nuggets (14-9)
When Wednesday 20th December
Time: 7.00 PT
Location: Pepsi Center, Denver
TV: TSN, FSAZ
Probable Starting Lineups:
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PG-Steve Nash
SG-Raja Bell
SF-Shawn Marion
PF-Boris Diaw
C- Amare Stoudemire
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PG-Allen Iverson
SG-Yakhouba Diawara
SF-Linas Kleiza
PF-Eddie Najera
C-Marcus Camby
Key Bench Players
Runs
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Leandro Barbosa- 16.6 points, 4.3 assists on 45% FG
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Kurt Thomas- 6.4 points, 6.5 rebounds on 56% FGi- 9.2 points, 3.2 reboundsNuggets
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Earl Boykins- 11.7 points, 4.2 assists on 37% FG
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Reggie Evans- 6.4 points, 7.9 rebounds on 59% FGTeam Stat Leaders
Suns
PPG- S. Nash 19.8
RPG- S. Marion 9.4
APG- S. Nash 11.4
Suns
PPG- C. Anthony 31.6
RPG- M. Camby 11.0
APG- A. Iverson 7.3
Win Streaks
Suns- 15
Nuggets- 2
Game Preview
Finding a way to match up with Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash seems to be key for any team hoping to win the Western Conference.
The Denver Nuggets hope they've found an answer.
After setting a franchise record for consecutive wins, Nash and the Suns seek their 16th straight victory as they face the Nuggets and perhaps Allen Iverson on Wednesday in a matchup of the NBA's top scoring teams.
The Suns (18-6) set a new team record with their 15th win in a row, a 115-98 rout of the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. Phoenix, with two-time league MVP Nash leading the way and Amare Stoudemire finally healthy, is trying to emerge as a favorite in the rugged West.
While currently short-handed, Denver (14-9) certainly has the personnel to challenge the Suns after acquiring Iverson, a four-time scoring champion, in a trade with Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Nuggets sent Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks to the 76ers, and also got Ivan McFarlin.
The Nuggets hope to have their newest players in the lineup Wednesday, but Iverson's agent, Leon Rose, said the point guard would not be in the mix.
Iverson takes his 31.2-point scoring average to Denver after 10 turbulent seasons with the franchise that made him the No. 1 overall pick in 1996. He will eventually team up with NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony, who is serving a 15-game suspension for his part in a weekend brawl between Denver and New York.
J.R. Smith, the team's second-leading scorer at 16.7 points per game before Tuesday's trade, received a 10-game suspension.
The pair began their respective suspensions Monday, when Denver beat Washington 117-108.
Nuggets vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman said Iverson and Anthony will "be a dynamic duo together. They are going to take this franchise to new heights."
Denver is already second in the league in scoring, averaging 108.8 points, while Phoenix leads the NBA with 110.7 per contest.
Iverson asked for a trade two weeks ago, essentially ending his time with the only team he's ever played for. The 76ers sent Iverson home for good Dec. 8 after holding him out of a morning shootaround and he was inactive for six games prior to the trade.
Even though he was unhappy, Iverson, nicknamed "The Answer," is still second in the league in scoring to Anthony and averaged 42.7 minutes and 2.2 steals. He is averaging 28.1 points, 6.1 assists and 2.3 steals in 697 career games.
Iverson's quickness should help Denver compete with Nash and the Suns, producing a compelling matchup that could potentially continue in the postseason.
Denver is 1-7 against Phoenix since the Suns signed Nash as a free agent in 2004. Nash is averaging 19.8 points and 10.8 assists while shooting 52 percent (18-for-34) from 3-point range against the Nuggets in that span.
Iverson, however, went 0-3 with the 76ers in games he has played against Phoenix and Nash since the 2004-05 season, averaging 19.0 points and 5.6 turnovers. Nash averaged 12.3 points, 7.3 assists and 7.0 rebounds.
The Suns will be trying to extend the NBA's longest winning streak in seven seasons. They broke the franchise record of 14 straight set Dec. 1-30, 1992. The 15-game streak is the league's longest since the Los Angeles Lakers won 19 in a row from Feb. 4 to March 13, 2000.
Nash had 10 points and 15 assists Tuesday for Phoenix, which is trying to win the second game on consecutive nights for the fourth time during the winning streak. The previous three wins came on the road, with the Suns picking up victories at Boston, Orlando and Sacramento.
Stoudemire dominated Toronto with 28 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes. He was 11-for-14 from the field and sat out the final 15 minutes in arguably his most impressive outing since he returned after missing all but three games of last season following microfracture knee surgery.
The Suns won three of its four games against the Nuggets last season, including the last two. Phoenix averaged 115.5 points while allowing 108.3.
