Bucks-Nuggets Preview

The evolution of the Denver Nuggets since acquiring Chauncey Billups continued in their last game, when they won with defense to overcome horrific shooting.

The Nuggets look to regroup offensively and earn their sixth win in seven games since Billups' arrival when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Last season, the Nuggets (6-4) were 29th in the NBA in scoring defense at 107.0 points per game and 14th in field-goal percentage defense at 45.7. In the six games this month since trading Allen Iverson to Detroit for Billups, however, Denver is giving up 92.3 points per game and holding opponents to 42.8 percent shooting.

"A night like tonight, when you're not making them, when you can't do that, you've got to find other ways," Billups said after Sunday's 90-84 victory over Minnesota, during which Denver shot 33.7 percent. "You've got to buckle down defensively."

While the Nuggets are 5-1 with Billups, the veteran guard went 7-of-23 from the field Sunday and is still trying to find his shooting touch with his new team. He's averaging 19.5 points and 6.0 assists for the Nuggets, but shooting 36.7 percent (33-for-90).

Billups has averaged 18.3 points and 8.3 assists in his last 12 games against the Bucks.

Nuggets leading scorer Carmelo Anthony also struggled with his shooting Sunday, going 4-for-17 from the floor, but capped a 12-2 fourth-quarter run with a dunk that gave Denver the lead for good.

Anthony has also had success against Milwaukee, averaging 24.9 points while shooting 51.9 percent in nine games. He scored 29 points to lead seven Nuggets in double figures during a 125-105 win over the Bucks on Dec. 26.

Milwaukee is hoping to have leading scorer Michael Redd (21.3 points per game), who has missed the last seven contests with a sprained right ankle, back Tuesday. He's averaged 21.9 points in 11 career games against the Nuggets and scored 42 in a 115-109 victory over Denver on Feb. 23.

The Bucks (5-6) have gone 3-4 without him and are trying to bounce back from Saturday's 102-97 overtime loss to Boston. Andrew Bogut had 20 points and nine rebounds, but was ejected with 3:58 left in regulation for his second technical of the game following a confrontation with Kevin Garnett.

"I tried to be aggressive and duck in when I could," said Bogut, who has averaged 10.7 points and 12.0 rebounds in six games versus the Nuggets. "We had a chance to beat them."

Bucks coach Scott Skiles is hoping his team can get off to a quick start Tuesday. On Saturday, Milwaukee erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit but tired in overtime, going 1-for-11 from the field in the extra period.

"We did what we've been doing of late and that is spotting a team too many points," Skiles said. "I was pleased with how hard we played but we just need to be a little sharper in some areas."

Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva is day-to-day with a strained hamstring that's kept him out the last two games.

Denver has won nine of the last 11 matchups with Milwaukee.