Chauncey Billups stars as Los Angeles Clippers edge past Denver Nuggets 109-105 - NBA Recap
Elite guard Chauncey Billups - a native of Denver who represented the Denver Nuggets for four seasons before being transferred to the New York Knicks and eventually the Los Angeles Clippers, is still adored by the city and its
people.
However, what he did to his former team on Sunday night wouldn’t have endeared him to many in the Pepsi Center crowd.
The veteran point guard scored a season high 32 points, including 6 for 12 from beyond the arc, to guide the Los Angeles Clippers to an 109-105 win over the Bronchos, putting a stop to Denver’s six game winning streak.
Billups attacked right from the start and troubled the Nuggets defence throughout. After bursting with 12 points in the first 12 minutes, Billups kept on calling the shots and used long range to score most of his points in the
next three quarters.
Chris Paul pounded 25 points on 9 for 19 from the floor, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 7 assists while Blake Griffin had a double-double with 17 points and 13 boards. Mo Williams also provided 12 points off the relief for the
Clippers, who shot 45.3 percent from the floor including 14-for-30 from outside the arc.
Centre Nene Hilario led the Nuggets with 18 points on a netting 9-for-12 shooting from inside the arc and also posted 9 rebounds. Danilo Gallinari scored 17 whereas Andre Miller and Al Harrington accumulated 16 points apiece.
Nuggets were accurate with their shooting (50%) from the floor and 15-for-20 from the free throw line.
Nuggets held the upper hand in the first three frames of the game, ending the first one at 26-23, second at 53-48 and third at 83-77.
Corey Brewer and Harrington struck in the opening minutes of the deciding frame to improve the position of Nuggets further, taking them ahead by 10 points 87-77. What followed though was a 10-0 spurt by Clippers that brought both
teams level at 87 all.
Nuggets again outscored the Clippers to acquire a 3 point lead 97-94. Clippers on the other hand were not willing to give up and kept fighting to keep the lead in check. Denver were only 1 point ahead, 105-104, with less than a
minute remaining when the Clippers used a flurry of free throws to deny Nuggets their 15th win of the season.
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