The Denver Nuggets look for their second victory of the preseason on Wednesday when visiting the LA Clippers. Denver is 1-2 following its 107-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday. Ish Smith was the leading scorer for Denver with 17 points. Most of Denver's starters such as Nikola Jovic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon did not play in the victory. Michael Porter Jr played 23 minutes and scored nine points but shot only 2-for-11.
Denver's trio of stars Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr will start the season healthy and remaining healthy is the key to success for the Nuggets this season. Those three are expected to be joined by Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to form the starting five for Denver. The first players off the bench for the Nuggets will be Ish Smith, Jeff Green, Bruce Brown and Bones Hyland, who last season played well at guard and helps make up for the loss of Monte Morris.
Los Angeles is 2-1 through its first three games of the preseason and is coming off a 119-117 loss at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. John Wall was the leading scorer for the Clippers with 20 points. Kawhi Leonard played 17 minutes and scored eight points, while Paul George scored 14 points for the Clippers and Marcus Morris Sr chipped in with 13 points. LA played what is expected to be its starting five.
The LA Clippers will have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George at 100% to start the season and have added veteran guard John Wall, who has not played a full NBA schedule for the last three years. The projected starting five for the Clippers will be Leonard, George, Wall, Marcus Morris Sr and Ivica Zubac. The first player off the bench will be Reggie Jackson, who has been a starter for each of the last two years. Others seeing plenty of action will be Norman Powell, Luke Kennard, Robert Covington and Terrance Mann.
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