The Denver Nuggets play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Pepsi Center on Saturday.

The Cavaliers (9-37) have had a nightmare season and it's only gotten worse with this murderer's row of a schedule. On this current west coast trip, Cleveland has had to play the Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, Houston Rockets and now the Denver Nuggets all on the road. That would be a tough stretch for any team, let alone the one that owns the worst record in the NBA. The talent on this roster was weak before all of these injuries but that's made it even worse. They are now without Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson, who are arguably the three best players on this team. That's left this frontcourt very thin, as it's time for players like Ante Zizic and Jaron Blossomgame to step up in their absence. There are some promising young pieces in the backcourt though, with Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson showing signs of promise in what's been a dark season.

The Nuggets (30-14) own a 19-4 home record this season, as that's one of the best marks in the NBA. That's something that this franchise has done throughout their tenure, as they love to use the altitude to their advantage. It used to be run-and-gun basketball but it's turned more into a defensive showdown. In fact, Denver sits top-six in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. That's something you rarely see from Denver teams and it's a great sign for the future. What's even better is the fact that this team is slowly getting healthier, with Will Barton, Paul Millsap and Gary Harris all back in action. That leaves Isiah Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. as the only missing pieces and no one really knows when those two will return. It's all about Nikole Jokic though, as his triple-double exploits have him in contention for MVP consideration. He's the straw that stirs the drink for this team and he's one of the most unique players in recent memory with his special skill set.

Denver dominated Cleveland in their first meeting this season, with the Nuggets prevailing, 110-91, on the road.