(My Sportsbook) - The injury-plagued Denver Nuggets are hoping to be closer to full strength when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers enter the Pepsi Center this evening for an interconference clash between division leaders.

Denver has played its last three games without leading scorer Carmelo Anthony due to a bruised right knee, while valued point guard Chauncey Billups has sat out eight of the team's last nine contests with a groin strain. In addition, key reserve forward Chris Andersen missed Tuesday's 123-122 win over Golden State with a sprained left ankle, while rookie guard Ty Lawson left that game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury of his own.

Billups, whose 17.2 points per game trails only Anthony for the team lead, is expected to be back in the lineup tonight. Anthony was able to participate in part of Thursday's practice, although it's unclear as to whether the star forward will play against the Cavaliers.

Lawson, who had 21 points and eight assists before exiting Tuesday's triumph, is also a question mark for tonight, while Andersen is likely to miss at least two more games.

The Nuggets still had some talent on hand in their last outing, in which J.R. Smith sank 2-of-3 free throws after being fouled on a desperation shot with 0.4 seconds left to provide the winning points.

Golden State took a 122-121 lead on Monta Ellis' layup with 15.2 seconds left and Denver's Joey Graham missed a three-point attempt on the other end, but the Nuggets were able to get possession back on a jump ball with 1.4 seconds to go.

Smith was then inexplicably fouled by Ellis on a heave from near half-court to give Denver a chance for the victory.

"I was walking to the locker room. I didn't think they were going to call it," Smith said. "Then I saw the referee's hand and I was just thankful he did call it."

Kenyon Martin posted team bests of 27 points and 13 rebounds for Denver, which began this current three-game homestand with a 108-105 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. The Nuggets are a strong 14-3 as the host so far this season.

Cleveland starts up a five-game trip against Western Conference foes tonight and has won five in a row as the visiting team. The Cavaliers are 14-6 on the road this season and are in a virtual tie with Boston for the best record in the East.

The Cavs tuned up for their cross-country jaunt by routing the Gilbert Arenas- less Washington Wizards Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena, with James compiling 23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead the way in a 121-98 verdict.

Shaquille O'Neal netted 17 points and Anthony Parker scored 16 in Cleveland's eighth win in nine games. The 121 points was the team's highest offensive output of the season.

"I thought tonight we had some good possessions where we reversed the basketball," said Cavs head coach Mike Brown. "We've talked many times about getting teams to move (defensively) with a purpose. I thought we had multiple drives and kicks on some single possessions."

The Cavaliers swept the two-game season series with Denver in 2008-09 and stopped a string of three straight losses at the Pepsi Center with last season's 105-88 decision.