Asked by co-host Michael Wilbon if the Nuggets could threaten the L.A. Lakers in a series, Barkley said: "Well, they're going to beat Dallas. And I've got to tell you something. Not only do I think they can beat the Lakers or Houston, I think they would beat the Cleveland Cavaliers also. If I had to go out on a limb right now and pick the team to win this thing, I'd probably go with the Denver Nuggets , to be honest with you."

Barkley pointed to the addition of guard Chauncey Billups as the reason.

"Because, you know, Chauncey Billups has given them leadership, he's gave them toughness, he's calmed a couple guys down," Barkley said.

Going small. Entering Tuesday, Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza hadn't scored in the past two games. Coach George Karl didn't play him in the final game against New Orleans because Karl wanted to play Carmelo Anthony the entire game. Then in Game 1 against Dallas, Kleiza played only seven minutes.

"Just my feel of the game," Karl said. "He got in the game and had tough matchup against Josh Howard, and we went small and it worked. And I just stayed with it."

Props for Melo. Of Anthony, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said: ``He's gotten better every year, his overall game. The Olympic experience is certainly something that's helped all these guys. Jason Kidd played for them, and he raved about the experience, and you can see the growth in so many of these guys. The commitment to the country is also an investment in your own game, own career.''