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Billups finally ready to make debut for Nuggets

Nov 7, 2008 - 11:24 AM Dallas (2-2) at Denver (1-3) 10:30 p.m. EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- The long-awaited arrival of Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets is finally here.

Billups is expected to be in the Nuggets' lineup for the first time on Friday when they host the Dallas Mavericks.

A native of Denver, Billups was acquired along with veteran forward Antonio McDyess and center Cheikh Samb on Monday in the trade that sent Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons. Since Billups was in Charlotte for the Pistons' game against the Bobcats when the trade was completed, he was not able to make it to California in time to suit up for the Nuggets' 111-101 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old point guard, who was a member of Detroit's NBA Championship team during the 2003-04 campaign, practiced with Denver for the first time on Thursday and appears ready to go against the Mavericks.

The Nuggets could have used Billups against the Warriors, who overcame an 18-point deficit in the first quarter en route to their first home win of the season.

"One more body would have helped us," Denver coach George Karl said after the team lost its second straight game.

The Mavericks are coming off an impressive win, a 98-81 rout over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. Dirk Nowitzki scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Jason Terry added 29 and seven assists as Dallas held its cross-state rivals to 42 percent (30-of-72) shooting from the field.