A previous J.R. Smith prediction led to nobody calling him Nostradamus.

When asked how he believed the Nuggets would fare during the second half of the season, Smith said with all seriousness, "41-0." With 18 games left, the Nuggets are 11-12.

The shooting guard again is shooting from the lip as the Nuggets (33-31) head East for a five-game trip. But the way they're playing, perhaps it should not be dismissed when Smith said, "We've got to win at least four of them."

The Nuggets have won four straight heading into tonight's game against New Jersey at Continental Airlines Arena. A win would enable them to tie their longest streak of the season.

With the manner the Nuggets took apart the Lakers on Thursday and Phoenix on Saturday at the Pepsi Center, some believe the Allen Iverson-Carmelo Anthony experiment finally is starting to percolate. The Nuggets outscored the Lakers by 27 in the second half of a 113-86 win and led by as many as 40 in dissecting the Suns 131-107.

"This does a lot for our confidence," said Iverson, who had 44 points and a season-high 15 assists against Phoenix, his best game since the Nuggets acquired him Dec. 19. "When you win four games in a row, you get a certain swagger about your game."

The Nuggets will try to strut through their toughest trip of the season. After facing the Nets (31-36), they run into four of the East's current top-five playoff seeds in Chicago (39-29) on Thursday, Toronto (36-31) on Friday, Cleveland (41-25) on Sunday and Detroit (42-23) on Monday.

"Almost all of them are playoff teams," said Nuggets coach George Karl, who made good on a pregame promise and gave his players Sunday and Monday off from practice after they beat Phoenix. "Tough games. . . . I like it. I think we've put ourselves in a place of confidence. It's time to go out there and be serious about NBA basketball. Too many times . . . we haven't felt good about seriousness."

That changed last week. The Nuggets began the week by halting a 20-game losing streak in Sacramento.

The Nuggets survived against lowly Portland. Then they walloped the Lakers and the Suns after not having beaten a team that currently has a winning record since Jan. 20 at Houston.

"What you've seen the last four games is what everybody has been looking for since (Iverson) came to the team, since we made the trade," said Anthony, whose Nuggets are 19-22 since the acquisition of Iverson and 9-9 when he and Iverson play together. "I think everybody was looking for that. Finally, it's starting to jell."

Anthony and Iverson combined for 73 points against Phoenix, the most this season for the duo. Perhaps the only fear was the Nuggets making the Suns, in line to be their first-round playoff opponent, mad.

As for making the playoffs, there were some minor worries early this month. But the seventh-seeded Nuggets have moved three games ahead of No. 8 Golden State and four in front of the No. 9 Los Angeles Clippers.

"This road trip is very important for us," said forward Linas Kleiza, who, with the Nuggets playing 13 of their final 18 away from the Pepsi Center, isn't satisfied with their cushion. "We're playing a lot of tough teams, a lot of good teams, playoff teams. It's going to be tough. It's not easy to go on the road and win. But we have to."

According to a soothsayer named Smith, they have to win four.

SMITH'S HOMECOMING: Smith grew up in the shadow of Continental Airlines Arena and attended St. Benedict's Prep in Newark. His father, Earl, estimates he will have 1,000 supporters on hand tonight.

"It'll feel like a Denver home game," Earl Smith said.

Through his charity, the J.R. Smith Youth Foundation, Smith bought about 300 tickets for disadvantaged youths. He has chartered two buses, which will carry 100 of the youngsters to the game. And 14 of the kids will be on the court when the Nuggets enter, offering high-fives.

Earl Smith said about 700 other supporters were steered to the Nets to buy tickets.

"I can't wait for it," J.R. Smith said of returning home.

Smith, in his third season, hopes it will turn out better than his two previous visits, both with the Hornets. Two years ago, he didn't play and last season, he got in for three minutes of mop-up duty, scoring five points.

Nuggets at Nets

• When: 5 p.m. MDT today.

• Where: Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.

• TV/radio: TNT; KKFN-AM (950).

• Starting lineups Denver (33-31) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 29.8

31 Nene F 6-11 11.1

23 Marcus Camby C 6-11 11.3

3 Allen Iverson G 6-3 28.0

25 Steve Blake G 6-3 6.0

Coach: George Karl

New Jersey (31-36) Pos. Ht. Pts.

24 Richard Jefferson F 6-7 16.0

33 Mikki Moore F 7-0 9.3

35 Jason Collins C 7-0 2.4

15 Vince Carter G 6-6 24.7

5 Jason Kidd G 6-4 14.0

Coach: Lawrence Frank

• Injuries: Nuggets - F Kenyon Martin (right knee surgery) is out. Nets - C Nenad Krstic (left knee) is out.

• Notes: The Nuggets begin a five-game trip and play 13 of their final 18 games on the road. . . . Anthony fell out of the NBA scoring lead Sunday for the first time since games entering Nov. 18. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers is averaging 30 a game. . . . The Nets won the season's previous meeting, 112-102 on Jan. 27 at the Pepsi Center. . . . The Nuggets have lost six straight and 14 of 15 at New Jersey. . . . Jefferson returned March 9 after missing 21 games because of an ankle injury. . . . The Nets have won three of four after losing five straight.

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5125

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