(My Sportsbook) - The
Atlanta Hawks conclude an arduous six-game road trip in the Rocky Mountains when they take on the reeling
Denver Nuggets tonight at the Pepsi Center.
The Hawks fell to 2-3 on the trek Monday in Salt Lake City, where Ronnie Brewer led a balanced Utah attack with 19 points as the Jazz rolled past Atlanta, 108-89.
Joe Johnson scored 15 points for the Hawks, who have dropped three of four and are now 13-18 as the visitor on the year. Al Horford posted 14 points, six boards and five assists, while Josh Smith had 11 points before being ejected in the fourth quarter.
The Hawks may have to bounce back tonight without the services of star point guard Mike Bibby, who is questionable for the game with flu-like symptoms.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, hope to snap a season-high three-game skid as they resume a three-game homestand. The Nuggets were waxed in the opener of the residency by the reigning NBA champs, the Boston Celtics.
Ray Allen and Paul Pierce thrived from beyond the three-point line, combining for 48 points in that one, and the Celtics continued to roll despite being without star forward Kevin Garnett by blowing out Denver, 114-76.
The game marked Denver's most lopsided home loss in more than 11 years, a 111-72 thumping at the hands of Chicago on February 2, 1998.
J.R. Smith had 19 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 18 for the Nuggets, who just completed a grueling eight-game road trip Sunday in Milwaukee. All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups was limited to three points on 1-of-8 shooting.
On the injury front for the Nuggets, center Nene, who missed the Celtics game, had an MRI performed on Monday that confirmed an original diagnosis of a bone bruise in his right knee. He will remain on the sidelines tonight and is expected to miss a week's worth of action.
Denver, which is 20-7 at the Pepsi Center, will finish its residency against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
The Hawks have won two of their past three games with the Nuggets, including a 109-91 win in Atlanta earlier this season.
