(My Sportsbook) - Two of the NBA's young stars collide this evening in the Rocky Mountains, where Carmelo Anthony and the
Denver Nuggets play host to Dwight Howard and the
Orlando Magic from the Pepsi Center.
Orlando has won two in a row since a four-game slide and opened a four-game western road trip with Tuesday's 109-88 victory at Sacramento thanks to a season-high 30 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, three steals and three blocks from Howard.
"We came out with a great defensive effort as a team," Howard said.
Mickael Pietrus finished with 18 points and 10 boards, while Jason Williams and Ryan Anderson each netted 12 points for the Southeast Division-leading Magic, who are 12-8 away from central Florida this season and will also visit the Blazers and Lakers on the trek.
Magic veteran guard Vince Carter missed the win over Sacramento with a left shoulder injury and is questionable for tonight. Carter has missed back-to- back contests and is averaging 17.4 points per game this season.
Meanwhile, the Northwest Division-leading Nuggets will resume a three-game homestand this evening and is coming off Monday's 105-94 triumph over Minnesota. Anthony returned from a five-game absence to score 24 points and had been out with a right knee contusion.
"When you come back and you're on the sideline, you really don't want to try to just force it back into the rhythm," Anthony said. "You want to ease your way in. The team still has things they were doing well. So you want to try to fit in and still do what you do best."
Denver was 3-2 without Anthony in the lineup and also got 18 points and 10 assists from Chauncey Billups. Arron Afflalo and Nene added 15 and 13 points, respectively, for the Nuggets, who have won four of six overall and improved to 16-3 in the Rockies this season.
The Nuggets will also host Utah on the residency. Denver guard Ty Lawson (ankle) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup. Forward Kenyon Martin is averaging 15.9 points and 12.0 boards in the past nine games.
Orlando owns an 18-6 mark in the previous 24 matchups between the teams, but has lost five of six as the visitor in this series.
