Denver Nuggets Team Report - March 18

(Basketball News) - The Denver Nuggets try to increase their lead for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, as they welcome the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday to the Pepsi Center.

Denver, which is 3 1/2 games behind Memphis for the seventh seed, is 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

It will be the third and final meeting of the season between the clubs. In the two previous contests, both teams picked up a victory on the road.

Overall, the road team has won five of the last seven meetings in this series, while the home team has won seven of 12 and 12 of the last 18 contests. The Nuggets have won two of three and three of their last five against the Clippers, who have won three of four and four of their last six at Denver.

The Nuggets play the third of a season-high seven-game homestand. On Wednesday, Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points, DeMarr Johnson and Francisco Elson added 14 apiece, and the Nuggets rolled to a 120-101 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats at the Pepsi Center.

Wesley Person and Eduardo Najera chipped in 13 points each in the win over Charlotte for the Nuggets, who have won nine of their last 10 overall. Denver shot 54 percent for the game and led by as many as 28 points, rebounding nicely from the loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday that snapped their season- high eight-game winning streak.

Under the guidance of head coach George Karl, the Nuggets have compiled an impressive 16-5 record. Karl became the team’s general on January 27th when he replaced interim head coach Michael Cooper.

Denver, which is 7-3 in Friday games this season, is 20-10 as the host. The Nugets are 9-1 in their last 10 at the Pepsi Center.

The Nuggets will continue their homestand on Sunday, as they host Michael Redd and the Milwaukee Bucks. It will be the second and final meeting of the season between the teams. On January 28th, Denver defeated the Bucks, 106-100, at the Bradley Center.