--F Carmelo Anthony is the only NBA player to have scored 20 or more points in every game this season. Anthony, who had 34 points Saturday at San Antonio to do it in his 20th straight game, on Monday will try for No. 21 against Allen Iverson and Philadelphia. Iverson, in 2005-06 with the 76ers, was the last player to have that many 20-point games to start a season, when he had 21.

--C Chris Andersen saw his hot streak come to an end. After averaging 11.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks in his previous two games, Andersen had just two points, three rebounds and one block Saturday at San Antonio. Andersen, though, does his best in up-tempo games. And the Spurs, who like to slow the pace, do not fit that bill.

--G J.R. Smith must have been watching teammate Chauncey Billups in last season's Western Conference finals against the Lakers. Well, maybe. When unable to get the ball inbound Saturday at San Antonio, Smith threw the ball off the face of Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who was able to shake it off. Last May, Billups threw the ball off the back of a Lakers player before picking it up and making a layup.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--F Renaldo Balkman returned to the active list Saturday at San Antonio after being inactive for the previous three games, although he didn't play against the Spurs. Over the previous week, Balkman said he had been under the weather, and Nuggets coach George Karl said he had a wisdom tooth extracted last Monday.