일정 [Preview] RS 22/66, Denver vs. Los Angeles Clippers → 12:30 p.m.

[Colorado-Denver]

(14-7, Northwest 2위) vs. (13-6, Pacific 1위) → Clippers 1-0

http://www.nba.com/games/20120202/DENLAC/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100330

■ Nuggets-Clippers Preview

Despite closing out January with back-to-back defeats, Denver Nuggets coach George Karl had nothing but praise for his team's overall effort last month.

Opening February on a high note, though, could prove difficult with a road matchup against the Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Clippers in store.

Beginning their second back-to-back-to-back stretch of the season, the Nuggets try to avoid a fourth consecutive loss to the surging Clippers when the teams meet for the second time this week Thursday night.

Two days after its season-best six-game winning streak came to an end with a 109-105 loss to Los Angeles, Denver (14-7) suffered a 100-97 overtime defeat at Memphis on Tuesday. While the Nuggets concluded January in disappointing fashion, they finished the month 12-5 to move into third place in the Western Conference. They sit just a few percentage points behind the second-place Clippers (13-6).

"We've had a great month of January," Karl told the NBA's official website. "It might have been the best month I've ever had in Denver in my mind."

Things aren't about to get any easier for Denver, which after Thursday's matchup, hosts the Lakers on Friday before visiting Portland on Saturday. The Nuggets lost the opener of their first back-to-back-to-back set Dec. 31-Jan. 2 before winning the final two games.

After posting a season-best fourth consecutive victory Wednesday, the Clippers are looking to win five in a row for the first time since Nov. 2-12, 2006.

Chris Paul recorded a season-high 34 points and 11 assists while Blake Griffin scored 31 to go along with 14 rebounds as Los Angeles defeated Utah 107-105 - snapping a 16-game road losing streak versus the Jazz.

"This was a pretty good win for us ... We didn't know the history of that (the Clippers losing 42 of their previous 43 in Salt Lake City) but it's a new team right here," Paul said.

"The sky's the limit. We have all the pieces to be a great team. We got to keep getting better defensively, but we have the closers, we have the shot blockers, we have the shooters and everything that you need."

The Clippers are averaging 106.5 points while shooting 49.5 percent from the field during their run.

"We're tired, but we have another game (Thursday) night against a very difficult opponent," coach Vinny Del Negro said of facing Denver. "We're going to have to get ready."

After spending the majority of the previous three seasons with the Nuggets before signing with Los Angeles following the lockout, Chauncey Billups made 6 of 12 from 3-point range in putting up a season-high 32 points against his former team Sunday.

Ty Lawson, who was held out of that matchup with a sprained left ankle, had 12 points versus the Grizzlies in his return from a two-game absence. Danilo Gallinari, meanwhile, was held to eight points on 1 of 10 shooting against Memphis after averaging 23.8 over his previous five games.

Andre Miller, averaging 15.1 points in his last seven contests, will play in his 1,000th regular-season game Thursday.

"It means something to me just because I enjoy being on the basketball court," he told the team's official website. "I take pride in practicing and being on the court. I don't like to miss games."

The Nuggets lead the league with 105.4 points per game.

The Clippers' Caron Butler was a late scratch Wednesday with a sore lower back. His status for Thursday is unknown.

01/30 - LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 109-105 DENVER

02/03 - DENVER @ LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

02/23 - DENVER @ LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

04/19 - LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS @ DENVER

■ LA 클리퍼스의 직전 경기(@ 유타, 107-105 승) 주요 선수 성적!

http://www.nba.com/games/20120201/LACUTA/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100325#nbaGIboxscore

선발: C. 폴-C. 빌럽스-R. 곰즈-B. 그리핀-D. 조던

크리스 폴(35:45) - 34(15/24, 3/7, 1/2)-5(2/3)-11A-3ST-4TO-1PF

블레이크 그리핀(36:43) - 31(14/22, FT: 3/5)-14(3/11)-2A-1ST-3BS-1TO-5PF

모리스 윌리엄스(33:53) - 19(6/18, 2/8, 5/5)-2(1/1)-1A-1BS-1TO-4PF

천시 빌럽스(33:56) - 8(1/8, 0/5, 6/7)-7(0/7)-3A-3TO-3PF

레지 에반스(18:33) - 1(FT: 1/2)-5(1/4)-2ST

솔로몬 존스(9:16) - 0(0/1)-3(1/2)-1TO-2PF

* Nuggets GoGo~~~!!!

[Colorado-Denver]

KBL 취재로 인해, 늦게 올렸습니다. LA 클리퍼스는 캐론 버틀러가 부상이네요. 오늘 기필코 이기길 바랍니다. 연패가 길어져서는 절대로 안됩니다!!!

[분노의스미스☆]

중요한경기네요. 연패가 3연패까지 이어가는건 정말 좋지않다고봅니다. 뒷경기들이 랄과 포틀랜드기때문에 집중해서 연패끊고 좋은분위기로 다시 연승을가야죠. 얼마전에 클리퍼스가 우리 연승을끊었었는데 이번에는 우리가 연승을 끊어줬으면 하네요.