Los Angeles @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 10, 2019 ) L.A. Clippers 100, Denver 121

The Denver Nuggets got back to the business of chasing the Golden State Warriors for the top spot in the Western Conference with a road win on Friday and are about to open a four-game homestand. The Nuggets, who are an NBA-best 25-4 at home, begin that stretch by hosting the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Denver was a little rusty coming out of the All-Star break on Friday but put everything together in the second half and asserted its dominance on the interior in a 114-104 triumph at Dallas. "We really wanted to pound the glass," Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee told the Denver Post after his team posted a 73-54 rebound advantage over the Mavericks. "Extra possessions were big for us, and most of the time on the kick-outs, we hit the three, too, so that was great." The Clippers are sitting in the No. 8 spot in the West and continue to hold off a handful of challengers despite trading away leading scorer Tobias Harris prior to the deadline. Small forward Danilo Gallinari took over as the go-to scorer down the stretch in Friday's 112-106 victory at Memphis while the bench duo of Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams is proving to be a potent combination.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), Altitude (Denver)

ABOUT THE CLIPPERS (33-27): Harrell matched a career high with 30 points on 11-of-14 shooting on Friday as the Grizzlies struggled to defend the pick-and-roll that he ran with Williams. "Playing hard is a skill, especially nowadays," point guard Patrick Beverley told reporters in reference to Harrell. "We've been fortunate. Trez has been fortunate to kind of own that skill and bring it every night. What he does, you just have to give him a lot of credit." Williams added 18 points and Gallinari scored 23 as the only three players to reach double figures for Los Angeles in the win.

ABOUT THE NUGGETS (40-18): Denver handed out 32 assists on 42 made field goals Friday, with All-Star center Nikola Jokic's eight marking the team high. "Hell of a win," Nuggets coach Michael Malone told reporters. "Guys were finding their teammates. It's a great way to start the post-All-Star break push with a road win here in Dallas." Denver, which also hosts playoff hopefuls Oklahoma City and Utah on the homestand, got 13 rebounds apiece from Jokic and forward Paul Millsap in Friday's win while placing seven scorers in double figures.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Clippers PG Landry Shamet hit multiple 3-pointers in each of his four games since arriving in the deal that sent Harris to Philadelphia.

2. Nuggets PG Isaiah Thomas (hip) is 8-of-17 from the floor in two games since making his season debut.

3. Denver took two of the first three meetings, including a 121-100 home win in the most recent matchup on Jan. 10.

PREDICTION: Nuggets 113, Clippers 106