<div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"> @ </span> Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO National TV: <span style="color:red">TNT</span>Time: 08:00 pm ESTDate: Thursday, 9 March 2006 ---</div><span style="color:royalblue"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Denver Nuggets (33-28)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:royalblue">PG: Andre MillerSG: Ruben PattersonSF: Carmelo AnthonyPF: Kenyon MartinC: Marcus Camby</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:royalblue">Earl Boykins</span>Coach: <span style="color:royalblue">George Karl</span>---<span style="color:sienna"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Philadelphia 76ers (30-30)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:sienna">PG: Kevin OllieSG: Allen Iverson SF: Andre IguodalaPF: Chris WebberC: Steven Hunter</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:sienna">Kyle Korver</span>Coach: <span style="color:darkslateblue">Maurice Cheeks</span>---Nuggets' last game recap (vs. Grizzlies)We won the game and the homecourt advantage should we meet them in any round of the playoffs. This is as impressive as it can get because we blew them out, who had played very well in a blowout win against the Clippers in Los Angeles the previous night. You can argue fatigue and thin air but good teams don't need excuses. Patterson and Evans continued to give us very solid game and toughness with 16 pts and 7 rbds in limited minutes, respectively. Evans even got into a shoving match with Lorenzen Wright... good, we need more of that "never back down" attitude! Melo (pic) had a strong shooting night with 35 pts (15-for-22), Camby (13 pts, 8 rbds, 5 blocks) and Elson (7 rbds) continued to fill it up in K-Mart's absence. Lonngggg.. trip We begin the hellish seven-game road trip tonight in Philly: 9/3 - Sixers 10/3 - Raptors 12/3 - Celtics 13/3 - Knicks 15/3 - Pacers 17/3 - Grizzlies 18/3 - Hornets It could make or break our season. According to Karl on DenverPost, the long trip is important and could be beneficial because a team is usually "more together" on the road than at home. Staying at the hotel with teammates, coaches, for example, instead of going back home to families after a home game. I agree, we need to have more time being together, be on the same page, establish a goal as well as identity as a team. Some Nuggets like Camby and Melo were pretty bold in predicting we'll go 7-0. Any winning record on a long trip is a success, 7-0 will be marvellous, 4-3 would be very good but of course always get more than what you aim for if the opportunities present, nothing is impossible. I'll be happy with 4-3 but my prediction is 5-2. vs. SixersComing in, they have lost two straight, including a tough loss on the road vs. the Celtics just last night. Iverson had 32 points but shot only 10-of-31 from the field. They couldn't stop Pierce (31 pts, 12 rbds, 10 assts) and Gomes (29 pts, 11 rbds), which could be a good sign for Melo and Evans/ Camby. But we could also be left searching for an answer for AI again. Remember, he burned us in the previous meeting this season on a game-winning jumper in Denver. Coach Karl will no doubt look for Patterson to provide some help and Buckner will also come handy for this job. I'll leave the preview at this... let you all to comment on the game below. More notes from Rocky Mountain News:The game will feature the NBA's top two shot blockers in Camby (3.23 a game) and 76ers center Samuel Dalembert (3.12). Dalembert has been coming off the bench since returning from a left knee injury that sidelined him for three games late last month . . . The 76ers won the previous matchup, 108-106 in Denver on Dec. 27, when Iverson converted a top-of-the-key jumper in the final seconds. Iverson's 36 points and Webber's 32 helped the 76ers offset 45 points by Anthony . . . The Nuggets are 24-14 when Elson starts, though, if healthy, Martin will replace him in the lineup . . . It has been more than two years since a Nuggets player has recorded a triple-double. Miller was the last to achieve the feat, with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists on Jan. 26, 2004 . . . In the past two seasons, the Nuggets are 62-18 when scoring 18 or more fast-break points and 20-43 when posting fewer . . . A win would allow the Nuggets to equal this season's high-water mark of six games above .500 . . . Patterson played for Cheeks from 2001-02 to 2004-05.<span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:red">+</span></span> Closing comments and predictionsWhen was the last time I predicted a loss ?? I think we're gonna escape with a 99-95 decision.
Nice to have another Nuggs fan around here. I think they will pull out with this , but it will be close. I have a gut feeling Earl will have 15+ this game.
He has the best game previews :rock: We are at halftime right now. Down by 9 points.This is the first time I have had a chance to see Ruben Patterson in a Nuggets jersey. I think this was a great move to bring him to Denver. He brings great energy and he hustles very well. On top of great defense. Not only can he score but he is a class A defender. Right now he has 16 points and 2 steals on 5-7 shooting.I think we play much better with him on the roster.
CLUTCH MELO!Game tied at 93 Melo gets the ball from Andre Miller hits ANOTHER clutch basketbal with 19 seconds left to give Denver a 95-93 lead.Sixers call a timeout.
:boogie: :boogie: Mannn :boogie:I'm loving the fact that we didn't give up even after trailing by 15 pts. This is a confidence booster, down by 15 to a team like Philly on their homefloor and to come back and win it is a great win. And you're right Tony Patterson does look good on his road uniform. :rock: He seems to be a proud player once again after enduring many years of losing with Portland. Now that he's with us, in a winning situation, I'm happy for him and us the fans :yahoo: All of the players did their part, of course capped by Melo's game-winner and Camby's block. This is the first time I saw Melo delivered a game-winning hoop with a layup not a shot. A shot would be better for me but I'll take that sweet drive too any day. :rock: :rock: :rock: Toronto next (sorry but I don't think I can make the game preview)!
