Thankfully, Denver's horrendous perimeter D must only guard three (I think) of the four tonight.

"You know he ain't gonna die"

Could tonight mark the long awaited return of The Anchorman?

Denver vs L.A. Clippers:

When last these teams met just before the trade deadline, their respective active rosters were quite different from those currently in place to a pretty sizable degree. When they faced off on January 17th the Nuggets starting unit consisted of Gary, Barton, Chandler, Plumlee & Jokic, while LA rolled out Teo, Lou, Wallace, Griffin & Reed.

Today COULD mark the first time since the early season that Denver's roster is "whole" again (guys playing through injuries being a massive caveat), with the possible return of prized free agent acquisition Paul Millsap, though if he does go, his availability will certainly be accompanied by a minutes restriction.

In the previous encounter between The Clippers & Nuggets, Denver enjoyed double digit TPM contributions from four players, lead by the dearly departed Emanuel Mudiay's +19, while RJ & Faried were in the red, en route to an uninspired defeat by a score of 109-104.

Obviously in this go 'round, the stakes are high as both teams could end up anywhere from 3rd seed to a position on the outside looking in at the playoffs, in the highly competitive Western Conference so intensity should not be in short supply. Defense however, undoubtedly will be so we can expect a good old fashioned, 80's era-esque, old-west shoot-out in this dusty old cow town.

Question: Is Teodosic no longer on the roster? It's odd that he's neither listed as a starter, given injuries or on the injured list and ESPN still lists him as active. Curiouser and curiouser.

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)

LA Clippers Roster

Coach: Doc Rivers

Denver Nuggets Roster

Coach: Michael "Mr Imagination" Malone

Update: Millsap had successful left wrist surgery and is Questionable! 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 questionable with a G-League loop-hole related injury for Denver. As for the Clippers, Bradley & Evans are out with sports hernias, Gallo is questionable with a hand injury, but I think we all know he'll do his best to give it a go in a city that loves him and that he loves right back... Just not enough to turn down the dough... Can't blame him or the Nuggets management on that one.

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

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TPM™ Game 61 LAC

Jamal Murray: +23

Devin Harris: +9

Monte Morris: N/A

Gary Harris: +10

Will Barton: +23

Malik Beasley: +0

Torrey Craig: N/A

Wilson Chandler: +26

Juancho Hernangomez: N/A

Richard Jefferson: N/A

Paul Millsap: +4

Kenneth Faried: N/A

Trey Lyles: -2

Darrell Arthur: N/A

Tyler Lydon: N/A

Nikola Jokic: +17

Mason Plumlee: +7

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Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta

Jamal Murray: 60 Games +645

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: 42 Games +396

Devin Harris: 5 Games +9

Monte Morris: 3 Game +20

Gary Harris: 57 Games +857

Will Barton: 60 Games +679

Malik Beasley: 51 Games +70

Torrey Craig: 26 Games -31

Wilson Chandler: 55 Games +374

Juancho Hernangomez: 21 Games -16

Richard Jefferson: 15 Games -5

Paul Millsap: 17 Games +177

Kenneth Faried: 32 Games +25

Trey Lyles: 55 Games +425

Darrell Arthur: 15 Games +4

Tyler Lydon: 1 Games -3

Nikola Jokic: 54 Games +856

Mason Plumlee: 53 Games +210

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Avg. TPM™ Per Game

Jamal Murray: +10.75

(RIP) Emmanuel Mudiay: +9.43

Devin Harris: +1.80

Monte Morris: +6.67

Gary Harris: +15.04

Will Barton: +11.32

Malik Beasley: +1.37

Torrey Craig: -1.19

Wilson Chandler: +6.80

Juancho Hernangomez: -0.76

Richard Jefferson: -0.33

Paul Millsap: +10.41

Kenneth Faried: +0.78

Trey Lyles: +7.73

Darrell Arthur: +0.27

Tyler Lydon: -3.00

Nikola Jokic: +15.85

Mason Plumlee: +3.96

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TPM™ Per-Minute Splits Through Game 60:

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

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Analysis:

Qtr2- Lyles and Beasley (who checked in at the end of the 1st) are in to open the 2nd. Check that, Beasley received the Michal Malone special and was only in for a few seconds to close the 1st. Plumlee has been sensational in his limited time thus far. Only Barton & Chandler amongst starters are in and the Nuggets are going on a significant run early in the 2nd to take an 11 point lead at 10:13, largely due to defense leading to transition buckets. Barton is the first Nugget to reach double figures. LA quickly responds with some fresh bench players and cut it to six at 8:27. Denver has already scored 30 PITP at 7:25. Jokic checks in at this point with an uninspiring 0-1-1 stat line, along with Millsap/Murray.

Barton just drilled a no look three! Ill Wil is the 2nd Nugget (and 2nd Will) to reach double digits. 'Sap looks even more comfortable tonight than he did in the early season which is remarkable, in his first game back. Jokic checks out with the same 0-1-1 line at 2:35. The Anchorman is everywhere defensively and we are starting to remember just how much that has been missed. It seems to even be rubbing off on Chandler and Barton in as much as their contesting of shots defensively. No players for either squad are in any sort of significant, individual foul trouble. Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee +12, Barton +18 & Chandler +19, as they lead 58-55 At the half.

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Halftime: Smoke break? Stupid question, stupid section.

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Qtr3- Big Honey FINALLY scores in the early stages of the third. There are hockey-assists galore for the Nuggets tonight. Jokic is playing angry and Denver increases their lead to nine at 7:53. Gary is the third Nugget to reach double figures. Denver's starting back court are Ice & Ice tonight (sad trombone sound.) Tobias nabs his 4th at 5:51 and must check out. 'Sap is in for Barton and we are seeing for the first time the likely reunion of the Nuggets starting five, going forward. Jokic makes four in double digits for Denver. The lead is up to 17 at 3:40. The Nuggets are in the bonus at 2:53. Chandler has an outside chance at a 3D with a line of 14-7-6. LA has cut it to seven on the strength of an 11-0 run, basically since Jokic sat. Denver is paced in TPM by Plumlee +10, Millsap +11, Jokic +18, Barton +23 & Chandler +24 and lead 88-81 After three.

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Qtr4- The Insertion of Boban when Big Honey sat seems to be the primary reason this is a game at the moment, as LA cuts it to four at 11:10. How much longer can Denver afford to rest Jokic? Lou has it going as he often does in the 2nd half and the lead is down to one as Gary comes in at 10:30. Jokic will be in at the next whistle. LA now leads by one at 10:00. Big Honey checks in at 9:10, trailing by four. Jamal and Gary are a combined +8 in TPM at 8:19, trailing now by 6 in what has been a lackluster game on whole for the two of them and ugly fourth QTR for the Nuggets, in which LA has outscored Denver 17-4 to this point. Plumlee is the 5th Nugget to reach double figures. Murray follows him in short order, bringing the total to 6 in double digits. The Nuggets starting back-court is finally showing signs of life and it's square at 102 again at 6:15. Barton has contributed little in the 2nd half as well, come to think of it. All of Denver's starters plus Plumlee are in double figures at this time, with 'Sap just one point shy. LA meanwhile, has 6 players of their own in double digits in this VERY even match-up.

Boban is KILLING Denver's big men. LA is up by three at 4:45. Chandler picks up his 5th foul guarding Boban at 3:48 and it'd be wise to bring in Millsap for Barton at this time and gamble that Chandler doesn't foul out. I'm half right as both Chandler and and Barton remain in. The lead is seven after another Boban dunk at 2:58. Plumlee instead comes in at 2:51 so it appears that 'Sap has reached his minutes restriction capacity. Hack a Plum is the result which of course means 0-2 from the line. Big Honey drills a much needed three, cutting it to five. Chandler fouls out, doubly bad considering they didn't need to foul to get the ball back. Denver has the ball down four with :178 to go. Gary drills a three, cutting it to one with :14 to go. Play the foul game and avoid doing so on Lou. They foul him of course but will get the ball back with :118 to go down three. Lou dangerously fouls Jamal who sinks a three but it doesn't count. He sticks two at the line and it's a one point game again. :081 remains. Jamal fouls the right guy, Rivers, at :074. He misses the front end but sticks the 2nd. Denver is down two but Jamal fumbles the ball away in Denver's last ditch effort to tie it as time expires. Too little too late for the 2nd game in a row for the good guys, as well as the 2nd in a row vs the Clippers. Denver is paced in TPM by Gary +10, Jokic +17, Murray & Barton +23 & Chandler +26 but throw this one away, losing 120-122

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Final Thoughts: Lyles seems to be the biggest casualty of the return of Millsap but it's a good problem to have esPECially once playoff time rolls around. 2nd consecutive bad loss vs the Clippers.

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We Suck Again!

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