The Nuggets are ready for a row of bottom-feeders. Then again, they might be able to win even if they're not ready. Tuesday's 101-87 home win over New Jersey began a stretch of four straight games against the real dregs of the NBA. With the loss, the Nets are 0-14. On Wednesday, the Nuggets play at 1-13 Minnesota. Then on Friday they have New York, which was 3-11 through Tuesday, at home. On Sunday, the Nuggets get the Timberwolves at home.
But don't tell Nuggets coach George Karl they're easy victories.
"I don't look at them that way," Karl insisted. "I look at it as an opportunity to focus on what we can do and how we can get better. ... Two of the greatest coaches I ever listened to, coach (John) Wooden and coach (Dean) Smith, said always worry more about yourself."
Still, Karl was asked if it could be hard to motivate his players for some of these games.
"I think the value of every game, every win is the same, whether it's the Lakers and the Celtics or the Nets," he said. "The value is equal ... I think it's easy to stay away from (a lackadaisical approach). If this came in March or February, there would probably be (more of a chance of being vulnerable)."
For now, the Nuggets are making sure they keep their focus against the lesser teams.
"We got Minnesota (on Wednesday)," said Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony. "They're a similar team (as New Jersey)."
One thing is very similar. Like the Nets did, the Timberwolves will enter the Denver game with a 13-game losing streak.
NUGGETS 101, NETS 87: No team wants to be the first to lose to lowly New Jersey.
The Nuggets escaped that fate at the Pepsi Center, leaving the Nets at 0-14. They're 2-0 this season against New Jersey and won't have to worry about playing the Nets again until next season.
The Nuggets took a 27-19 lead after the first quarter and led by as many as 23 points. The Nuggets looked a little bored in the fourth quarter, when they were outscored 26-21, but they had already done more than enough to win.
"I am not sure I am going to watch the game film," Nuggets coach George Karl said of his team's uneven performance against a very bad team.
At least forward Carmelo Anthony was well worth watching. Anthony scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting.
Anthony has scored 20 or more points in all 14 Denver games this season. That ties the Nuggets record for starting a season in such a manner -- forward Alex English scored 20 or more in the first 14 in 1984-85.
The Nuggets also got 17 points from center Nene. The Nets, trying to avoid the NBA record for most losses to start a season (17), got 19 points from guards Rafer Alston and Devin Harris.
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