The NBA matchup of the day Sunday would appear to be in the evening in Dallas, where the Mavericks, with the NBA's fifth-best record, host the Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets.
Denver has a chance to beat Dallas in consecutive meetings for the first time since Dec. 26, 1995. The Nuggets beat the Mavs 122-109 this past Dec. 6 – but that was with Carmelo Anthony, who may or may not play tonight.
Anthony, who sprained his ankle on Monday against the Lakers and has missed two games, wouldn't completely rule himself out for the Dallas game, but he sounded more optimistic about returning Monday from a left ankle sprain to play at New Orleans. (NBA Injury Report)
"I don't think I'm going to be able to go," Anthony said after Saturday's practice. "It will give me one more day of rest, and hopefully be back on Monday against New Orleans. If not (today), then definitely Monday."
Said Nuggets coach George Karl: "From what he did (Saturday), I'd say doubtful."
Allen Iverson has stepped up in Denver's last two games, scoring 30 points in Friday's 100-85 win over the New Jersey Nets and 29 in Wednesday's 107-100 win over the Atlanta Hawks.Linas Kleiza, who is averaging 12.0 points, started the last two games for Anthony, and scored 23 points in each contest. Kleiza, a 6-8 forward, has averaged 17 points per game in nine starts and posted three consecutive games of 21 points or more.
"We've got so many guys banged up . You just have to have guys suck it up,' Iverson said.
Anthony, who named an All-Star starter this week, was averaging 30.4 points - 4.9 points better than his season average - in his five games before the injury.
Without Anthony, winning Sunday seems unlikely for Denver, as the Nuggets are getting outscored by an average of 13.2 points during a season-high four-game road losing streak. They have not lost five straight road games in a single season since dropping eight in a row Dec. 17, 2004-Jan. 17, 2005.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, have the league's best home record at 19-3, and have won six straight at American Airlines Center by an average of 13.0 points.
Dallas has found its groove in January and not just because of Dirk Nowitzki. Much is due to point guard Devin Harris, who has averaged 16.3 points and 5.5 assists in January, and the Mavericks are 9-2 for the month.
And in the past three games, Josh Howard has averaged 26.3 points and 9.7 rebounds.
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