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Nuggets host Rockets in must-win battle

Apr 13, 2008 - 1:58 PM Houston (54-25) at Denver (48-32) 9:00 pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) - Once again, the Denver Nuggets are faced with another much-win situation.

The Nuggets will try to gain control of the eighth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference when they host the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

Following Saturday's lackluster 124-97 loss to the Utah Jazz, Denver fell back into a tie with gritty Golden State (48-32) for the last spot in the West.

"I don't know where the game went wrong to be honest with you," Nuggets All-Star Carmelo Anthony said. "In the third quarter they had the momentum going with them and just carried it over throughout the rest of the game."

One bright spot for Denver is that it holds the tiebreaker over the Warriors, who dropped a nine-point decision at home to the Nuggets on Thursday.

Denver also enters looking to split its four-game season series with Houston, which sits one-half game behind New Orleans (55-25) and the Lakers for first place in the West.

Tracy McGrady poured in 22 points and rookie Luis Scola added 19 as the Rockets extended their winning streak to five games with Friday's 101-90 win over the Phoenix Suns.