OPENING TIP
The Nuggets are outscoring opponents by 10 points at home, the most in the NBA. That’s bad news for the Cavaliers, who could be without Kyrie Irving, who has the flu and missed today’s shootaround. Either way, the Cavs have won two of their last four and are coming off an impressive home win over the Hawks. The Nuggets have won three straight, and seven of 10, and hold the eighth seed in the West. Not bad for a team that leads the league in road games (24).
Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver.
TV/Radio: 8:30 p.m. FOX Sports Ohio/WTAM
All-Time Series: Nuggets lead, 42-32.
PROJECTED STARTERS
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (9-28)
C Tyler Zeller
PF Tristan Thompson
SF Alonzo Gee
SG CJ Miles
PG Kyrie Irving
DENVER NUGGETS (21-16)
C Kosta Koufos
PF Kenneth Faired
SF Danilo Gallinari
SG Andre Iguodala
PG Ty Lawson
Pregame notes:
• Koufous, a Canton GlenOak and Ohio State product, is having his best NBA season with 7.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and tons of hustle. It may not seem like it, but Zeller has his work cut out for him.
• It’s true that the Nuggets lead the league in road games, but by the end of this five-game trip, the Cavs will be the league’s new leader with 26.
• Miles (back spasms) and Daniel Gibson (concussion) are expected to be cleared to play. If Miles goes, Dion Waiters will return to his role off the bench.
