TONIGHT: The Denver Nuggets (5-5) host the New Jersey Nets (7-2) in a 7:10 game at the Pepsi Center.

BROADCAST: Television on FSN with Drew Goodman and Scott Hastings. Radio on KKFN (950 am) with Jerry Schemmel; pregame begins at 6:45.

THE SERIES: The Nuggets split their two-game series with New Jersey last season, winning 98-84 in Denver March 18. The Nets are just 4-24 in Denver since joining the NBA, but three of those wins have come in the last six seasons.

KEY MATCHUP: Point guards Nick Van Exel of Denver vs. Jason Kidd of Phoenix. Van Exel is coming off a 38-point game in Seattle Saturday in which he scored 21 in the third quarter alone. Kidd went to the other extreme in Saturday's New Jersey loss to Philly, going scoreless in 36 minutes on 0-for-9 field goal shooting. But Kidd is putting up solid numbers for the season, averaging 12.9 points, 9.6 assists and 7.1 rebounding, though his shooting from the field ? 33 percent ? leaves much to be desired.

NUGGETS UPDATE: With Saturday's win in Seattle, which ended a 16-game regular-season losing streak there, the Nuggets improved to 2-2 on the road. They're 3-3 at home. ... Last season after 10 games, the Nuggets were also 5-5. ... Van Exel has scored 23 or more points eight times in 10 games this season. He's exceeded 30 points three times. Van Exel is averaging 26.7 points per contest.