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Nelson-less Magic hope to slow surging Nuggets

Feb 11, 2009 - 11:35 AM Denver (35-17) at Orlando (38-12) 7:00 p.m. EST

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- The Orlando Magic have been fine thus far without Jameer Nelson. A visit from the streaking Denver Nuggets could change all that.

The Magic will look to move into the All-Star break with a win when they face the Nuggets on Wednesday.

Orlando has won two of three since the All-Star guard Nelson went down with a torn labrum, including a 101-84 win over the New Jersey Nets on Monday.

Veteran point guard Anthony Johnson collected six points, eight rebounds and four assists in place of Nelson, but it was Dwight Howard who picked up much of the slack with 30 points and 16 rebounds.

Howard will start Sunday's All-Star Game and will be attempting to defend his title in the Slam Dunk contest during Saturday's festivities.

Denver has won five of its last six and is 3-1 at the midway point of its current eight-game road trip.

The Nuggets easily dispatched the Miami Heat, 99-84 on Tuesday as All-Star Chauncey Billups poured in 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. Denver shot 51 percent in the game and has scored at least 99 points in each of its last 17 wins.

Orlando won the first meeting between the teams on January 17, 106-88, behind 31 points from Hedo Turkoglu and 20 rebounds from Howard.