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Nuggets open a five-game road trip in Dallas

Dec 9, 2006 - 6:04 PM Denver (11-6) at Dallas (13-6) 8:30 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets open a five-game road trip against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

The surging Nuggets - winners of eight of their last 10 contests - are coming off a 123-107 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday. J.R. Smith scored a career-high 37 points and tied a team record with seven 3-pointers.

Carmelo Anthony - the league's top scorer - netted 32 points and Andre Miller tied a league season high with 20 assists for Denver, which shot 54 percent (46-of-85) overall.

However, the Nuggets start their trek in Dallas where they have dropped 16 of their last 17 visits.

After a 12-game winning streak was stopped, the Mavericks have responded with a win and a loss. Most recently, they endured a 92-82 setback here to the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and Jason Terry added 17 for Dallas, which was outrebounded, 44-36.