Nuggets Set To Meet Thunder In Playoffs
DENVER (CBS4/AP) - Health is a concern as the Denver Nuggets meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs this weekend.
Oklahoma City wound up with the Western Conference's No. 4 seed and now the Nuggets will be up against a team they've lost two twice in their past two meetings. Guard Ty Lawson injured his ankle on Wednesday night and several other players have been battling injuries.
The Nuggets endured a rollercoaster season, dealing with persistent Carmelo Anthony trade rumors, then regrouping after the blockbuster trade sent Anthony and Chauncey Billups to the New York Knicks in late-February.
They went 18-7 the rest of the way to finish 50-32, with Wednesday's loss to the Utah Jazz having no bearing on the playoffs as the Nuggets had already locked up the No. 5 seed.
"I don't think anybody expected us to win this many games," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "But the mental toughness and energy of this team has been first class."
The Nuggets are hoping for better success against Oklahoma City than on April 5 and last Friday when they lost 101-94 and 104-89. Thunder forward Kevin Durant scored 32 and 28 points, respectively, in those losses.
"We start 0-0," said Kenyon Martin, one of six Nuggets players to sit out Wednesday's regular-season finale. "Regular-season games don't count. But we played them four times already. It's going to make for a good, physical tough series."
But can they handle Durant?
"We'll be all right," said Martin, who figures to be one of three players Denver will throw at the Thunder star. "We just need to make it as tough as possible on him. He's a great player; we all know that. We just have to make him do things he's not comfortable doing."
(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
