The Denver Nuggets finally get some home cooking tonight against the Orlando Magic, after going 1-3 on a four game East coast road trip. But with Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson coming to town, Denver might not be saying "There's No Place Like Home."
Howard is an MVP candidate leading his team in points (21.5 per game), rebounds (12 per game), steals (1.1 per game) and blocks (2.4 per game). The only major statistical category Superman isn't leading the team in is assists, and that honor belongs to Nelson at 7.2 per game.
Besides those two, three other Magic average double figure scoring per game. That list includes Vince Carter at 15 ppg, Rashard Lewis, 12.3 ppg and Brandon Bass, 10.6 ppg. Despite all the front end scoring, the Magic only average 97 ppg as a team, but have earned their 16-8 record the hard way, through defense, where they allow a meager 91.9 ppg, which ranks them fourth in the league.
Quite the opposite, the Nuggets are third in the league in scoring, pouring in 106.7 ppg while giving up 104.9 ppg, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA.
The Nuggets get their scoring from six players who average double figures: Carmelo Anthony, Nene, Chauncey Billups, Al Harrington, Arron Afflalo and J.R. Smith. Add in Ty Lawson's 9.8 and Denver has seven guys who can be relied on for a scoring punch.
The game tips at 7:00 p.m. at the Pepsi Center and can be seen on Altitude TV.