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Nuggets F Anthony expected to return vs. Bobcats

Jan 30, 2009 - 11:13 AM Charlotte (19-27) at Denver (30-16) 9:00 p.m. EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- Carmelo Anthony's return to the Denver Nuggets could not come at a better time.

Anthony is expected to be back in the lineup on Friday when the Nuggets host the suddenly staunch Charlotte Bobcats.

The 24-year-old forward, Anthony has been sidelined since suffering a fractured right hand on January 5.

Denver went 6-4 in 10 games without Anthony but appeared to hit a wall in its last game against the New Orleans Hornets, suffering a 94-81 setback on Wednesday.

Despite playing without starting forward David West and center Tyson Chandler, New Orleans held the Nuggets to 37 second-half points and a season-low 81 for the game. Denver also failed to score on seven consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter.

Anthony will provide a boost to the Nuggets' offense. Although he has missed 14 total games this season, he is still the team's leading scorer, averaging 21.1 points per game.

Denver will need all the offense it can get against the Bobcats, who fell to 6-3 in their last nine games after an 88-74 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.

The loss came without the services of Gerald Wallace after the team's top scorer suffered a partially collapsed lung and fractured rib during Tuesday's thrilling 117-110 double-overtime victory against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Center Andrew Bynum appeared to throw his right elbow into Wallace's ribs as he drove the lane in the fourth quarter with 2:22 left to play in regulation.