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Nuggets and Hornets battle in key Western Conference matchup

Mar 14, 2011 - 3:06 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of Western Conference inhabitants jockeying for position in the standings get together tonight in the Big Easy, where the New Orleans Hornets will host the Denver Nuggets.

Denver is fifth in the West, just one game ahead of New Orleans and two games in front of Portland, and will begin a four-game road trip Monday against the Hornets, Hawks, Magic and Heat. The Nuggets are 12-20 away from the Rockies.

The Nuggets have won two in a row and eight of their last 10 games, including Saturday's 131-101 rout of the Detroit Pistons at the Pepsi Center. J.R. Smith scored a season-high 31 points and Nene added 18 and 11 rebounds for Denver, which won by 19 or more points for a second straight time.

"It wasn't a great defensive game but we did force 10 steals," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We scored a lot of points off their mistakes, as long as we do that we will score enough points to win."

Ty Lawson provided 15 points and 11 assists in a winning effort. Denver scored 21 points off of 12 Detroit turnovers and shot 56.1 percent for the game, making 18 of its 37 three-point attempts for a new franchise record. The Nuggets lead the NBA in scoring with 107.7 ppg and are 18-5 on the year when making 10 or more three-pointers.

Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo is questionable for Monday with a hamstring injury. He has missed back-to-back contests and is averaging 12.9 ppg.

New Orleans has won two straight and four of its last five games, and will resume a five-game homestand this evening.

The Hornets prevailed, 115-103, over Sacramento on Saturday behind Chris Paul's season-high 33 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing two games in a row with a concussion. David West had 25 points and nine rebounds, while Carl Landry posted 20 in a reserve role for New Orleans, which is 2-0 on the residency and 23-9 at home.

"I was just so excited to get back out here," Paul said postgame. "This is a tough stretch we have coming up and each home game, we really have to take seriously."

New Orleans will also welcome Phoenix and Boston to the Big Easy, where it is 20-3 this season when holding opposing teams under 100 points.

The Hornets have won the first two meetings with the Nuggets this season and four of the previous six encounters on the bayou.