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Nuggets close out regular season in Utah

Apr 13, 2011 - 3:07 PM (Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets have one game left on the regular season schedule before the playoffs commence later this week and will pay a visit to the Northwest Division-rival Utah Jazz tonight in Salt Lake City.

Denver is the fifth seed in the Western Conference playoff race and has won two straight and three of four games, including Monday's 134-111 victory versus the Golden State Warriors at the Pepsi Center.

J.R. Smith led nine players in double digits with 22 points, while Kosta Koufos chipped in 18 and Raymond Felton had 15 points and 10 assists for the Nuggets, who improved to 18-6 since dealing Carmelo Anthony to New York and got 14 points apiece from Kenyon Martin, Ty Lawson and Chris Andersen. Andersen also 12 rebounds and four blocks.

"They are well-balanced and one of the most talented teams in the league from top to bottom on the roster. It is tough to prepare for them because anyone can go off on any night," Warriors guard Stephen Curry said of Denver.

The Nuggets, who are in the playoffs for an eighth year in a row, own a 17-23 mark away from the Rockies this season and shot 53.2 percent from the field versus the Warriors. Denver also had a 49-37 edge on the backboards and has scored 100-plus points in three of four games.

On the injury front for the Nuggets, guard Arron Afflalo (hamstring) and center Nene (groin) are questionable. Forwards Wilson Chandler (ankle), Danilo Gallinari (ankle) and Al Harrington (Achilles) are all doubtful for tonight.

Utah will put the finishing touches on what has been a tumultuous campaign highlighted by the sudden resignation of Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan and the trade of All-Star point guard Deron Williams.

The Jazz will not be participants in the postseason for the first time since 2005-06 and own just two wins in their last 12 contests, including a 90-78 triumph in New Orleans on Monday. C.J. Miles and Devin Harris both scored 18 points, while Paul Millsap added 16 points for Utah, which handed coaching duties to Tyrone Corbin when Sloan stepped down.

"Even though we aren't going to the playoffs, we're playing for pride, playing to compete," Miles said. "We came out and executed our stuff tonight."

Corbin's club finished the season with an 18-23 road record and is 20-20 as the host this season. The Jazz, however, have lost five in a row at home. They dropped seven in a row as the host already this season -- the longest home losing streak since a 12-game slide from Feb. 15- March 29, 1982.

Denver has won two of three matchups with the Northwest-rival Jazz and is 6-2 in the previous eight meetings in the series. The Nuggets haven't fared too well in Salt Lake City, losing 10 of 14 and 24 of their last 29 games there.