PHILADELPHIA — After Nuggets shootaround at the Wachovia Center this morning, forward Carmelo Anthony eyed an afternoon nap and a win tonight against the 76ers as a springboard for the final three games of the road trip.
“I think this road trip starts with this game tonight,” Anthony said. “If we get this one, we have a pretty good chance of winning all three.”
Tonight’s game against the 76ers is followed by games at Chicago on Friday and Milwaukee on Sunday to wrap-up the eight-game road trip, which started on Feb. 4.
The Nuggets are 4-1 on the trip so far and have designs on finishing 7-1. But the Sixers have played well after the firing of coach Maurice Cheeks, and despite losing prized free agent signee Elton Brand for the season due to shoulder surgery.
Philadelphia started 9-14 under Cheeks, but is 18-10 under interim coach Tony DiLeo with 14 wins in their last 18 games. Anthony says the Nuggets are not taking the Sixers lightly.
“The good thing about the team this year is we know that,” Anthony said. “We’ve been playing pretty well on the road so far. Philly is 14-4 in their last 18 games. So we’ve got to watch out for that. They are a good team here on their home court.”
Andersen’s happy return
High-flying big man Chris Andersen will be back on the court tonight for the Nuggets after missing the Orlando game with left hip and wrist injuries. His 6.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, career-high 2.0 blocks per game and general on-court energy gives the Nuggets a big boost off the bench.
“I still feel it, but the rest really helped,” Andersen said. “I stayed off my feet and hung out. I practiced yesterday, got the kinks out. I missed Orlando. It looked like they was having a real good time out there. Everybody was playing together that game. If we play like that every night we’re going to be dangerous.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
