Nuggets falling into a hole

The struggling Nuggets continue their homestand against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at the Pepsi Center. It is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. The Bucks are scheduled to host the Nuggets on February 10th at the Bradley Center. Milwaukee has lost six of eight and 12 of its last 15 at Denver. The Nuggets have won six of the last seven contests in this series.

Denver, which plays the second of a four-game homestand, has lost five in a row and is 2-6 with the newly-acquired Iverson in the lineup. On Saturday Deron Williams scored 28 points and dished out 12 assists, as the Northwest Division-leading Utah Jazz topped the slumping Nuggets, 96-84, at the Pepsi Center.

Iverson, who was acquired in December from Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade, posted 22 points and eight assists in the loss to Utah for the Nuggets, while Earl Boykins also netted 22. Linas Kleiza scored 17 and Reggie Evans collected 11 boards in defeat.

On the injury front for Denver, center Marcus Camby (hyperextended right wrist) did not play against Utah and is questionable for Monday’s contest. Camby is averaging 11.7 points and a team-best 11.3 rebounds per game this season.

The Nuggets are 9-8 at home this season. They will host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday and the Houston Rockets on Friday.

Denver continues to play without star forward Carmelo Anthony and guard J.R. Smith. Anthony is serving a 15-game suspension for his role in December 16th’s brawl at Madison Square Garden, while Smith received a 10-game suspension. Smith is eligible to return to the court on Wednesday against the Spurs.

Anthony is averaging 31.6 points per game, while Smith has recorded 16.7 per contest.

Iverson has posted 26.4 points and 8.3 assists per game for the Nuggets.