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Nuggets hope to get Anthony back, prolong Knicks' misery

Dec 28, 2008 - 8:00 AM Denver (19-11) at New York (11-17), 1:00 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets may get their most dangerous asset back when they visit the struggling New York Knicks on Sunday.

Carmelo Anthony has missed Denver's last three games with a right elbow contusion, an injury that had been nagging him for weeks.

"I'm going to try to (play)," Anthony told the Rocky Mountain News on Friday.

A two-time All-Star, Anthony is averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 25 games.

Denver is coming off a 105-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, a game that saw it commit 24 turnovers and make only 18 shots from inside the 3-point line.

The Nuggets were able to overcome those shortcomings by converting 15-of-31 3-point attempts and riding the stellar play from point guard Chauncey Billups, who had 26 points and 10 assists.

Meanwhile, the Knicks have lost five straight and six of their last eight.

They were ousted, 120-107, by the Minnesota Timberwolves, who snapped a 13-game losing streak and took advantage of New York's porous 39 percent shooting effort.

Nate Robinson had 26 points and 10 assists and Al Harrington chipped in 26, but the Knicks were not able to negate an atrocious effort on the defensive end.