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Seeking third straight win, Carmelo, Nuggets take on Wade, Heat

Nov 14, 2006 - 1:54 PM Denver (2-3) at Miami (3-3) 7:30 pm EST

MIAMI (Ticker) - Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets appear to be back on track, but they will get a better idea Tuesday when they take on Dwyane Wade and the defending champion Miami Heat.

Denver lost its first three games of the season before opening its four-game road trip with victories against Philadelphia and Charlotte. Anthony averaged 33.5 points and shot 58 percent (25-of-43) in the wins, including a 36-point effort in Sunday's 108-101 triumph against the Bobcats.

The third overall pick in the 2003 draft, Anthony is averaging 29.4 points this season. The fifth selection that year was Wade, who is averaging 25.2 points, 6.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds so far.

Wade scored 24 points Sunday but needed 22 shots to do so. He also committed five of Miami's 18 turnovers in a 94-72 defeat to Houston on Sunday.

Shaquille O'Neal was limited to 15 points and 10 rebounds and Antoine Walker added 13 points, but no other Heat player had more than six as their two-game winning streak came to an end.

The Nuggets won both meetings last season and Anthony has won three of his five matchups with Wade.