Denver Nuggets Team Report

While Cavaliers star and Akron, Ohio, native LeBron James grew up 40 miles from Cleveland, Denver point guard Chauncey Billups could be regarded as the NBA's true hometown hero during the playoffs. "We're maybe five miles away," Ray Billups said of the distance his son grew up from the Pepsi Center. "He's our hometown hero." Nobody is disagreeing these days with that. The first Denver native to play for the Nuggets has led them to the brink of their first Western Conference final since 1985. They lead Dallas 3-1 heading into Wednesday's Game 5 in Denver. Billups was acquired last November from Detroit, and immediately provided a boost to a team many had projected to miss the playoffs. Billups is best known for winning Finals MVP honors as the Pistons won the 2004 title, and also for leading Detroit to the 2005 Finals. But the way this postseason is going, it's not out of the question those two playoff rides could have competition. "The way we're playing, and me being able to do it at home in front of my folks and my fans that watched me grow up and watched me evolve into the man and the player I've become, it's like a storybook," said Billups, whose Nuggets dispatched New Orleans 4-1 in the first round. Bllups was raised in the gritty Park Hill neighborhood in northeast Denver. He cheered for the Nuggets and the Denver Broncos. Billups' idol growing up was legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway, which is why Billups chose to wear Elway's No. 7 when he returned to Denver. Before Game 1 against the Mavericks at the Pepsi Center, Elway introduced Billups as "the new No. 7 in Denver." "That was awesome, but there's only going to be one No. 7 in this town," Billups said. Nevertheless, Billups is still pretty popular in Denver these days. "There's an energy to the street," Nuggets coach George Karl said of having Billups back in his hometown. "I would say once a week somebody will come up to me and say, 'I was the scorekeeper for Chauncey in high school' or "I refereed him in high school."' Billups can't find a single negative about having returned to Denver. "Not one drawback at all," Billups said. "I'm having an unbelievable time." MAVERICKS 119, NUGGETS 117: So much for Denver's first-ever playoff sweep. The Nuggets went into Monday's game at Dallas trying to sweep a series in the postseason for the first time in their 33-year NBA history. But the Mavericks fought back to win, cutting the deficit to 3-1 in their West semifinal. The Mavericks trailed by as many as 14 points early in the second quarter and were down 90-85 entering the third quarter. But they stormed back to win behind 44 points from forward Dirk Nowitzki. The loss spoiled a career-high 41-point effort from Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. Anthony drilled a three-pointer with 3.1 seconds left to cut the deficit to 118-117. With 1.1 seconds left, Mavericks guard Jason Terry made the first of two free throws before he missed the second intentionally. But Anthony was unable to get off a desperation length-of-the-court shot before the buzzer. "My only disappointment is we didn't try to win it with our defense," said Nuggets coach George Karl. "We tried to win it with our offense." Game 5 is Wednesday at the Pepsi Center, where the Nuggets haven't lost since March 9. The Mavericks trailed throughout much of the game. When Nowitzki hit a 17-foot jumper from the right side with 1:06 left, it gave Dallas the lead for good at 114-112. It was their first lead since 6-5. Karl wasn't sweating the loss too much. "We've come a long way, man," said Karl, whose team is 7-2 in the postseason. "At the end of March, nobody was talking about us. Now, everybody is talking about us."NOTES, QUOTESIt's been a banner postseason for Denver forward Carmelo Anthony. For the second time, he has set a career playoff scoring high. Anthony scored 41 points in Monday's Game 4. But the Nuggets lost 119-117, cutting their series lead to 3-1. In Game 5 of a first-round series against New Orleans, Anthony had scored his previous playoff career high of 34 points. He's averaging 26.7 points in the postseason. "He was Carmelo," Nuggets coach George Karl of his star's Monday showing. "Offensively, he was very balanced. He's a big-time scorer they have trouble matching up against." Despite Monday's loss, Anthony didn't seem too down after the game. With a win Wednesday at home, Denver can advance to the Western Conference final for the first time since 1985. "We still control this," Anthony said. "We're going home on our court, and I'm pretty sure we'll be ready for Game 5." Expect Anthony to be ready. His Nuggets are 7-2 in the postseason after they had gone 4-20 in his first five seasons, losing each time in the first round.Denver had a setback when it was learned before Game 4 Monday at Dallas that the Nuggets would be without energetic reserve center Chris Andersen. Andersen had an upset stomach when he arrived at the arena, and soon needed intravenous fluids. Without the 6-foot-10 Andersen, the Nuggets were undersized, having to go with 6-8 Linas Kleiza as a reserve in the post. Kleiza shot just 2-of-7 for seven points in 17 minutes, and grabbed three rebounds.Without Andersen, the Nuggets were badly beaten on the boards. "It was key. I think us missing Chris Andersen was a big loss," said Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. "We got out-rebounded 50-36. That's rare for us. So it was out of character on a rebounding standpoint. Yeah, we missed Chris." Andersen is averaging 8.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in the series. It would appear he should be able to return for Wednesday's Game 5 in Denver. "He's big for them off the bench," Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki said of Andersen. "He's instant energy. He's all over the place."QUOTE TO NOTE: "We will learn from this game. I think you will see a very committed and angry team Wednesday." Nuggets coach George Karl, on what he expects from his team in Wednesday's Game 5 in Denver.ROSTER REPORT ROTATION: Starters Point guard Chauncey Billups, Shooting guard Dahntay Jones, Small forward Carmelo Anthony, Power forward Kenyon Martin, Center Nene. Bench Guard J.R. Smith, Guard Anthony Carter, Center Chris Andersen, Forward Linas Kleiza. PLAYER NOTES:C Nene might need a search party sent out for him. The Nuggets big man averaged 24.5 points in the first two games of a West semifinal against Dallas. Over the past two games, though, Nene has averaged just 7.0 points. Nene hasn't been as aggressive offensively as he was in the first two games. Perhaps seeing the home fans again in Wednesday's Game 5 in Denver will make a difference for him.G Chauncey Billups says he tries to be more aggressive on the road in the playoffs. That was very evident for a second straight game Monday at Dallas. In a Game 4 119-117 West semifinal loss, Billups scored 24 points, including shooting 10-of-10 from the foul line. In Game 3 at Dallas, Billups had scored 32 points. Despite looking to score, Billups also was able to hand out seven assists Monday.F Kenyon Martin wasn't his usual self as an enforcer in Monday's Game 4 of a West semifinal at Dallas. Martin's counterpart at power forward, Dirk Nowitzki, scored 44 points, and Martin fouled out in the waning seconds. Martin grabbed just two rebounds in 33 minutes, and did little on offense. He shot just 1-of-4 for two points.G Dahntay Jones has surprisingly raised his offensive output during the playoffs. Jones is averaging 7.6 points after putting up just 5.4 during the regular season. Jones usually plays just the first part of the first and third quarters. But he has been attacking the rim to start games. In Monday's Game 4 of a West semifinal against Dallas, Jones scored 10 points. MEDICAL WATCH:C Chris Andersen (upset stomach) sat out Monday's Game 4 at Dallas. Andersen was given intravenous fluids and missed his first postseason game this spring. He's expected to be available for Game 5 on Wednesday.C Steven Hunter (Nov. 14 right knee surgery) hasn't played since the first preseason game. He's ready to return, but it's not expected the Nuggets will activate him for a playoff game unless they have injuries.