Well, you’re not going to believe this. Literally one year ago Saturday, Kenneth Faried played the biggest game of his Morehead State career, blocking a game-winning shot to upset Louisville in the NCAA Tournament — a game played at the Pepsi Center.
Well, on Saturday, Faried played the biggest game of his Nuggets career, also at Pepsi Center, leading Denver to a 98-91 win against Boston with 18 points, a career-high 16 rebounds and 8-for-8 from the foul line (not bad, considering he shoots just 57.1 from the line).
“He is a ball of energy, he really is,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said of Faried. “He plays the right way. I love watching him play. I loved watching him play last year (at Morehead State). He is one of the guys who is always around the ball. He is over himself — by that I mean that he plays the game for the team. It’s refreshing when you have guys like that.”
Denver’s Danilo Gallinari was big, scoring a team-high 20 points. In the first half alone, Gallo scored 15 points, splashing three 3s, making all six free-throw attempts, while delivering the highlight of the night — a behind-the-back pass to Faried for a dunk.
The win was even more impressive because JaVale McGee spent the game in the second row behind the bench, while Wilson Chandler was in the stands in Section 128. All the players in Thursday’s trade hadn’t completed their physicals, so McGee couldn’t play. And while the Nuggets are close to signing Chandler, the deal isn’t done. But it’s quite possible that both players will be officially available for Monday’s game at home against Dallas.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers is well-versed in JaVale — in two games against Boston this season, McGee averaged 15.3 points per game, 10.3 rebounds and 3.7 blocks.
“I think he is a good fit,” Rivers said. “I have always been a big fan of McGee — not some of his antics, but maybe I’m a fan of the potential you see. He has a chance to be a disruptive force defensively, Dwight Howard-ish. Maybe the change of scenery will help him.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
Nuggets Recap
What you might have missed
Denver withstood a 10-0 Boston run in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to 87-85, then held Boston without a field goal for the final 3:29. … Boston’s 27 rebounds were the fewest by a Denver opponent since Seattle’s 26 on April 1, 2007. … Denver is 11-1 versus Eastern Conference teams.
Final thought
Kenneth Faried is here to stay.
Up next
vs. Dallas, Monday, 8:30 p.m.
