Sixers face the Denver Nuggets tonight

While the weather is snowy in Philadelphia, it's sunny and mid-50's here in Denver, where they haven't had much snow at all so far.

The Sixers are coming off back-to-back losses in Chicago and Boston, but have had a few days off over Christmas. Perhaps the time away from each other will help them. The team met up ysterday in Denver and held a practice last night.

Guard Lou Williams will not play tonight, or tomorrow night at Golden State, as he stayed back in Philadelphia to watch the birth of his daughter.

Here are some keys for the Sixers tonight against the Nuggets:

*Take advantage: The Nuggets played, and lost, in Oklahoma City on Christmas. Tonight is the second of four games in five nights for Denver. The Nuggets are also suspected to be without star Carmelo Anthony, who is with his family after the death of his sister on Tuesday. He is expected to rejoin the team tomorrow at the earliest.

*Get Jodie Meeks going again. Meeks has made just 14 of his last 53 shots, including 4 of his last 26 from three-point distance. With Williams out, they are going to have to get some scoring from the two guard. Getting Meeks going early would help his confidence and open up the inside game for the Sixers.

*Get ahead early. The Nuggets have lost six of their past nine games. Any time a team is struggling and you can get a lead on them early, it usually works to your advantage.

*Play good defense. The Nuggets are 11-2 this season at the Pepsi Center and are averaging over 111 points there. The Sixers have had their best games this year when they are playing defense.

*Limit Chauncey Billups. Billups has been back for two games after missing three with a wrist injury. In the two games, he's averaged 25 a game.

*

To read our earlier posts on Lou Williams and Carmelo Anthony, click here.

Download our new iPhone/Android app for all of our Sixers coverage, plus app-exclusive analysis and videos.