It was probably the best day in the history of the Nuggets.

“And it was probably the worst day of my life I can remember, other than my dad dying,” said current Nuggets coach George Karl, who coached Seattle back then. “Losing that game on your home court, and being the first No. 1 seed ever (to lose), that’s pretty powerful.”

The indelible image of Dikembe Mutombo still haunts Karl, all these years later. There’s one thing that can help erase that memory. A Nuggets’ victory over the Lakers tonight in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series, which, if it happens, would cap one of the great playoff comebacks in franchise history.

“Maybe I can put another one up on the board that rocks history again,” Karl said Friday.

He hopes to mirror the ’94 win tonight, on his 61st birthday, by winning only the third Game 7 in Nuggets’ history. The sixth-seeded Nuggets trailed 3-1 before stunning the Lakers with a Game 5 victory at Staples Center, followed by a sledgehammer to the forehead win in Game 6 at Pepsi Center.

“Game 7 is going to be fun, I’m nervous already,” Karl said. “I’m turning 61 years old and I haven’t been nervous this early in a long time.”

History suggests the Nuggets have little shot. Only eight teams have ever ralliedfrom a 3-1 deficit, most recently the Suns defeating the Lakers in 2006.

And that Lakers loss was Kobe Bryant’s sole Game 7 loss. He’s 4-1 in Game 7s.

The Lakers have the experience, not only with Bryant, but also with big men Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace, making his first appearance of the series after coming off suspensions.

The Nuggets, though, have all the momentum.

After Denver won Game 6, the question was raised in the locker room if any Nuggets had ever played in a Game 7 (the answer is no), to which someone shouted, “Most of the Nuggets haven’t even been in the playoffs!”

But, after Bynum suggested that closeout games are actually kind of “easy” before Game 5, it was the Nuggets who began asserting their advantage in speed, energy and depth.

“We’re confident, the way we’ve been playing, we feel we can go there and get us one,” said Denver forward Al Harrington, a veteran team leader. “We had a lot of ups and downs this season, but this team has been very resilient. And that definitely helped us build the character that we’re showing.”

While the Lakers are wondering what has hit them, with both Bryant and head coach Mike Brown calling out Bynum and Gasol after the Game 6 loss, the Nuggets seem to grow in confidence by the day. The Nuggets are the youngest team in the Western Conference playoffs Karl said his team is embodying the “teamness” he preaches as key to winning.

“I think there’s more of that on this team than we’ve seen in a long time,” he said of his team’s unselfishness. “There’s no question that with the ego of basketball, there’s more laughter about it than serious debate of who should have a piece of the spotlight. I don’t know how long it will last but I hope it lasts a long time. I still think that in these moments, the more focus you have on being a team, the more success you’re going to have.”

Nuggets 113, Lakers 96

L.A. LAKERS (96)

Ebanks 4-9 2-2 10, Gasol 1-10 1-2 3, Bynum 4-11 3-5 11, Sessions 4-9 6-8 14, Bryant 13-23 4-4 31, Barnes 2-8 1-2 6, Hill 3-6 2-2 8, Blake 1-3 0-0 3, Eyenga 1-2 0-1 2, Murphy 1-1 0-0 3, Morris 1-1 3-4 5, McRoberts 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-83 22-30 96.

DENVER (113)

Gallinari 5-13 0-0 12, Faried 6-11 3-3 15, Mozgov 3-5 2-4 8, Lawson 13-18 1-3 32, Afflalo 3-5 0-0 6, McGee 1-5 0-0 2, Harrington 1-8 2-6 4, Miller 5-10 1-1 12, Brewer 8-12 0-0 18, Hamilton 1-2 0-0 2, Stone 1-2 0-0 2, Koufos 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 47-91 9-17 113.

L.A. Lakers 20 25 23 28 — 96

Denver 30 24 36 23 — 113

3-Point Goals — L.A. Lakers 4-14 (Murphy 1-1, Blake 1-2, Barnes 1-4, Bryant 1-4, Sessions 0-1, Ebanks 0-2), Denver 10-20 (Lawson 5-6, Brewer 2-3, Gallinari 2-6, Miller 1-1, Afflalo 0-1, Harrington 0-3). Fouled Out — None. Rebounds — L.A. Lakers 51 (Bynum 16), Denver 57 (Faried 11). Assists — L.A. Lakers 23 (Bryant, Blake 4), Denver 26 (Afflalo, Gallinari 7). Total Fouls — L.A. Lakers 17, Denver 22. Technicals — L.A. Lakers defensive three second. Flagrant Fouls — Bryant. A — 19,770 (19,155).

Nuggets rookie forward Kenneth Faried enjoys his dunk against the Magic on Sunday at the Pepsi Center. Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

The Nuggets held forward Al Harrington out of Sunday night’s home game against Orlando for precautionary reasons as he continues to gut out the balance of the season with torn meniscus in his right knee.

It was the first game Harrington missed this season.

Coach George Karl said he plans to play Harrington in one of the Nuggets’ last two games before the playoffs. They have a back-to-back set of road games against Oklahoma City and Minnesota this week.

“My gut says he’ll probably pick Oklahoma City,” Karl said. “I don’t know for sure.”

The Nuggets clinched a playoff berth by winning Saturday at Phoenix. That will enable Harrington to get some rest and rehab.

Harrington has been a key contributor off the Denver bench this season, averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post

Nuggets rookie forward Kenneth Faried enjoys his dunk against the Magic on Sunday at the Pepsi Center. Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

The Nuggets held forward Al Harrington out of Sunday night’s home game against Orlando for precautionary reasons as he continues to gut out the balance of the season with torn meniscus in his right knee.

It was the first game Harrington missed this season.

Coach George Karl said he plans to play Harrington in one of the Nuggets’ last two games before the playoffs. They have a back-to-back set of road games against Oklahoma City and Minnesota this week.

“My gut says he’ll probably pick Oklahoma City,” Karl said. “I don’t know for sure.”

The Nuggets clinched a playoff berth by winning Saturday at Phoenix. That will enable Harrington to get some rest and rehab.

Harrington has been a key contributor off the Denver bench this season, averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post

Nuggets rookie forward Kenneth Faried enjoys his dunk against the Magic on Sunday at the Pepsi Center. Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

The Nuggets held forward Al Harrington out of Sunday night’s home game against Orlando for precautionary reasons as he continues to gut out the balance of the season with torn meniscus in his right knee.

It was the first game Harrington missed this season.

Coach George Karl said he plans to play Harrington in one of the Nuggets’ last two games before the playoffs. They have a back-to-back set of road games against Oklahoma City and Minnesota this week.

“My gut says he’ll probably pick Oklahoma City,” Karl said. “I don’t know for sure.”

The Nuggets clinched a playoff berth by winning Saturday at Phoenix. That will enable Harrington to get some rest and rehab.

Harrington has been a key contributor off the Denver bench this season, averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post

DENVER (AP) – JaVale McGee‘s rim-rattling, backboard-shaking dunks left the crowd roaring, his teammates applauding and the opposition fuming.

They weren’t just for show, however.

McGee scored 17 points, throwing down a half-dozen dunks in the second half, and the Denver Nuggets pulled away to beat the Orlando Magic 101-74 on Sunday night.

It was the sixth win in eight games for the surging Nuggets, who clinched their ninth consecutive trip to the playoffs the night before with a win at Phoenix.

“I feel like we’re getting better every game and we’re becoming a solid team to where we can play people who don’t play so we can give our people a rest for the next game,” said McGee, who came off the bench to become the 10th different Nuggets player to lead or share the team lead in scoring.

Danilo Gallinari also scored 17, Arron Afflalo had 15 and Ty Lawson 13 for the Nuggets, who swept the two-game season series with Orlando, avoiding the Magic’s injured Dwight Howard both times.

“We didn’t do our defensive assignments,” the Magic’s Jason Richardson said after Orlando was beaten repeatedly on lob passes inside to McGee and Denver’s other big men. “We didn’t have energy. We didn’t do anything how we’ve been playing the past five or six games.”

Ryan Anderson scored 24 points for the Magic, who lost their third straight. Glen Davis added 14 points for playoff-bound Orlando, which also lost guard Jameer Nelson to a calf injury. He left the game in the first quarter and did not return.

Howard, who missed Orlando’s April 1 loss to Denver because of back spasms, is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery last week to repair a herniated disk in his lower back.

Breaking away from a halftime tie, the Nuggets had a 67-58 advantage when Andre Miller capped a 6-0 burst with a 17-foot jumper with 2:30 left in the third.

Denver took a 73-62 lead into the fourth quarter – its biggest lead to that point – after consecutive dunks in the last minute of the third by McGee off alley-oop passes from Miller.

Orlando fought back within 75-69 on Ish Smith’s driving layup with 9:22 left, but the Nuggets got their inside game going again. Kenneth Faried and McGee took turns muscling in dunks to go up 79-69 with 8:17 remaining.

“Some of those dunks were pretty important,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “The game was not over when he made a couple of those dunks against the zone.”

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy was fuming over the lackluster defensive play inside by the Magic, dismissing the possibility of fatigue because of a back-to-back set.

“I don’t think it had anything to do with running out of gas,” Van Gundy said. “Four times a guy’s going to start up to set a pick and back cut for a lob? It’s absurd. We ran out of focus, we ran out of competitiveness. That’s what we ran out of.”

McGee jammed home a couple more dunks as the Nuggets moved to a 93-74 lead with 3:10 left to play. Orlando was held to 30 second-half points, 12 in the final quarter.

“It was a lot of fun,” said McGee, who also had eight rebounds and three blocked shots. “We passed the ball and we were playing great defense. Things were just getting open for us.”

Lawson’s driving layup with 50 seconds left in the second quarter forged a 44-all tie at halftime. Denver was leading 24-19 after the first period, but Orlando put together a 12-2 run to go in front 35-31. Anderson hit two 3-pointers during the surge.

NOTES: Nuggets forward Al Harrington, one of the league’s top sixth men who has been playing through a torn meniscus in his right knee, was given the night off. It’s the first time he’s missed a game this season. Karl said in a pregame news conference that Harrington probably will play in only one of the team’s two remaining regular-season games to try to get him in the best possible shape for the playoffs. … The Magic, who lost in overtime at Utah on Saturday, were 18-18 in back-to-back sets this season. … Miller finished with 11 assists. … The season series sweep of Orlando by the Nuggets was Denver’s first since the 1991-92 season. … The Magic’s point total represented a season low by a Nuggets’ opponent.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

DENVER (AP) – JaVale McGee‘s rim-rattling, backboard-shaking dunks left the crowd roaring, his teammates applauding and the opposition fuming.

They weren’t just for show, however.

McGee scored 17 points, throwing down a half-dozen dunks in the second half, and the Denver Nuggets pulled away to beat the Orlando Magic 101-74 on Sunday night.

It was the sixth win in eight games for the surging Nuggets, who clinched their ninth consecutive trip to the playoffs the night before with a win at Phoenix.

“I feel like we’re getting better every game and we’re becoming a solid team to where we can play people who don’t play so we can give our people a rest for the next game,” said McGee, who came off the bench to become the 10th different Nuggets player to lead or share the team lead in scoring.

Danilo Gallinari also scored 17, Arron Afflalo had 15 and Ty Lawson 13 for the Nuggets, who swept the two-game season series with Orlando, avoiding the Magic’s injured Dwight Howard both times.

“We didn’t do our defensive assignments,” the Magic’s Jason Richardson said after Orlando was beaten repeatedly on lob passes inside to McGee and Denver’s other big men. “We didn’t have energy. We didn’t do anything how we’ve been playing the past five or six games.”

Ryan Anderson scored 24 points for the Magic, who lost their third straight. Glen Davis added 14 points for playoff-bound Orlando, which also lost guard Jameer Nelson to a calf injury. He left the game in the first quarter and did not return.

Howard, who missed Orlando’s April 1 loss to Denver because of back spasms, is out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery last week to repair a herniated disk in his lower back.

Breaking away from a halftime tie, the Nuggets had a 67-58 advantage when Andre Miller capped a 6-0 burst with a 17-foot jumper with 2:30 left in the third.

Denver took a 73-62 lead into the fourth quarter – its biggest lead to that point – after consecutive dunks in the last minute of the third by McGee off alley-oop passes from Miller.

Orlando fought back within 75-69 on Ish Smith’s driving layup with 9:22 left, but the Nuggets got their inside game going again. Kenneth Faried and McGee took turns muscling in dunks to go up 79-69 with 8:17 remaining.

“Some of those dunks were pretty important,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “The game was not over when he made a couple of those dunks against the zone.”

Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy was fuming over the lackluster defensive play inside by the Magic, dismissing the possibility of fatigue because of a back-to-back set.

“I don’t think it had anything to do with running out of gas,” Van Gundy said. “Four times a guy’s going to start up to set a pick and back cut for a lob? It’s absurd. We ran out of focus, we ran out of competitiveness. That’s what we ran out of.”

McGee jammed home a couple more dunks as the Nuggets moved to a 93-74 lead with 3:10 left to play. Orlando was held to 30 second-half points, 12 in the final quarter.

“It was a lot of fun,” said McGee, who also had eight rebounds and three blocked shots. “We passed the ball and we were playing great defense. Things were just getting open for us.”

Lawson’s driving layup with 50 seconds left in the second quarter forged a 44-all tie at halftime. Denver was leading 24-19 after the first period, but Orlando put together a 12-2 run to go in front 35-31. Anderson hit two 3-pointers during the surge.

NOTES: Nuggets forward Al Harrington, one of the league’s top sixth men who has been playing through a torn meniscus in his right knee, was given the night off. It’s the first time he’s missed a game this season. Karl said in a pregame news conference that Harrington probably will play in only one of the team’s two remaining regular-season games to try to get him in the best possible shape for the playoffs. … The Magic, who lost in overtime at Utah on Saturday, were 18-18 in back-to-back sets this season. … Miller finished with 11 assists. … The season series sweep of Orlando by the Nuggets was Denver’s first since the 1991-92 season. … The Magic’s point total represented a season low by a Nuggets’ opponent.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

On the wish list: Qualifying as the sixth seed, getting Danilo Gallinari on track and continuing to improve defensively.

Sunday’s 101-74 win over Orlando at the Pepsi Center was a start.

“We feel like we are getting better every game,” Nuggets center JaVale McGee said.

The victory not only strengthened the Nuggets’ case to stay in sixth, where they currently reside in the Western Conference, but they control their own destiny in keeping it. The Nuggets are a half-game ahead of the Mavericks, who have one game remaining and are one-game worse in the loss column.

But to get there, the Nuggets must win both of their remaining games or win one while Dallas loses Thursday at Atlanta. And while Oklahoma City is next-for the Nuggets on Wednesday night, that might not be as challenging as it appears.

Here’s why: The Spurs are one win away from clinching the top seed in the West, which would lock the Thunder into the second seed. That can happen as early as today as San Antonio faces Portland.

Meanwhile, Denver’s gameagainst OKC on Wednesday is the Thunder’s regular-season finale. With its fate already decided, Oklahoma City could be expected to either rest or play stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sparingly, allowing the Nuggets to take full advantage.

Sunday’s victory capped off another win-win on a back-to-back set. They did the same a week ago, taking back-to-back games from Houston last Sunday and Monday; and the Nuggets will get a chance to make it three-for-three — after Wednesday’s game they play at Minnesota on Thursday.

“We’re getting it together,” forward Corey Brewer said. “We had a lot of injuries all year. We’re finally getting our whole team — without Wilson (Chandler) — but we’re gelling, and that’s a good thing.”

The win was powered by Gallinari, who took an important step in getting himself into a good rhythm for the playoffs. The Nuggets looked for him early, and he delivered, hitting four of his first six shots in the first quarter for nine quick points.

Gallinari, who continues to battle through a fractured thumb, finished with 17 points.

Defensively, the Nuggets had all kinds of problems stopping the ultra-versatile Ryan Anderson, who scores from the paint to the arc. A leading candidate for NBA’s most improved player, Anderson scored 24 points.

Otherwise, the Nuggets’ defense was pretty good, holding the Magic to 30 points — in the entire second half.

The Magic’s 74 points were the fewest points allowed by the Nuggets in a game since Feb. 11, 2009, when, coincidentally, they beat Orlando 82-73.

Arron Afflalo was solid again for the Nuggets, as he has been for nearly all of April, finishing with 15 points as the team shot 56.4 percent from the field. McGee caught one lob pass after another in the second half and dunked his way to 17 points with eight rebounds.

Afflalo said the team is “getting better. Even the (L.A.) Clipper loss show we did some positive things. I think we’re getting better overall and hopefully it carries on to the playoffs.”

Nuggets 101, Magic 74

ORLANDO (74)

J.Richardson 4-13 0-0 9, Anderson 9-18 3-3 24, Davis 4-8 6-6 14, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Redick 4-11 0-0 9, Smith 3-9 0-0 6, Q.Richardson 0-3 0-0 0, Orton 1-3 0-2 2, Wafer 2-5 3-4 7, Duhon 1-4 0-0 3, Harper 0-0 0-0 0, Liggins 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-75 12-17 74.

DENVER (101)

Gallinari 6-12 2-2 17, Faried 5-8 1-2 11, Koufos 4-5 0-0 8, Lawson 5-10 2-2 13, Afflalo 7-10 1-1 15, McGee 8-11 1-3 17, Brewer 3-7 1-1 8, Miller 3-10 0-0 6, Mozgov 1-2 0-0 2, Hamilton 2-3 0-0 4, Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-78 8-11 101.

Orlando 19 25 18 12 — 74

Denver 24 20 29 28 — 101

3-Point Goals – Orlando 6-23 (Anderson 3-9, J.Richardson 1-4, Duhon 1-4, Redick 1-4, Q.Richardson 0-2), Denver 5-15 (Gallinari 3-6, Lawson 1-2, Brewer 1-4, Hamilton 0-1, Afflalo 0-2). Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – Orlando 39 (Anderson 9), Denver 50 (Faried 10). Assists — Orlando 19 (Wafer, J.Richardson 4), Denver 32 (Miller 11). Total Fouls – Orlando 16, Denver 18. Technicals — Davis. A — 19,155 (19,155).

On the wish list: Qualifying as the sixth seed, getting Danilo Gallinari on track and continuing to improve defensively.

Sunday’s 101-74 win over Orlando at the Pepsi Center was a start.

“We feel like we are getting better every game,” Nuggets center JaVale McGee said.

The victory not only strengthened the Nuggets’ case to stay in sixth, where they currently reside in the Western Conference, but they control their own destiny in keeping it. The Nuggets are a half-game ahead of the Mavericks, who have one game remaining and are one-game worse in the loss column.

But to get there, the Nuggets must win both of their remaining games or win one while Dallas loses Thursday at Atlanta. And while Oklahoma City is next-for the Nuggets on Wednesday night, that might not be as challenging as it appears.

Here’s why: The Spurs are one win away from clinching the top seed in the West, which would lock the Thunder into the second seed. That can happen as early as today as San Antonio faces Portland.

Meanwhile, Denver’s gameagainst OKC on Wednesday is the Thunder’s regular-season finale. With its fate already decided, Oklahoma City could be expected to either rest or play stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sparingly, allowing the Nuggets to take full advantage.

Sunday’s victory capped off another win-win on a back-to-back set. They did the same a week ago, taking back-to-back games from Houston last Sunday and Monday; and the Nuggets will get a chance to make it three-for-three — after Wednesday’s game they play at Minnesota on Thursday.

“We’re getting it together,” forward Corey Brewer said. “We had a lot of injuries all year. We’re finally getting our whole team — without Wilson (Chandler) — but we’re gelling, and that’s a good thing.”

The win was powered by Gallinari, who took an important step in getting himself into a good rhythm for the playoffs. The Nuggets looked for him early, and he delivered, hitting four of his first six shots in the first quarter for nine quick points.

Gallinari, who continues to battle through a fractured thumb, finished with 17 points.

Defensively, the Nuggets had all kinds of problems stopping the ultra-versatile Ryan Anderson, who scores from the paint to the arc. A leading candidate for NBA’s most improved player, Anderson scored 24 points.

Otherwise, the Nuggets’ defense was pretty good, holding the Magic to 30 points — in the entire second half.

The Magic’s 74 points were the fewest points allowed by the Nuggets in a game since Feb. 11, 2009, when, coincidentally, they beat Orlando 82-73.

Arron Afflalo was solid again for the Nuggets, as he has been for nearly all of April, finishing with 15 points as the team shot 56.4 percent from the field. McGee caught one lob pass after another in the second half and dunked his way to 17 points with eight rebounds.

Afflalo said the team is “getting better. Even the (L.A.) Clipper loss show we did some positive things. I think we’re getting better overall and hopefully it carries on to the playoffs.”

Nuggets 101, Magic 74

ORLANDO (74)

J.Richardson 4-13 0-0 9, Anderson 9-18 3-3 24, Davis 4-8 6-6 14, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Redick 4-11 0-0 9, Smith 3-9 0-0 6, Q.Richardson 0-3 0-0 0, Orton 1-3 0-2 2, Wafer 2-5 3-4 7, Duhon 1-4 0-0 3, Harper 0-0 0-0 0, Liggins 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-75 12-17 74.

DENVER (101)

Gallinari 6-12 2-2 17, Faried 5-8 1-2 11, Koufos 4-5 0-0 8, Lawson 5-10 2-2 13, Afflalo 7-10 1-1 15, McGee 8-11 1-3 17, Brewer 3-7 1-1 8, Miller 3-10 0-0 6, Mozgov 1-2 0-0 2, Hamilton 2-3 0-0 4, Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-78 8-11 101.

Orlando 19 25 18 12 — 74

Denver 24 20 29 28 — 101

3-Point Goals – Orlando 6-23 (Anderson 3-9, J.Richardson 1-4, Duhon 1-4, Redick 1-4, Q.Richardson 0-2), Denver 5-15 (Gallinari 3-6, Lawson 1-2, Brewer 1-4, Hamilton 0-1, Afflalo 0-2). Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – Orlando 39 (Anderson 9), Denver 50 (Faried 10). Assists — Orlando 19 (Wafer, J.Richardson 4), Denver 32 (Miller 11). Total Fouls – Orlando 16, Denver 18. Technicals — Davis. A — 19,155 (19,155).

On the wish list: Qualifying as the sixth seed, getting Danilo Gallinari on track and continuing to improve defensively.

Sunday’s 101-74 win over Orlando at the Pepsi Center was a start.

“We feel like we are getting better every game,” Nuggets center JaVale McGee said.

The victory not only strengthened the Nuggets’ case to stay in sixth, where they currently reside in the Western Conference, but they control their own destiny in keeping it. The Nuggets are a half-game ahead of the Mavericks, who have one game remaining and are one-game worse in the loss column.

But to get there, the Nuggets must win both of their remaining games or win one while Dallas loses Thursday at Atlanta. And while Oklahoma City is next-for the Nuggets on Wednesday night, that might not be as challenging as it appears.

Here’s why: The Spurs are one win away from clinching the top seed in the West, which would lock the Thunder into the second seed. That can happen as early as today as San Antonio faces Portland.

Meanwhile, Denver’s gameagainst OKC on Wednesday is the Thunder’s regular-season finale. With its fate already decided, Oklahoma City could be expected to either rest or play stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sparingly, allowing the Nuggets to take full advantage.

Sunday’s victory capped off another win-win on a back-to-back set. They did the same a week ago, taking back-to-back games from Houston last Sunday and Monday; and the Nuggets will get a chance to make it three-for-three — after Wednesday’s game they play at Minnesota on Thursday.

“We’re getting it together,” forward Corey Brewer said. “We had a lot of injuries all year. We’re finally getting our whole team — without Wilson (Chandler) — but we’re gelling, and that’s a good thing.”

The win was powered by Gallinari, who took an important step in getting himself into a good rhythm for the playoffs. The Nuggets looked for him early, and he delivered, hitting four of his first six shots in the first quarter for nine quick points.

Gallinari, who continues to battle through a fractured thumb, finished with 17 points.

Defensively, the Nuggets had all kinds of problems stopping the ultra-versatile Ryan Anderson, who scores from the paint to the arc. A leading candidate for NBA’s most improved player, Anderson scored 24 points.

Otherwise, the Nuggets’ defense was pretty good, holding the Magic to 30 points — in the entire second half.

The Magic’s 74 points were the fewest points allowed by the Nuggets in a game since Feb. 11, 2009, when, coincidentally, they beat Orlando 82-73.

Arron Afflalo was solid again for the Nuggets, as he has been for nearly all of April, finishing with 15 points as the team shot 56.4 percent from the field. McGee caught one lob pass after another in the second half and dunked his way to 17 points with eight rebounds.

Afflalo said the team is “getting better. Even the (L.A.) Clipper loss show we did some positive things. I think we’re getting better overall and hopefully it carries on to the playoffs.”

Nuggets 101, Magic 74

ORLANDO (74)

J.Richardson 4-13 0-0 9, Anderson 9-18 3-3 24, Davis 4-8 6-6 14, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Redick 4-11 0-0 9, Smith 3-9 0-0 6, Q.Richardson 0-3 0-0 0, Orton 1-3 0-2 2, Wafer 2-5 3-4 7, Duhon 1-4 0-0 3, Harper 0-0 0-0 0, Liggins 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-75 12-17 74.

DENVER (101)

Gallinari 6-12 2-2 17, Faried 5-8 1-2 11, Koufos 4-5 0-0 8, Lawson 5-10 2-2 13, Afflalo 7-10 1-1 15, McGee 8-11 1-3 17, Brewer 3-7 1-1 8, Miller 3-10 0-0 6, Mozgov 1-2 0-0 2, Hamilton 2-3 0-0 4, Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-78 8-11 101.

Orlando 19 25 18 12 — 74

Denver 24 20 29 28 — 101

3-Point Goals – Orlando 6-23 (Anderson 3-9, J.Richardson 1-4, Duhon 1-4, Redick 1-4, Q.Richardson 0-2), Denver 5-15 (Gallinari 3-6, Lawson 1-2, Brewer 1-4, Hamilton 0-1, Afflalo 0-2). Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – Orlando 39 (Anderson 9), Denver 50 (Faried 10). Assists — Orlando 19 (Wafer, J.Richardson 4), Denver 32 (Miller 11). Total Fouls – Orlando 16, Denver 18. Technicals — Davis. A — 19,155 (19,155).

DENVER – MARCH 16: Rocky, the mascot of the Denver Nuggets, performs with the Nuggets Dance Team as the Nuggets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 168-116 at the Pepsi Center on March 16, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the term and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

DENVER – MARCH 16: Rocky, the mascot of the Denver Nuggets, performs with the Nuggets Dance Team as the Nuggets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 168-116 at the Pepsi Center on March 16, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the term and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

DENVER – MARCH 16: Rocky, the mascot of the Denver Nuggets, performs with the Nuggets Dance Team as the Nuggets defeated the Seattle SuperSonics 168-116 at the Pepsi Center on March 16, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the term and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Denver Nuggets aided their chances of making the playoffs at the beginning of April by taking advantage of Dwight Howard’s absence from the Orlando Magic lineup.

Even with a postseason berth wrapped up, don’t expect the Nuggets to go easy on the Howard-less Magic during Sunday night’s rematch at the Pepsi Center.

Denver (35-28) matched a franchise record by clinching a ninth consecutive playoff berth with Saturday’s 118-107 win in Phoenix. The Nuggets made nine straight postseasons from 1981-82 to 1989-90.

Ty Lawson had 29 points and 10 assists during his team’s eighth victory in 12 games, a stretch that includes a 104-101 win over Orlando on April 1.

Howard missed that game with back spasms and is now out for the year after having surgery to repair a herniated disc and remove fragments Friday.

“I think we’ve been operating with the expectation that we wouldn’t have him back,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I don’t think this was unexpected.”

The Magic (36-27) are 3-6 without their All-Star center and three-time NBA defensive player of the year, who was averaging 20.6 points and a league-best 14.5 rebounds.

Orlando scored a combined 13 points over the final 7:52 of regulation and overtime during a 117-107 defeat in Utah on Saturday. The Magic gave up at least 100 points for the fourth time in five games.

“We just cannot guard,” Van Gundy said. “I don’t think it is that our guys are not trying, I don’t know what it is, but we cannot guard anyone. We can’t guard anyone … Our defense is disturbing to say the least.”

Orlando is all but locked into the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as it trails Atlanta by two games with three remaining for both teams, and leads New York and Philadelphia by three.

Denver, meanwhile, is tied for sixth in the West with Dallas, which has just one game remaining. The Mavericks hold the tiebreaker, but the Nuggets have three contests left.

“We are going to try to win all three of them. There won’t be any rest going on here,” coach George Karl said. “We are not in that mode. We are into getting better and coming together. It is a young team that will have to learn how to win in the playoffs. On the job training, but it has been done before.”

Lawson will try to help the Nuggets with another high-scoring performance. The point guard averaged 24.5 points on 58.3 percent shooting over his last four games and is 9 for 14 from 3-point range, including a 5-for-5 performance in Saturday’s win.

Lawson had a team-leading 25 points during the win in Orlando and Arron Afflalo chipped in 22. Jameer Nelson had a season-high 27 for the Magic during the loss and averaged 20.3 over his last four games after scoring a team-best 23 during Saturday’s loss.

Denver has split its last four meetings with Orlando but has won seven of the last eight home matchups. A 111-94 victory on Dec. 14, 2010, was the Nuggets’ second in a row at the Pepsi Center.

The Denver Nuggets aided their chances of making the playoffs at the beginning of April by taking advantage of Dwight Howard’s absence from the Orlando Magic lineup.

Even with a postseason berth wrapped up, don’t expect the Nuggets to go easy on the Howard-less Magic during Sunday night’s rematch at the Pepsi Center.

Denver (35-28) matched a franchise record by clinching a ninth consecutive playoff berth with Saturday’s 118-107 win in Phoenix. The Nuggets made nine straight postseasons from 1981-82 to 1989-90.

Ty Lawson had 29 points and 10 assists during his team’s eighth victory in 12 games, a stretch that includes a 104-101 win over Orlando on April 1.

Howard missed that game with back spasms and is now out for the year after having surgery to repair a herniated disc and remove fragments Friday.

“I think we’ve been operating with the expectation that we wouldn’t have him back,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I don’t think this was unexpected.”

The Magic (36-27) are 3-6 without their All-Star center and three-time NBA defensive player of the year, who was averaging 20.6 points and a league-best 14.5 rebounds.

Orlando scored a combined 13 points over the final 7:52 of regulation and overtime during a 117-107 defeat in Utah on Saturday. The Magic gave up at least 100 points for the fourth time in five games.

“We just cannot guard,” Van Gundy said. “I don’t think it is that our guys are not trying, I don’t know what it is, but we cannot guard anyone. We can’t guard anyone … Our defense is disturbing to say the least.”

Orlando is all but locked into the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as it trails Atlanta by two games with three remaining for both teams, and leads New York and Philadelphia by three.

Denver, meanwhile, is tied for sixth in the West with Dallas, which has just one game remaining. The Mavericks hold the tiebreaker, but the Nuggets have three contests left.

“We are going to try to win all three of them. There won’t be any rest going on here,” coach George Karl said. “We are not in that mode. We are into getting better and coming together. It is a young team that will have to learn how to win in the playoffs. On the job training, but it has been done before.”

Lawson will try to help the Nuggets with another high-scoring performance. The point guard averaged 24.5 points on 58.3 percent shooting over his last four games and is 9 for 14 from 3-point range, including a 5-for-5 performance in Saturday’s win.

Lawson had a team-leading 25 points during the win in Orlando and Arron Afflalo chipped in 22. Jameer Nelson had a season-high 27 for the Magic during the loss and averaged 20.3 over his last four games after scoring a team-best 23 during Saturday’s loss.

Denver has split its last four meetings with Orlando but has won seven of the last eight home matchups. A 111-94 victory on Dec. 14, 2010, was the Nuggets’ second in a row at the Pepsi Center.