1:30 p.m. Sunday, ALT, 950 AM
Spotlight on Alex Len: As the young Suns continue an all-around rebuild, Alex Len is looking like a keeper. The fourth-year center has played admirably this season, in particularly as a starter. Len has been in the starting five nine times this season, and in those games he’s averaging 10.2 points and 10.0 rebounds. When the Nuggets last saw him, in Denver on Nov. 16, he was coming off the bench. Len scored seven points and had four rebounds in that contest.
Nuggets: Denver travels to Phoenix for a quick road game, following Friday night’s home loss and upcoming home games this week against Miami and Houston. It is the second time they’ve faced the Suns this season, walking away with a 120-104 win over Phoenix on Nov. 16. Since then, the Nuggets are 2-3 with a couple of overtime losses. Veteran guard Jameer Nelson says improved play has to be validated with victories. “Yeah, we’ve done some things better lately,” Nelson said. “We’ve just got to … when we go up 10, 12 points we’ve got to keep the foot on the gas pedal and keep going.” The Nuggets could have at least one player, and maybe more, return to the lineup. Mike Miller, who has been gone because of personal reasons, is expected back. Will Barton, who also missed Friday’s game because of personal reasons, should be back and available if his ankle cooperates. Meanwhile, Juancho Hernangomez wanted to play on a sprained ankle against Oklahoma City but was held out. He’s listed as questionable for the game, as is Danilo Gallinari, who has missed two games with a sore right thigh.
Suns: This is the second in a three-game homestand for Phoenix, which recently ended a six-game road trip. Phoenix started the home stretch with a loss to Minnesota on Friday night. Forward T.J. Warren is out of the game with a minor head injury, according to the Suns. Warren is the team’s third-leading scorer at 17.7 points per game. The Suns are led in scoring by Devin Booker (18.8) and Eric Bledsoe (18.3). Bledsoe has been particularly hot of late, averaging 23.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in his last four games.
