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Jazz-Nuggets Preview

Jan 17, 2010 - 6:29 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Utah (22-17) at Denver (25-14), 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Denver Nuggets posted an impressive victory in Salt Lake City earlier this month while playing without Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.

Having the two stars back in the lineup should help the Nuggets contend with a Utah Jazz team playing some of its best basketball entering the rematch in Denver.

The Northwest Division-leading Nuggets look to close out an undefeated homestand and clinch a season series win against the streaking Jazz on Sunday night.

Although Anthony was sidelined with a right knee contusion and Billups was out with a groin strain, five Nuggets scored in double figures and Denver (25-14) snapped a four-game losing streak in Utah with a 105-95 victory on Jan. 2.

Rookie point guard Ty Lawson stepped into the starting lineup and led the Nuggets with 23 points and nine assists, and Nene added 22 points as Denver shot 51.2 percent.

Anthony and Billups have accounted for much of Denver's scoring over its last two games, but the expected return of Lawson - out for four games with a sprained left ankle - will be a welcome addition against the Jazz. Prior to his performance in Salt Lake City, the former North Carolina star scored seven of his 17 points in the fourth quarter of a 114-105 victory over the visiting Jazz on opening night.

The playoffs don't start until April and the Nuggets are far from clinching a second consecutive division title, but they are looking at Sunday's game with added importance.

"I'm a big-picture kind of guy," Billups told the team's official Web site. "If we can lock in and beat these boys on Sunday, now we've won the series with them. A lot of people don't look that far down the road, but I'm into that kind of stuff because it makes a difference."

Denver's head-to-head and division records helped it secure the second seed and home-court advantage for the opening two rounds of the Western Conference playoffs last season after finishing tied with Portland and San Antonio at 54-28.

The Nuggets are one game ahead of the Trail Blazers and 2 1/2 in front of Utah (23-17) in the Northwest this season, but they would likely add to that lead if they can replicate their performance from Wednesday's 115-97 victory over Orlando.

Denver shot 55.8 percent overall and outscored the defending East champs 35-19 in the decisive third quarter.

"Offensively and defensively combined, it might be the best game we've played all year," Nuggets coach George Karl said.

While Denver is looking to improve on the league's second-best home record of 17-3, the Jazz will try to win five in a row for the first time since a 12-game run from Feb. 11-March 10.

"We're rolling now and really playing as a team," swingman C.J. Miles said after scoring a team-high 19 points in Saturday's 112-95 victory over Milwaukee. "We're looking for each other and getting easy shots."

Deron Williams (right wrist) and Andrei Kirilenko (right knee) were injured in Thursday's win against Cleveland, but both started Saturday and are expected to play Sunday.

Williams is averaging 23.9 points and 11.7 assists while posting seven straight double-doubles in Denver.

Anthony, the NBA's leading scorer at 29.8 points per game, is averaging 29.0 on 50.3 percent shooting in his last seven home games versus Utah.

The Nuggets have won three straight against the Jazz at Pepsi Center since a 118-115 overtime loss on Feb. 6, 2008.

The teams' last regular-season meeting is Feb. 6 in Utah.