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Earning a playoff
spot isn't going to be easy for the Denver Nuggets. It'll be even tougher for
the Seattle SuperSonics.
Both teams will try to improve their chances for a Western Conference postseason
berth as they meet at the Pepsi Center.
The Nuggets lost two key games over the weekend, but believe they are still in the thick of the playoff race.
``It's certainly not over,'' Nuggets guard Jon Barry said after a 85-83 loss to the Utah Jazz. ``Just got to get back on track with Seattle on Tuesday, take care of Houston on Friday and see where we're at. It's certainly a long way from over.''
Denver, which lost 102-86 to the Sonics on Friday, is tied with Portland for ninth place, one-half game behind Utah in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.
With seven games remaining, the Nuggets have little time to turn things around.
Six of the seven games are against Western Conference teams either in playoff
position or playoff contention. Denver probably needs to finish with 42 or 43
wins to capture their first playoff berth since 1995.
``I know what type of players we have on our team,'' Nuggets rookie forward Carmelo Anthony said. ``I know how we are collectively. We want to be there, and I don't see nothing that's holding us back from getting there.''
Voshon Lenard, Denver's leading three-point shooter, has missed the past two games because of a bruised rib cage and is questionable for Tuesday's game.
Seattle had a seven-game winning streak snapped Saturday, losing 115-108 in overtime to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The SuperSonics are 3 1/2 games behind the Jazz.
``It doesn't get any easier,'' said Sonics guard Ray Allen, who had 32 points Saturday. ``It almost seems impossible because we have to win the rest of these games. The impossibility comes from knowing who we have to play and knowing we have to win the rest of those games.''
STANDINGS (through March 28): SuperSonics - 4th place, 18 GB, Pacific Division. Nuggets - 7th place, 12 1/2 GB, Midwest Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: SuperSonics - F Rashard Lewis, F Reggie Evans, C Vitaly Potapenko, G Brent Barry, G Allen. Nuggets - F Anthony, F Nene, C Marcus Camby, G Andre Miller, G Jon Barry.
TEAM LEADERS: SuperSonics - Allen, 23.3 ppg; Lewis, 6.7 rpg; Barry, 5.7 apg. Nuggets - Anthony, 20.7 ppg; Camby, 9.9 rpg; Miller, 6.1 apg.
SEASON SERIES: SuperSonics, 2-1.
LAST MEETING: Friday; SuperSonics, 102-86. At Seattle, Allen scored 27 points on 10-for-22 shooting to pace the SuperSonics. Anthony had 21 points in defeat for the SuperSonics.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: SuperSonics - 15-21 on the road; Nuggets - 25-12 at home.
INJURIES: SuperSonics - G Richie Frahm (knee); F Nick Collison (shoulder). Nuggets - G Lenard (rib cage); F-C Mark Pope (knee); G Jeff Trepagnier (ankle); C Marcus Camby (groin); F Ryan Bowen (back); F Nikoloz Tskitishvili (ankle).