Orlando Magic (32-8) at Denver Nuggets (27-13) - Pepsi Center

This post is coming up just a touch late on a game day, but the trip back from Winter Park took a bit longer than expected today folks. The weather was perfect out here in Colorado today and the packed powder provided for some great runs friends. But none of that is neither here nor there. We’re here to talk Nuggets basketball.

The Nuggets will be wrapping up a seven game homestand tonight against the Orlando Magic (32-8), who are coming off a 109-103 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last night and that is a good win and scares the shit out of me.

The Magic have won six in a row and are being led by big man Dwight Howard and former Nugget draftee Jameer Nelson. Expect both Chauncey Billups and Dahntay Jones to check Nelson, but slowing down Howard should be a task. Dwight scored 25 points and pulled down 20 rebounds last night ... let's hope he is feeling a bit overworked.

Denver has been somewhat fortunate on this homestand. Detroit was without Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton, Dallas was without their second leading scorer Josh Howard, and Phoenix sat Shaquille O’Neal. Orlando is coming in tonight with their full arsenal. This Magic team just four days ago against the Sacramento Kings set the NBA record for three-pointers made in a game with 23 ... they made 23 three-pointers in a game! And remember this Denver defense is known for letting teams attempt to beat them with the long ball (I hope that is not George Karl's strategy tonight).

Another road block coming in … Orlando is a terrific road team (16-5), but they are coming off an emotional down-to-the-wire win last night in Los Angeles.

Denver has played brilliantly and they have played miserably in stretches on this stand. I look for the team to come out and show some of the physical play they demonstrated against the Suns. Aside from Dwight Howard the Magic are a perimeter team and I think they can be bullied a bit if Denver should choose to go that route. It worked against Phoenix and could prove to be the key to picking up a sixth victory in the homestand and their fourth victory in five tries since Melo broke his hand.

Game Notes:

• Denver is 13-26 all time versus Orlando (a .333 win percentage), they only play the Lakers worse (.328 percentage all time)
• Denver is now 4-1 when JR Smith starts
• Renaldo “Crime Stopper” Balkman has recorded 7 did not play - Coach’s Decisions in his last 8 games and only saw 2 minutes vs. the Indiana Pacers the night Melo broke his hand … Crime Stopper, why don’t you play?

Side Notes:

• Mark Cuban has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for his antics at the Pepsi Center ... so in Cuban money that equates to a Snickers bar
• Darius Miles played in his 2nd game with the Memphis Grizzlies on a 10-day contract to trigger his 10th game played this season, so the $18 million left on his contract with the Blazers will now go back on Portland's books, that puts them in the luxury tax this season and basically wipes out their salary cap room next season