It appears he is done for the year, according to Popovich.

L.A. is definitely enjoying a resurgence this season. He'll be in action tonight unlike last time.

Still keepin' the seat warm for The Anchorman.

Denver vs San Antonio:

Pre-Game Thoughts: When last these two teams met just prior to the All Star break, Denver enjoyed double digit TPM contributions from four players, lead by Big Honey's +31 (including a 3D), Darth, Lyles & Beasley were in the red and the Nuggets won 117-109 despite a lower than average (in victory) combined team-TPM score of just 77.

This time around the Spurs will be well rested unlike the last (a 2nd of a B2B) so while they are still only midway through their annual rodeo tour, fatigue should be no issue for either team; in fact if anything lethargy can be expected of both.

There is always the possibility that TP is rested because french, though that is made less likely by the recent demotion of White to the G-League. Gasol however, is unlikely to rest with LA just coming back from injury and with Leonard likely out for the year, it will take an all hands on deck mentality for the Spurs to avoid slipping into the second tier of playoff seeding. To that end, the return of Rudy Gay could not occur at a better time for the Spurs.

Millsap is close but no cigar. Plumlee however, should return tonight and we can expect him to come off the bench given Chandler's recent post-trade-deadline resurgence. I hope against hope that the always reactionary Coach Malone, decides not to play match-ups and start Plumdog vs the twin tower lineup of the Spurs. Why not make them attempt to guard the newly aggressive Ill Will off the dribble? I like Chandler's chances defensively at the 4 more than those of Jokic anyway.

Go Nuggets!

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And now what none of you come here for; how about some basketball nerdery?!?!

(After these messages... Er Nicknames)

San Antonio Spurs Roster

Coach: Gregg "Popovich, Popovich" Popovich (Malkovic link here)

Denver Nuggets Roster

Coach: Michael "Mr Imagination" Malone

Update: Update: Millsap had successful left wrist surgery and is expected back in a matter of days, Lydon is out for the year after tearing up his knee in the G-League, Plumlee is probable with a calf strain and Craig is out with a G-League loop-hole related injury for Denver. As for San Antonio, Kawhi Leonard is out, likely for the year with a quad injury LA is probable after having a minor knee procedure done, Colorado's own Derrick White has been demoted to the G-league, Rudy Gay is probable to return from a heel injury & Green is a late scratch due to food poisoning. My guess is he attempted Colorado green chili with his Texas mitochondria.

Data: Open this link in a new tab for the definition of TPM™

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TPM™ Game 59 SA

Jamal Murray: +17

Devin Harris: -5

Monte Morris: N/A

Gary Harris: +20

Will Barton: +10

Malik Beasley: +3

Torrey Craig: N/A

Wilson Chandler: +8

Juancho Hernangomez: N/A

Richard Jefferson: N/A

Paul Millsap: N/A

Kenneth Faried: N/A

Trey Lyles: +14

Darrell Arthur: N/A

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +20

Mason Plumlee: +3

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Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta

Jamal Murray: 58 Games +614

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: 42 Games +396

Devin Harris: 4 Games +9

Monte Morris: 3 Game +20

Gary Harris: 55 Games +844

Will Barton: 58 Games +635

Malik Beasley: 49 Games +60

Torrey Craig: 26 Games -31

Wilson Chandler: 53 Games +340

Juancho Hernangomez: 21 Games -16

Richard Jefferson: 15 Games -5

Paul Millsap: 16 Games +173

Kenneth Faried: 32 Games +25

Trey Lyles: 53 Games +419

Darrell Arthur: 15 Games +4

Tyler Lydon: 1 Games -3

Nikola Jokic: 52 Games +819

Mason Plumlee: 51 Games +190

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +10.59

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: +9.43

Devin Harris: +2.25

Monte Morris: +6.67

Gary Harris: +15.35

Will Barton: +10.95

Malik Beasley: +1.22

Torrey Craig: -1.19

Wilson Chandler: +6.42

Juancho Hernangomez: -0.76

Richard Jefferson: -0.33

Paul Millsap: +10.81

Kenneth Faried: +0.78

Trey Lyles: +7.91

Darrell Arthur: +0.28

Tyler Lydon: -3.00

Nikola Jokic: +15.75

Mason Plumlee: +3.73

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 58:

*Credit DomP on the Spreadsheet. It's as if my (nerdy) baby (TPM™) learned to speak

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Analysis:

Qtr2- Marlowe has apparently un-learned the meaning of supperlative, an obstacle I thought he'd conquered towards the end of last season. I'm a big fan if you're reading Chris, just fun'n ya. Old Mud is once again struggling defensively against the Spurs. Good to see Plumlee back in for the Nuggets. Malik sticks a three for the first time since Hector was a pup (see?), giving Denver the one point lead at 8:55. The Nuggets bench seems to be atoning for their sins nicely. Old Mud is picking it up offensively at least, as the veteran that he is; if you don't have it on one end, don't let it affect your play on the other end. With that said, he's the only of nine Nuggets to have played who has yet to score but he's distributing nicely. The Spurs lead by two at the midway point of the 2nd and it's high time some of the Nuggets starters start trickling in, to combat the largely starting unit of SA.

Ally got her hair did and looks ravishing in her light blue, stained-glass dress, warming our hearts on this frigid evening in the Mile High City. The Nuggets starters are in tact with the exception of Lyles, still in for Jamal, as the score is tied at 5:25. Big Honey is the 2nd Nugget to reach double digits. Murray is in for Lyles at this point. Flop of the year candidate for Manu just now on Barton. Denver is in the penalty at 2:52 with a one point lead. Jamal is filling the stat sheet (unlike that inefficient ball hog Buddy Hield) much like he did in the Rookie/Sophomore game in which he should have earned B2B MVP awards. Gary is the third Nugget to reach double figures and Denver takes a three point lead with under a minute to play. No players for either team are in any sort of individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Jokic & Chandler's +9 & Jamal's +10 and they lead 63-61 at the half

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Halftime: Smoke break? Stupid question, stupid section.

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Qtr3- Jokic misses 2 from the charity stripe in a rare occurrence. Denver looks lethargic to begin the third. SA takes a 4 point lead on the strength of an 8-2 scoring run from jump-street. Plumlee is in for Barton who it seems has fallen ill. The teams are back to trading buckets but at a much slower pace this half, as it's all knotted up at 6:08. Barton checks in for Plumlee at this time, so he must be feeling better. Either that or as I suspect, Marlowe's information was spotty and Malone was pulling his reactionary match-up bull shit again. Both teams are chirping at the officials and the physicality is picking up as well. TP runs into Mills and he's floored. He remains in after a timeout to un-scramble his eggs.

Big Honey is now two dimes and one board away from a 3D. The Nuggets pick up the pace and lead by five at 2:10. If not for LA getting absolutely anything he wants against Jokic offensively, Denver would be up big at the moment. Jokic now needs only one assist and one rebound for a 3D as he checks out at 1:45. Old Mud is also in for Jamal at this time. He is still the only Nugget to not have scored tonight. I'm baffled that we are seeing the first of King Joffrey at this time seeing as how he torched the Nuggets last game. No players for either team are in any sort of individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Chandler +10, Lyles +11, Gary +13, Jamal +17 & Jokic +20 and the Nuggets have the lead, 96-89 after three.

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Qtr4- Denver has got to feel good to have acquired a lead with Big Honey and The Blue Arrow resting. Barton is going into hero-ball mode which is not a bad idear with the aforementioned still getting a breather. As such, he becomes the 4th Nugget to reach double digits. Unfortunately he's not exactly on fire however and offering very little defensive resistance as per always, so here's hopin' that Denver can hold serve long enough to get the big guns in. The Nuggets lead is four at 10:45. Lyles becomes the 5th Nugget in double figures. Jokic checks in at 9:55, up four. Chandler has a 2d with 16-11. Jokic has his third straight 3d! He's really something else. 26-10-10 and counting. I sincerely hope he takes defensive improvement seriously this off season. He'll be an MVP candidate, perennially so, if he does. Old Mud finally scores on a beautiful drive for an and-one. SA is in the penalty already at 8:15! That's huge for the Nuggets. Old Mud checks out with 5 fouls at 7:30, up six. People will likely have pitchforks out after this one when they see Jokic and Chandler's stat line's relative to their TPM score but the fact of the matter remains that they were the primary defenders on LA tonight, which evened things out quite a bit. The Spurs are most definitely getting the benefit of the whistle and thankfully not converting well from the charity stripe.

Denver leads by 5 at 5:45. LA is a problem that Denver simply can not solve tonight. SA is living at the line and they cut it to two at 5:05. I have a feeling this is going to be a long five minutes. Christ almighty, the Nuggets can't even breath on LA without earning a foul! I believe Tony Brothers musta' gotten into that same green chili that Danny Green did. Two straight super bull shit T's called by him on Malone for clapping (ala Tim Duncan) and on Jamal for who the hell knows what? LA misses both at the line in a tacit redemption, in the form of instant-karma/poetic-justice. Plumlee again breathes on LA and the Spurs now lead by two on the strength of an 11-1 run, 8 of which coming from the FT line. Denver retakes the two point lead on a drive by Gary. Big Honey has his 5th foul (an actual foul this time) and the crowd goes ballistic! Mills makes 1-2 and the Denver lead is one at 2:36. Plumlee is the 6th Nugget in double digits. Jokic fouls out at 1:46! Gary steps up in his absence with four straight and Denver leads by five with :45 to play. Officiating being what it is, this game wouldn't even be in question if the Spurs made FT's the way they normally do. Ball don't lie I s'pose. LA cuts it to three with a 20 footer but Jamal/Plumlee look to have iced this one with a nice give and go resulting in a left handed jam. It seems strange to say this but Jokic fouling out may have salvaged the victory as Plumlee had some key defensive stops down the stretch. Denver is paced in TPM by Barton +10, Lyles+14, Jamal +17 and +20 each for Gary & Jokic. The Nuggets win 122-119!

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Final Thoughts: Lets seriously not breathe life into bad nicknames Stiffs. There are enough VERY GOOD nicknames on the team as is.

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The Nuggets Win!

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