Magic at Nuggets
THE STORY: The Denver Nuggers will host the Orlando Magic on Sunday, one day after clinching a postseason spot in the Western Conference with a win over Phoenix. The Nuggets lead Dallas by two percentage points for sixth place in the West with three games to play. Orlando, which is locked into the sixth spot in the East, also has three games left. The Magic is trying to adjust their game without Dwight Howard, who is out for the playoffs after having back surgery.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida, Altitude
ABOUT THE MAGIC (36-27): Orlando dropped a 117-107 decision to Utah in overtime Saturday, its first game since it was announced Howard wouldn't return for the playoffs. The Magic are 3-6 without their star center. Orlando has also played the last eight games without forward Hedo Turkoglu, who had surgery on April 9 for a facial fracture. It's questionable if Turkoglu will be back for the postseason, but he is making the road trip with the team. The Magic have gotten a boost from Glen Davis, who has become a force in the frontcourt. Davis is averaging 18.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 10 games since moving into the starting lineup on April 1.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (35-28): Coach George Karl says he's not planning on resting any of his key players in the final week. Karl wants to win the last three games and secure the sixth seed. That would mean the Nuggets wouldn't have to play San Antonio or Oklahoma in the first round of the playoffs. Denver has overcome injuries to several key players and a trade with Washington that shook up the roster in March. The Nuggets have won five of seven and are 7-4 in April. Point guard Ty Lawson is averaging 24.5 points and is shooting 58.3 percent in the last four games. He scored 29 points and had 10 assists in the 118-107 win over Phoenix.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Rookie power forward Kenneth Faried had 18 points and 14 rebounds Saturday for the Nuggets. He has grabbed at least 11 rebounds in four games this month.
2. The Magic lost Saturday despite hitting 15 of 38 on their 3-point attempts. Ryan Anderson and Jason Richardson hit five 3-pointers apiece.
3. The Nuggets defeated the Magic 104-101 in Orlando on April 1. The teams haven't played in Denver since Dec. 14, 2010, a 111-94 win by the Nuggets.