[Preview] 69/82: @ New Jersey, 8:30 a.m.(KT)

Denver does show up on defense occasionally, exemplified by a dominant effort in a win over the New Jersey Nets in January. That's exactly the type of gritty effort the Nuggets need to end their problems on the road.   The Nuggets look to snap a five-game road losing streak when they face the Nets on Friday night in a matchup of teams fighting for playoff spots.   Denver (40-28) uses an up-tempo style of play, often leading to a high-scoring game for its opponent. But on Jan. 25, the Nuggets held the Nets (29-39) to 38.4 percent (33-for-86) shooting from the field in a 100-85 win.   After that game, Denver coach George Karl said it was one of the best defensive performances he had seen from his team all season. The Nuggets are allowing 105.6 points per game.   Denver has been even worse during this five-game skid on the road, allowing an average of 118.6 points. The Nuggets have lost eight of their last nine games away from the Pepsi Center. Their only win during that span was a 138-96 victory over Western Conference-worst Seattle on Feb. 27.   Denver, playing the third game of a five-game trip, also is playing a New Jersey team that has been outstanding at home over the past two months. The Nets have won three straight and nine of their last 12 at the IZOD Center.   Both teams are in a battle for eighth place in their respective conferences. Ninth-place Denver is 2 1/2 games behind Golden State for the final playoff spot in the West, while New Jersey is tied with Atlanta for eighth place in the East.   The Nuggets failed to pick up any ground Wednesday night, losing 115-113 to the 76ers in Allen Iverson's first game in Philadelphia since being traded to Denver in December 2006. Iverson led all scorers with 32 points, but missed a 20-footer in the final seconds that would have tied the game.   The veteran guard finished with 30 points, five assists and three steals against the Nets on Jan. 25. Kenyon Martin, the No. 1 overall pick by New Jersey in the 2000 draft, had 20 points and seven rebounds in that contest.   Martin's former team is coming off a Nuggets-like performance on offense.   Vince Carter had 39 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Nets to a 125-117 win over the Hawks on Wednesday night. That victory moved the Nets into a tie with the Hawks in the East and gave them the tie-breaker advantage between the teams by virtue of winning the season series.   "These last games, there are no excuses," said New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson, who added 33 points. "We need everybody mentally focused and ready."   The Nets have won three of four, averaging 110.5 points in that span after failing to score more than 96 in any of their previous six contests - all losses.   New Jersey appears to be settling down with Devin Harris at point guard. Harris, obtained as part of a trade that sent Jason Kidd to Dallas, had a career-high 26 points and added nine assists versus Atlanta despite playing on a sprained ankle.   Denver ended a six-game losing streak at New Jersey with a 94-90 win on March 20, 2007.