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Anthony looks to remain hot vs. Warriors

Mar 28, 2009 - 6:12 AM By Jeff Mezydlo Stats Senior Writer

Golden State (25-47) at Denver (47-26) 9:00 p.m. EDT

DENVER (AP) -- A big night from Carmelo Anthony helped the Denver Nuggets continue their run of success. The All-Star forward has usually come up big against the Golden State Warriors.

Anthony looks to continue his strong play overall and against the Warriors on Saturday night at the Pepsi Center, where the teams will conclude their season series.

Having already topped the 30-point mark three times this month, Anthony recorded 43 and 11 rebounds in Denver's 103-101 victory at Dallas on Friday.

"Just 'Melo being 'Melo," Denver's J.R. Smith said of Anthony, who was two points off his season high set against Minnesota on December 10. "He's done that a lot this year."

Anthony was 18-of-29 from the field and made his way through the lane for the go-ahead basket with 12.2 seconds left. He then added a free throw in the final seconds to secure Denver's second straight victory and seventh in eight contests.

"I can always score. I can do that in my sleep," said Anthony, who is averaging 22.7 points this season and 31.2 in his last five contests. "I had to step up. We probably needed that 43."

Denver, which owns a 1 1/2-game lead in the Northwest Division, is tied with Houston for third place in the Western Conference with nine games left.

Smith scored 22 points off the bench Friday for the Nuggets, who shot 56.0 percent and overcame a bad outing by Chauncey Billups. Though he averages 18.4 points, Billups scored only five but added nine assists.

The Nuggets, who are averaging 110.8 points in their last eight contests, open a four-game homestand while trying for a third consecutive home win against Golden State.

Anthony is averaging 28.8 points on 56.6 percent shooting in his last 13 games against the Warriors, who have lost three in a row overall and seven straight on the road.

The teams split their previous two games this season.

Anthony had 27 points and Billups added 16 and 11 assists in Denver's 123-105 home win on December 13. Despite 28 from Anthony, the Warriors won 111-101 on November 5 in Oakland.

Reserve Anthony Morrow scored 29 points and Monta Ellis added 22 in Golden State's 128-106 loss at Dallas on Wednesday. The Warriors played without Corey Maggette and Jamal Crawford - two of their top scorers.

While coach Don Nelson continues to sit Crawford (18.8 ppg) on occasion to give his young players more time, Maggette (18.9) could miss his second straight game with a head injury.

Stephen Jackson was held to 12 points - well below his 20.7 average - and could miss this contest due to a toe injury. He had four points on 1-of-13 shooting in the last meeting with Denver after scoring 29 against the Nuggets in November.

Morrow, the rookie swingman who averages 9.0 points, and Ellis were the only bright spots for the Warriors, who allowed the Mavericks to shoot 58.5 percent.

"Other than that I don't think anybody else had a really good game," Nelson said. "But, that's the way it goes."

Ellis is averaging 25.5 points in his last two games against the Nuggets.