Allen Iverson

Carmelo Anthony

ANTHONY/IVERSON TOGETHER

Time ORating DRating Net Rating Carmelo/AI 109.2 107.8 +1.4 All Other Games 108.2 106.3 +1.9

A look at the numbers shows that the Nuggets have been slightly worse with Iverson and Anthony than without them. Pairing two big-time scorers has improved Denver's offense - though not tremendously - but the small backcourt of Steve Blake and Iverson has caused problems at the other end of the floor.

That the Nuggets have outscored opponents by 16 points in games with both Anthony and Iverson but still have a below-.500 record illustrates a theme of the season - tough luck in close finishes. As much as close losses have been an issue for the Sonics, Denver's record in games decided by five or less (5-15) is actually far worse than Seattle's (9-16). The issue came to a head Monday in Detroit, when the Nuggets looked to have the win wrapped up before Rasheed Wallace banked in a three-pointer from beyond halfcourt at the buzzer to force overtime, where the Pistons would ultimately win 113-109.

In a recent story on the Sonics own tough times in close games, SUPERSONICS.COM introduced an expected winning percentage in close games and charted the teams whose records in games decided by five or less differed most from their expected records. Denver, based on its overall performance, should have gone 10-10 or 11-9 in close games. The difference from their actual 5-15 record, in percentage terms, is larger than any team in the five-year sample (2001-02 through 2005-06). No team during that span had as low a winning percentage in games decided by five or less as this year's Nuggets.

Despite their inability to win a close game, the Nuggets are still comfortably in the Western Conference Playoffs thanks to the weak crop of teams competing for the eighth seed. Denver is 1.5 games up on the eighth-seeded Clippers and 3.5 games up in terms of making the postseason. If the Nuggets stay seventh, that could set up an intriguing playoff series with the Phoenix Suns. Denver Coach George Karl has pushed the pace this season, and the result is the Nuggets are one of two teams in the NBA that average more possessions per game than the high-octane Suns.

The Sonics head to Denver after one of the most impressive comebacks in team history, finishing Tuesday's win in Minnesota with a 25-2 run after trailing by as many as 25 points. SUPERSONICS.COM research found two recent games where the Sonics had overcome deficits of at least 20 points (Nov. 14, 2004 vs. Memphis and Jan. 5, 2004 vs. Portland), none as large as 25.

KEY MATCHUP
	The NBA's leading scorer at the time of his suspension (and the subsequent Iverson trade), Anthony has slipped slightly paired with another prolific scorer, but still averages 29.0 points per game on solid 47.4% shooting. Anthony had 34 points in Seattle on 12-for-26 shooting. Rashard Lewis, sidelined by surgery on his right hand, did not play in that game. It was Lewis who keyed the Sonics comeback in Minnesota, scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter and 17 during the game-ending 25-2 run. He has responded to being asked to be the go-to player for the Sonics in Ray Allen's absence.

Blake proved the unlikely hero Jan. 23 as the Nuggets defeated the Sonics 117-112 at KeyArena. It was 106-103 Sonics with a little under three minutes left when Blake hit his first shot of the night, a three-pointer to tie the game. After a pair of free throws from Nenê, Blake hit another three-pointer to push Denver's lead to 111-106. When Allen committed his second straight turnover and Anthony turned it into a layup on the other end, it completed a 10-0 Nuggets run and removed doubt from the outcome.

That the Sonics were in position to win is testament to Allen's brilliance. Allen scored 22 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter alone, shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 5-for-8 from three-point range. Sonics big men Nick Collison and Chris Wilcox both had double-doubles. Collison's 18 points and 10 boards gave him five double-doubles in his last six games, while Wilcox had 25 points and 12 rebounds, 19 of his points in the first half. The Sonics allowed 33 points to Anthony, but limited Iverson to 21 points on 7-for-19 shooting. Iverson handed out 10 assists, including setting up one of Blake's two big buckets.

Today's Kia Surprising Stat - Second-year forward Linas Kleiza has developed into a key member of the Denver rotation. Over the last 14 games, Kleiza has averaged 13.1 points and 5.1 rebounds and has shot 49.3% from downtown.

View From Afar:

Nuggets.com

Denver Post

Rocky Mountain News

The Nugg Doctor

Solid Gold

INJURIES

Sonics - Guard Ray Allen (bone spur, left ankle) and center Robert Swift (torn right ACL) are out.

Denver - Forward Eduardo Najera (left tibia contusion) is questionable. Forward Kenyon Martin (microfracture surgery, right knee) is out.

For more analysis before tonight's game, listen to the Sonics Pregame Show starting at 5:30 on KTTH 770 AM and Sonics Radio Network stations.