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Nuggets and Kings clash at ARCO Arena

Jan 6, 2011 - 3:34 PM (Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets hope to salvage the back end of a quick two-game California road trip tonight when they take on the lowly Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena.

The Nuggets fell in the opener of the trip in Los Angeles on Wednesday when Eric Gordon finished with 28 points to lead the Clippers in a convincing 106-93 victory over Denver.

Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 31 to go along with nine rebounds for the Nuggets, who are just 5-11 on the road this season. Chauncey Billups added 25 points and Nene finished with 12 points and nine rebounds for Denver, which lost for the first time in five games.

The Nuggets also got some bad news on the injury front when backup point guard Ty Lawson suffered a sprained left knee

"It's a day-to-day sort of thing. I just have to ice it down," Lawson said of the injury.

The Kings, meanwhile, continue to plod through a miserable season, losing their last encounter to Atlanta on Tuesday when the Hawks' Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 31 points and dished out seven assists in a 108-102 Atlanta win.

Tyreke Evans posted 29 points, eight assists and a career-high five steals and rookie DeMarcus Cousins posted 24 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who have lost 10 of their last 12 overall. Omri Casspi had 11 boards and 10 points, while Francisco Garcia chipped in 12 points in the loss.

"I hated to lose that game, but I'm encouraged. That's a good team," Kings head coach Paul Westphal said of the Hawks. "They have some real tough matchups for us."

Sacramento is now 1-1 on a three-game homestand and is an NBA-worst 5-15 on its home floor this season.

The Kings have, however, beaten Denver three straight times in California's capital. In fact, the Nuggets are just 3-23 in their last 26 trips to ARCO Arena.