Bodog Beat

The Denver Nuggets will face the Miami Heat without Carmelo Anthony. (AP Images)

The Denver Nuggets will play their first game since learning Carmelo Anthony will miss at least three weeks with a broken bone in his shooting hand tonight against the Miami Heat, who are opening a season-high seven-game road trip.

It is pretty clear the Nuggets are a different team without their All-Star. Denver is 16-20 without Anthony in the lineup since his rookie season, compared to going 239-171 with him.

Denver, which is averaging 119.0 points on 53.7 percent shooting during its four-game winning streak, has won all 17 games it’s played when scoring at least 102 points. It’s just 7-12 when scoring 101 or less.

The Nuggets have won six straight games over the Heat since a 107-100 loss in Miami on Dec. 17, 2004.

Dwyane Wade is averaging 27.6 points on 50.6 percent shooting in nine career games versus the Nuggets. Get all your NBA odds with Bodog today.