When: February 8, 2016; 7:30 PM EST
Where: Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: CBS 880 AM
Today’s the day. After missing more than half of his rookie season with the Nets after being the No. 29 overall selection in this past June’s draft, Chris McCullough is expected to make his NBA debut tonight in Brooklyn. The Syracuse product tore his ACL halfway through his lone college season and has been out of commission until now. He was activated for both of the Nets’ games over the weekend — the win over the Kings and loss to the 76ers — but did not get his first game action.
But, when the Denver Nuggets visit the Nets at Barclays on Monday night, McCullough will probably play for at least a few minutes. Yesterday, the Nuggets — led by former Knick Danilo Gallinari — beat the Knicks at MSG which led to New York firing head coach Derek Fisher earlier today following a stretch of nine losses in 10 games.
Denver, in its first season under former Kings coach and Queens native Michael Malone, has struggled a bit but is clearly a team on the rise, especially with No. 7 overall pick Emmanuel Mudiay running the point. The Nuggets have been inconsistent throughout the year, and have dealt with some injury problems, but have a lot of young talent throughout their roster at all five positions.
They’ll be another tough matchup for the Nets, who responded to their impressive Friday night win against Sacramento with a dud on Saturday in a loss to the 76ers in Philadelphia. It was a disappointing effort for Brooklyn just one night after its best offensive performance of the season. With this team, it has been one step forward and two steps back all season.
Probable lineups
DEN- Emmanuel Mudiay (PG), Gary Harris (SG), Danilo Gallinari (SF), Kenneth Faried (PF), Nikola Jokic (C)
BKN- Donald Sloan (PG), Wayne Ellington (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Thaddeus Young (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Final thoughts
The two key guys the Nets need to focus in on defensively are Gallinari and Will Barton, who comes off the bench for Mike Malone. The 27-year-old, who was sent to Denver in 2011 as part of the package for Carmelo Anthony, is averaging a career-high 19.7 points per game and has rebounded nicely from an injury plagued 2014-15 campaign while Barton has posted career bests in both shooting and scoring in his second season in Denver. As an instant scoring reserve, Barton can put points up quickly and turn games in a hurry when he checks in. The Nets need to make sure he doesn’t do that if they’re going to be able to limit the Nuggets’ multi-faceted offensive attack.
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