The Denver Nuggets are riding a wave of momentum into the All-Star break and hope to continue their recent success when they take on the San Antonio Spurs for the first time this season Monday.
Denver (37-16) is coming off two consecutive road wins in very different fashions. With only seven players taking the court on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday, the Nuggets defeated their division rival the Utah Jazz. On Saturday, Denver was provided a boost from the return of Paul Millsap and the addition of new players such as Keita Bates-Diop, who was acquired in a four-team trade earlier in the week.
San Antonio (22-30) finds itself in a tough position in the Western Conference, as the Spurs haven’t shown the ability to consistently play at a level high enough level to contend for a playoff spot, yet their leading players are either in their primes or quickly exiting them. The Spurs have lost four-straight games and once again find themselves unable to win on the road consistently, posting an 8-18 record away from San Antonio.
These two teams had a memorable first-round playoff experience back in April, with the Nuggets securing a Game 7 victory at Pepsi Center in the final minutes. They split the 2018-19 regular season series, highlighting how close the matchups have been over the past year.