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Nuggets begin season-high trek against Thunder

Feb 4, 2009 - 11:17 AM Denver (32-16) at Oklahoma City (11-37) 8:00 p.m. EST

OKLAHOMA CITY (Ticker) -- Carmelo Anthony has shown no lingering effects since returning from injury. That's good news for the Denver Nuggets as they set out on their longest road trip of the season.

Anthony and the Nuggets begin an eight-game swing on Wednesday when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In his second contest back after missing 10 games with a fractured right hand, Anthony poured in 35 points, hitting 10-of-17 shots from the field as Denver held off the San Antonio Spurs, 104-96, on Tuesday.

It was Denver's second straight win after Anthony scored 30 points in Friday's 110-99 victory against the Charlotte Bobcats, and the Nuggets will need him to keep up the scoring surge on the road.

The Nuggets are third in the Western Conference and own a 1 1/2-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers (30-17) but are only 12-10 away from home and are uncertain of Chauncey Billups' status after the All-Star guard sprained his right ankle against the Spurs.

X-rays were negative and Billups could play against the Thunder, who are coming off back-to-back losses but have won four of their last five home games.

After enduring a 20-point loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday, Oklahoma City dropped a 122-118 overtime decision to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. It was the most points the Thunder had allowed since Anthony's 3-pointer with one-tenth of a second remaining handed the Nuggets a 122-120 victory on January 2.