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Kings-Nuggets Preview

Jan 31, 2010 - 11:46 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Sacramento (16-30) at Denver (31-15), 9:00 p.m. EDT

Despite the absence of Carmelo Anthony, the Denver Nuggets continue to find ways to win.

The Nuggets, though, are likely to get their star forward back Monday night when they host the Sacramento Kings - a team that has surprisingly given the Northwest Division leaders trouble this season.

Anthony played just six games in January because of a sprained ankle, but Denver (32-15) won 12 of 15 during the month and went 6-3 without him. The Nuggets bounced back from having their season-high eight-game win streak snapped Friday with a 103-89 victory at San Antonio on Sunday.

While Anthony sat out a fourth straight game, Kenyon Martin matched a season high with 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 25. Billups has averaged 24.2 points in 12 games since returning from a strained groin - five above his season average.

"We know how important 'Melo is to us," coach George Karl said. "But I've always believed that injuries are windows of opportunity, and I think our guys have understood that the strategy's going to be a little different, but we can still be a good team."

Karl said he expected Anthony, averaging a career-best 29.7 points, to try to play Monday as Denver looks to extend its season-high eight-game home winning streak.

A matchup with the Kings (16-30) would seem to be an ideal chance to do so. Sacramento has dropped 16 of 19 overall and nine in a row on the road, and Anthony averaged 30.0 points in his last six games in the series.

Two of the Kings' last three wins, though, came against the Nuggets.

Sacramento defeated Denver 106-101 on Dec. 28 despite 34 points from Anthony. After losing their next five, the Kings beat the Nuggets again Jan. 9 as Tyreke Evans' fadeaway jumper with 0.7 seconds remaining gave them a 102-100 victory.

Those two wins, however, came at Arco Arena. The Kings have dropped four of five at the Pepsi Center and lost both matchups in Denver last season.

Leading scorer Kevin Martin's recent return to form has not helped the Kings offensively. Sacramento averaged 91.7 points in its last 10 games after averaging 103.8 in its first 36.

Martin, who has played in the previous nine games since returning from injury, topped 30 in each of the last two contests. Sacramento lost both, falling 103-96 to visiting Charlotte on Saturday night.

Martin scored 31 points and made five 3-pointers, but Evans was limited by a bruised left hip and finished with four points, one shy of his season low.

"It was bothering me when I got up this morning, but I thought I could go when I got in the flow of the game," Evans said. "Afterward I thought I shouldn't have played. That's the lesson you learn."

The status of Evans, who scored 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting in his only meeting with Denver on Jan. 9, is uncertain for Monday. He missed the first matchup of the season with a sore ankle.

Sacramento, 3-20 on the road, will try to avoid losing 10 straight away from home for the first time since a 12-game skid from Nov. 23, 2008-Jan. 6, 2009.

The Kings allowed 114.4 points per game in their last five in Denver.