LA Clippers (23-16) at Denver (25-19) 9:30 pm EST
DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets are getting better,
healthier and more confident. That's a dangerous combination
for the rest of the league.
The surging Nuggets seek their eighth straight victory Friday
when they host the Los Angeles Clippers.
Denver, which is on its longest winning streak since a 10-game
run last March and April, is coming off Wednesday's 97-94 road
triumph over Portland.
While the Nuggets weren't flashy in the victory, they did
managed to win by five points or fewer for the sixth straight
time. Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and Andre Miller and
Kenyon Martin contributed 21 apiece for Denver, which improved
to 11-2 this month.
The Nuggets also are getting some of their key players back from
injury. Marcus Camby, who was having an outstanding season
prior to suffering a broken finger last month, is expected to
return Friday following a 15-game absence.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles has bounced back from a stretch of nine
losses in 12 games to win six of its last eight, including
three straight.
In Wednesday's 90-77 win against New Jersey, Elton Brand scored
19 points and Cuttino Mobley added 15 with a career-high 13
boards for the Clippers, who held a 49-37 rebounding advantage.
In the first meeting between the teams this season, Denver
recorded a 105-95 triumph on November 25 behind 35 points from
Anthony and 15 and seven assists from Miller.





