MIAMI — Denver travels to Orlando tonight, a place where, no matter how good or bad the teams have been, the Nuggets often come out on the losing end.
Denver has lost 15 consecutive games in Orlando and is 2-18 all-time there. Why is it such a struggle?
“I don’t have that answer, other than they are a good team,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “I think most of the time we have played back-to-backs. And I think every organization kind of has their nightmare city.”
Karl said the Magic is as good as it has been in years, even with the loss of point guard Jameer Nelson (shoulder).
“From the standpoint of quality talent, (Rashard) Lewis, (Hedo) Turkoglu and (Dwight) Howard are all all-star talents,” Karl said.
Vacationing Melo.
So what does a guy who’s played the last two All-Star Games do when he’s doesn’t make the team?
“I’m going to walk my dog,” laughed Carmelo Anthony. Some players travel to take part in the festivities, but Anthony plans a low-key break.
“Unless they call me, I don’t think I’m going to be going out there. I haven’t seen my son in, like, two weeks.”
Anthony said he’s no longer miffed about not being voted in by fans or selected by coaches, chalking it up to the three weeks he missed because of a fractured right hand.
“Now, I haven’t even been thinking about it,” he said. “At first it was kind of like, ‘Wow, why me?’ I knew it didn’t have anything to do with my play. So that kind of put me at ease a little bit. But in the back of my mind I’m still saying ‘OK, I still have something to go out there and prove.’ ”
Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has been added to the slam dunk contest, replacing Memphis’ Rudy Gay, who is out with a hip flexor strain.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
Denver at Orlando
5 p.m. tonight, ALT2, KCKK 1510 AM
Spotlight on Hedo Turkoglu: He has been the Magic’s big shot-maker at the end of games. Turkoglu hasn’t had the night-in, night-out scoring effort that he had last season, but he has more talent around him. And he’s still averaging 17.2 points and 5.3 rebounds.
