"We feel like we are," Billups said when asked if the Nuggets are an elite team.

Nevertheless, despite an 8-4 start, the Nuggets feel as if they are being overlooked. After all, they advanced to the Western Conference final last spring and gave the Lakers a much tougher battle (a 4-2 loss) than Orlando did in the NBA Finals (a 4-1 loss). And that is despite walloping the Lakers 105-79 on Nov. 13.

"Definitely," said guard J.R. Smith, agreeing with Billups that Denver is an elite team. "I think obviously we believe it and I think we have something to prove every time we go out on the court. Everybody for some reason is counting us out. But we love it. We love being the underdog."

Smith doesn't believe the Nuggets need any pieces to be added this season. He believes they have what it takes to make a run at the title.

"I think we do," Smith said. "With the guys we have, we think we have a great core. We have great team chemistry. I'm happy with the team we have."

Now, if only more folks around the country would realize Denver is perhaps among the NBA's elite.

CLIPPERS 106, NUGGETS 99: The Clippers looked ready to fall apart. Instead, it was the Nuggets who folded down the stretch.

The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 17-4 to start the fourth quarter to cut a huge deficit to 92-90. But the Clippers owned the rest of the game in winning Friday at the Staples Center. After the Nuggets cut the deficit to two, Rasual Butler and Baron Davis hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Clippers up 98-90. They soon wrapped up the game by hitting free throws.

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony scored a game-most 37 points. Denver center Nene added 18. Butler, coming off the bench, led the Clippers with 27 points.

After starting the season 5-0, the Nuggets (8-4) since have gone 3-4.