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Nuggets look to finish strong vs. reeling Thunder

Apr 8, 2009 - 4:34 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

Oklahoma City (21-56) at Denver (52-26) 9:00 p.m. EDT

DENVER (AP) -- With seven consecutive wins and control of the second seed in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets are not going to slow down during these last four games. Even if they are facing an Oklahoma City Thunder team that's dropped 10 of 13.

Denver goes for its ninth straight victory at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night and a season sweep of Oklahoma City.

The Nuggets (52-26), riding their longest winning streak since an eight-game run from April 1-13, 2007, hold a 1 1/2-game lead over San Antonio for the No. 2 seed in the West.

With a franchise-best 54 wins set 21 seasons ago well within their grasp, the Nuggets look to continue their dominance over the league's worst teams. Denver improved to 29-6 versus clubs with sub-.500 records with Sunday's 110-87 victory over Minnesota.

"We just wanted to come out here tonight and pretty much take care of business, not sleep on a team like the Wolves," Carmelo Anthony said after the Nuggets shot better than 53.0 percent from the field for the second straight game.

Anthony is averaging 28.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists as Denver has won all three meetings with the Thunder this season. He hit two game-winners against Oklahoma City - a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left in a 122-120 win on Jan. 2, and a runner with 5.3 seconds to play on Feb. 4 as the Nuggets held off the Thunder, 114-113.

Denver has won the three matchups with Oklahoma City by an average of just 5.3 points.

Anthony is scoring 28.0 points per game on 50.6 percent from the field during his team's winning streak.

Beginning with his 17-point, nine-assist effort in a 112-99 win over Oklahoma City on March 11, Chauncey Billups is averaging 14.5 points and 7.8 assists during the Nuggets' 12-1 stretch.

The veteran point guard even managed his first dunk of the season in Sunday's win.

"My kids were talking stuff to me because they didn't think I could dunk no more," Billups said. "I hope my little girl's watching this game right now because if not, she may not see it again."

While Billups is guiding the Nuggets toward their first home-court advantage in a playoff series since 1988, Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook has struggled lately as the Thunder (21-56) have dropped six of seven and three straight by an average of 21.0 points.

Westbrook has just one 20-plus point game in his last eight contests after averaging 19.1 points from Feb. 21-March 20 as Oklahoma City won six of 14.

He had 10 points and six assists in Tuesday's 99-89 loss to San Antonio - the 19th straight game the Thunder have failed to score 100 points.

Denver, meanwhile, has held its opponents to a combined 41.2 percent from the field during its seven-game streak.

"We tried, we scrambled, we fought, we clawed, but they made some big plays down the stretch," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said Tuesday. "We didn't get outworked, so that's a sign we're still fighting."

Kevin Durant goes for his fourth straight 30-plus point game against the Nuggets. He missed the March 11 loss in Denver with a sprained right ankle.

The Nuggets' last home loss was 97-95 to Houston on March 9.