--G Chauncey Billups had been in a scoring slump, but he took care of that with 19 points in just three quarters Wednesday at Minnesota. Billups hadn't scored in double figures in four of the five previous games. But that didn't bother him in the slightest Wednesday, when he shot 4-of-4 from three-point range. He helped the Nuggets to a 102-79 lead after three quarters, and wasn't needed in the fourth quarter as Denver won 124-111.

--G Arron Afflalo is turning it around. After shooting 1-of-10 and averaging 2.0 points in two games, Affalo has averaged 12.5 ppg the past two games. Affalo scored 10 points Wednesday at Minnesota. He helped get the Nuggets started by scoring five early points. But what really will matter for the Nuggets is how Afflalo performs as the starting shooting guard when they play tougher teams.

--G Anthony Carter played 11 minutes Wednesday at Minnesota after sitting out five games. Carter has missed the first two of those due to a strained left hip. But Carter was in uniform during the next three games. Carter has lost his job as a backup point guard behind Chauncey Billups. Against the Timberwolves, with all of his minutes coming during garbage time, Carter scored two points and had two assists.