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Nuggets hope to have Karl back vs. Kings

Apr 4, 2007 - 4:42 PM Sacramento (30-43) at Denver (37-36) 10:00 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - With coach George Karl hopefully back on the sidelines, the Denver Nuggets go for their third straight win Wednesday when they host the fading Sacramento Kings.

Karl is expected to return after a one-game absence to be his 23-year-old son, Coby, who underwent seven hours of surgery for the removal of cancerous lymph nodes Monday in Boise, Idaho.

Without Karl, the Nuggets posted a 111-105 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday as Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points and Marcus Camby added 21, 20 rebounds and six blocks.

Denver (37-36) pulled within 1 1/2 games of the Lakers (39-35) for sixth place in the Western Conference. The Nuggets are a game ahead of the Clippers (36-37) for eighth place.

The Nuggets lost their first two meetings with the Kings this season but are looking to split the season series after a 113-101 road win March 11. Anthony scored 29 points in that contest.

Sacramento has lost four in a row, including Tuesday's 97-93 home setback to Dallas. The Kings (30-43) are six games behind the Clippers and headed to the lottery for the first time since 1998.