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Nuggets-Hornets Preview

Dec 18, 2009 - 2:22 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Denver (19-7) at New Orleans (11-13), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Denver Nuggets have overcome some obstacles on their way to a strong start this season. They might need to do it again to get their fourth straight win.

The Nuggets could be without point guard Chauncey Billups as they visit the New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.

Billups strained his left groin in the second half of Denver's 111-101 win over Houston on Wednesday. The veteran, who's averaging 17.4 points and a team-leading 5.7 assists, underwent a precautionary MRI on Thursday that confirmed a strain of his left adductor muscle. He's considered day-to-day.

"The one thing I've always done is listen to my body," Billups told the Nuggets' official Web site. "I'm going to listen to my body, and whatever it tells me, that's what it is. I don't know if it's going to be (Friday) or next week."

Denver coach George Karl believes Billups could miss this contest and possibly Sunday's at Memphis. Veteran Anthony Carter (2.9 points per game) or rookie Ty Lawson (7.9 ppg, 3.4 assists per game) could start in place of Billups, who's averaging 16.5 points in his last six against New Orleans.

"Hopefully, Chauncey comes back soon, but I've got to be ready," said Lawson, who had six points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals in 21 minutes Wednesday.

If Billups is out, it won't be the first time the Nuggets (19-7) have faced adversity this season. Second in the Western Conference, Denver went 5-2 while key reserve J.R. Smith was suspended for the first seven games of the season. The Nuggets were also able to regroup after going 0-3 when forward Kenyon Martin was out with calf and finger injuries.

Having a healthy Carmelo Anthony could be enough to help Denver avoid a third straight road loss. Anthony topped the 30-point mark for a fifth straight game with 38 against Houston. He added nine rebounds and went 19 for 20 from the free-throw line.

Anthony is averaging a league-leading 30.7 points on the season and 35.0 in his last five contests. He has scored 30 or more points in 17 games this season, four more than he had in 2008-09. He's averaging 25.5 points in his last 10 against New Orleans.

The Nuggets and Hornets split their four-game series last season with each winning once on the other's home floor. Anthony scored 29 points and New Orleans' Chris Paul had 19 with 13 assists in Denver's 101-88 road win in their last meeting March 25.

New Orleans (11-13) avoided a third straight loss with a 95-87 win over Detroit on Wednesday.

"We're not in position to be able to drop three or four games in a row where we sit right now," said David West, who had a season-high 32 points and 12 rebounds.

Paul scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half and added 12 assists as the Hornets overcame a 16-point deficit to win for the seventh time in eight games at home.

While New Orleans failed to score 100 points for an eighth straight game, it's holding opponents to 95.5 over its last six - 6.2 fewer than its season average. Denver's near the top of the league with 108.3 points per contest.

Paul is averaging 21.6 points and 12.0 assists in his last seven games versus the Nuggets.