The Denver Nuggets will try and win their 11th straight game at home when they face they San Antonio Spurs tonight at the Pepsi Center.
Besides facing the top team in the NBA, the Nuggets must also face increasing rumors and innuendos about where Carmelo Anthony will be at the end of the year.
On Tuesday, as the Nuggets were beating the Orlando Magic, a Denver television sports reporter Tweeted that a Melo to New Jersey Nets trade had been finalized. After the game the media stormed the Nuggets locker room asking Melo and his teammate their thoughts on the trade.
There was no trade and the Tweet has since been deleted, but this is a good example of the circus that is surrounding the Nuggets these days.
Now they have to concentrate on facing the team with the NBA's best record, the Spurs (20-3). Led by a cast of familiar faces, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson, the Spurs do the right things on the court to win. Though not flashy, coach Gregg Popovich teaches his players how to play the game right, and their execution is almost flawless.
For Denver to win they need great games out of leading scorers: Melo, Nene, Al Harrington and J.R. Smith. Ty Lawson also needs to continue his hot streak, which should be aided by his role as the starting point guard in light of the injury to Chauncey Billups.
Denver (15-9, 11-1 home) has not lost at home since a 102-101 defeat on November 3rd to the Dallas Mavericks.
Tonight's game tips at 8:30 and can be seen nationally on TNT or regionally on Altitude.