Check back in late spring.

From those in the know, that's the thinking regarding the Nuggets this season. But one thing is for sure: The bar isn't too high.

In Denver's 33-year NBA history, the best record has been 54-28, in 1987-88. These Nuggets (27-13) are on pace to finish 55-27. With a win against Orlando tonight, the Nuggets would tie the 1977-78 team's 28-13 record for the second- best midseason mark in the franchise's NBA history, one game behind 1976-77's 29-12.

As for the playoffs, the Nuggets, who never have been to the NBA Finals, twice have advanced to the West final, in 1978 and 1985. That's why Hall of Famer Dan Issel, who played on both those teams and really likes the Nuggets this season, is waiting to offer full comparisons.

"They're obviously playing well," Issel said. "Our teams (of the late 1970s), with David Thompson and Bobby Jones, we brought more of an ABA style of getting up and down. But this team is a little more rounded than we were.

"But success in the NBA is measured in the playoffs. We did get to the Western finals a couple of years."

Issel calls the 1984-85 team, which went 52-30 before losing to the eventual champion Lakers in the West final, the best Denver NBA team in his career. Doug Moe, who coached that outfit, also names it the best team he coached.

But it took some pondering. Moe also likes the 1987-88 unit, which had some late injuries and stumbled in a West semifinal.

Moe didn't want to compare this season's Nuggets with ones he coached from 1980-90. But Moe, who has been back with the Nuggets since 2002 as a consultant, an assistant coach and now again a consultant, calls this team better than any of the ones that were ousted in the first round of the playoffs the past five seasons.

"Of the recent teams, this is the best," Moe said. "I think we're a really good team, but it's early. Chauncey (Billups) has brought some stabilization to point guard, and another very important reason is both Nene and Kenyon (Martin) have been healthy (in the post) and playing well. . . . (Forward Carmelo Anthony's) game has really improved in that he's doing more."

So how much more can the Nuggets do this season?

Coach George Karl talked last season about wanting to break the team's NBA mark, with 55 wins. The Nuggets fell short, but their 50-32 record was their best in 20 years.

Yet it didn't include the Northwest Division title, which assures at least a No. 4 playoff seed. No. 8 Denver was swept 4-0 in the first round by the top-seeded Lakers.

"The goal is simple: a division championship," said Karl, whose team leads the Northwest and has the West's second-best mark. "But I think the division will take 52 to 55 wins, so we're probably in the same area."

But what will really end up mattering is the playoffs.

Starting strong

Best midseason records in the Nuggets' NBA history, and how they finished:

First Second Final

Season half half W-L

1976-77 29-12 21-20 50-32

1977-78 28-13 20-21 48-34

2008-09 27-13* - -

2007-08 25-16 25-16 50-32

1987-88 24-17 30-11 54-28

1984-85 24-17 28-13 52-30

2000-01 24-17 16-25 40-42

First-half MVP

There's not much room in Billups' trophy case.

He's got the 2004 NBA Finals MVP award, three All-Star appearances and honors for All-NBA second and third teams.

But here's another for the collection: first-half Nuggets MVP.

When Allen Iverson was shipped Nov. 3 to Detroit in a deal in which Denver got Billups, it changed the tone of the season. The Nuggets are 26-10 since Billups first suited up.

"Not surprised. Impressed," Phoenix standout point guard Steve Nash said of what Billups has done. "He's obviously made a huge impact. More so than just playmaking ability. The Nuggets really needed someone with his pedigree and experience. I think they're a different team now. They can get out of the first round, for sure."

If you want statistics, Billups is averaging 19 points and 6.8 assists for Denver. But statistics don't do full justice to what Billups has provided the Nuggets with his mere presence.

Consider that the Nuggets have won games in which Billups has shot 5-for-17, 2-for-13, 7-for-23, 2-for-10 and 2-for-9.

Center of attention

The statistical category Nene leads in the NBA has him at 61.6, which is his field-goal percentage.

But there's a far more important percentage the Nuggets center has had this season: 97.5.

That's the percentage of games Nene has played, only missing one, because of a stiff neck.

In the previous three seasons, Nene made it to the starting line for only 81-of-246 games. He played in only 16 last season, missing half the campaign because of testicular cancer.

"A lot of people thought at the beginning of the season me and Kenyon would not be able to hold down the post," Nene said. "They've bit their tongue. We've surprised everyone."

Martin, the power forward, also had ample injury problems, having played in only 129 games the previous three seasons. He has missed only four games this season, giving him a showing-up percentage of 90.

But Martin displayed signs last season of finally getting healthy. The big surprise has been Nene, averaging 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds.

"I play fine," Nene said.

Nicked in Northwest

How's this for a starting lineup?:

Center: Mehmet Okur

Forward: Anthony

Forward: Carlos Boozer

Guard: Deron Williams

Guard: Martell Webster

There are three Olympic gold medalists (Anthony, Boozer and Williams) and three who have made All-Star teams (Anthony, Boozer and Okur) listed. It's also a list of players on the top three Northwest Division teams who have missed eight games or more this season because of injury or other reasons.

"All three teams have got some big injuries, but you can't really take that into account," Billups said. "You've got to get the wins the best you can. This is going to be a tough race the entire way."

Utah (24-16) has hung tough despite Williams missing 13 games and Okur eight. Both are back, but the Jazz might have to go another month without Boozer, who already has missed 28.

Denver's big loss has been Anthony, averaging a team-high 21.1 points. He has missed nine games and figures to sit out about another half dozen because of his broken right hand.

Portland (24-15) has been the healthiest, but up-and-coming Webster has missed 38, and the Trail Blazers also have had injuries to standout guard Brandon Roy (four missed) and fledgling center Greg Oden (six).

Numbers games

.667winning percentage for Denver this season (6-3) in games without Anthony, who has missed two because of suspension, three because of a sore elbow and the past four with a broken hand that will keep him out about another two weeks. Entering the season, the Nuggets were 13-18 (.419) without Anthony, but improved defense and a more balanced team have helped them overcome his loss.

5is the Nuggets' ranking in the league in field-goal percentage defense (44.2). Denver has stepped up its defense considerably after ranking 14th (45.7 percent) last season.

37.7three-point percentage for the Nuggets, which ranks eighth in the league. That's up from 35.5 percent last season, when they ranked 19th.

He said it

"I don't think there's any question we're ahead of the curve where we thought we'd be. I think we have an opportunity to play pretty serious Basketball in April to win the division."

Karl, on his Nuggets leading the Northwest with a 27-13 record.

INFOBOX

Magic at Nuggets

* When: 7 tonight.

* Where: Pepsi Center.

* TV/radio: Altitude; KCKK-AM (1510).

* Probable starting lineups

Orlando (32-8) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Hedo Turkoglu F 6-7 17.2

9 Rashard Lewis F 6-10 19.0

12 Dwight Howard C 6-11 20.2

11 Courtney Lee G 6-5 6.4

14 Jameer Nelson G 6-0 16.7

Coach:

Stan Van Gundy

Denver (27-13) Pos. Ht. Pts.

30 Dahntay Jones F 6-6 6.2

4 Kenyon Martin F 6-9 13.0

31 Nene C 6-11 14.9

1 J.R. Smith G 6-6 13.5

7 Chauncey Billups G 6-3 18.7

Coach:

George Karl * Injuries: Orlando - F Mickael Pietrus (fractured right wrist) and G Mike Wilks (right knee surgery) are out. Denver - F Carmelo Anthony (broken right hand) and C Steven Hunter (knee surgery) are out.

* Notes: While the Nuggets were off Friday, Anthony was in Washington and, along with singer Ne-Yo, hosted a dinner to honor Reggie Love, right-hand man for Barack Obama, whose presidential inauguration is Tuesday. Proceeds from the Athletes & Artists for a Cause event went to charity. . . . After shooting 1-for-12 over two games, Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza went 8-for-11 for 18 points Thursday in a 119-113 overtime win against Phoenix. "I tried to take it to the basket as much as I could," Kleiza said. . . . Denver has won seven of eight.

LATE THURSDAY

Nuggets 119, Suns 113, OT FG FT Reb

PHOENIX Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Hill 42:51 10-18 5-5 2-8 1 2 25

Stoudmire 34:51 6-9 9-10 1-8 3 5 21

Lopez 22:23 2-5 0-0 1-2 0 4 4

Richardson 44:37 7-18 0-0 1-6 5 4 16

Nash 45:43 5-10 6-6 1-7 14 2 20

Amundson 13:57 2-3 2-2 2-6 1 3 6

Barnes 24:04 5-12 2-2 2-6 1 6 13

Barbosa 28:46 1-11 4-4 1-3 1 3 6

Dudley 3:48 1-1 0-2 0-1 0 0 2

Tucker 4:00 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 1 0

Totals 265 39-88 28-31 11-47 27 30 113

Percentages - FG .443, FT .903. Three-point goals - 7-27, .259 (Nash 4-5, Richardson 2-10, Barnes 1-6, Hill 0-1, Barbosa 0-5). Team rebounds - 6. Team turnovers - 23 (27 pts.). Blocked shots - 6 (Amundson 2, Richardson 2, Nash, Stoudemire). Turnovers - 23 (Nash 6, Barnes 5, Stoudemire 5, Lopez 3, Richardson 3, Hill). Steals - 9 (Stoudemire 3, Barbosa 2, Richardson 2, Hill, Lopez). Technicals - Defensive three second, 11:05 second; Coach Porter, 3:26 third.

FG FT Reb

DENVER Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Jones 22:31 1-5 1-2 3-4 3 4 3

Martin 41:25 11-23 1-5 3-8 2 3 24

Nene 43:18 5-9 7-10 3-14 1 5 17

Smith 37:18 6-18 4-6 1-5 7 5 19

Billups 45:28 6-18 13-14 1-3 8 3 26

Carter 29:45 3-9 0-0 1-2 2 4 6

Andersen 14:44 1-1 4-4 2-8 1 1 6

Kleiza 30:31 8-11 1-2 1-4 3 3 18

Totals 265 41-94 31-43 15-48 27 28 119

Percentages - FG .436, FT .721. Three-point goals - 6-24, .250 (Smith 3-9, Kleiza 1-2, Martin 1-2, Billups 1-10, Carter 0-1). Team rebounds - 16. Team turnovers - 17 (22 pts.). Blocked shots - 3 (Billups, Nene, Martin). Turnovers - 17 (Billups 4, Nene 3, Smith 3, Carter 2, Jones 2, Martin 2, Kleiza). Steals - 15 (Martin 7, Billups 3, Nene 2, Smith 2, Jones). Technicals - Defensive three second, 5:25 first; Billups, 6:09 second. Flagrant Fouls - Carter, 5:14 third.

Phoenix 35 27 20 21 10 - 113

Denver 26 30 26 21 16 - 119

A - 18,073 (19,155). T - 3:00. Officials - Dick Bavetta, Sean Wright, Ed Malloy.