Stadium: Pepsi Center, Denver
Date: Friday, December 3rd, 2010
Teams’ Status: Denver Nuggets (12-6) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (4-16)
Highlight of the Game: Brian Cook missed a 3-pointer with 30 seconds to go.
High-Flying Players
Carmelo Anthony posted a game-high 26 points as the Denver Nuggets escaped with a 109-104 victory over the struggling Los Angeles Clippers at the Pepsi Center, Denver.
Beside the team-high points from Carmelo, J.R. Smith had 21 and Chauncey Billups posted 17, grabbed 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the Nuggets.
Eric Gordon had a team-high of 24 points and rookie Blake Griffin had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers in the loss.
Game Story
The Clippers entered the court with enthusiasm because of the way they smashed the sizzling Spurs in their last game.
Although the Denver Nuggets had a tough time making jump shots, luckily however, they kept going to the line.
The Nuggets shot just 31 percent in the first half but led 49-48. They made only 10 field goals in the first two quarters -- five of them 3-pointers -- while the Clippers hit 20 shots. The Nuggets held a 24-8 advantage from the
free throw line.
Small forward for the Nuggets, Carmelo Anthony said,
"The whistle was going our way early, we started off being aggressive, getting to the line and it carried on throughout the half."
The game turned into a one-point game late in the third quarter when Ty Lawson took charge of the Nuggets. His 63-foot heave at the end of the third quarter gave Denver an 81-77 lead.
Lawson had a steal and a layup and then hit another 3-pointer during the fourth quarter to give Denver an 89-80 lead.
"We needed a spark. The whole third quarter was dead, it looked like we were moving in slow motion, luckily that shot went in and that got us moving into the fourth quarter with our defense." Said Lawson
The Clippers scored the next eight points, including two 3-pointers by Brian Cook to make the score a respectable one. Smith's three-point play and Arron Afflalo's layup for the Nuggets made it 94-88 with 5:28 left.
The two diving dunks by Gordon provided the Nuggets with an opportunity to extend their well establish lead, 103-93.
With 30 seconds to go, Brain Cook of the Clippers got a wonderful opportunity to level the score with a three-pointer from the corner - unfortunately, he missed it. Poor Cook!
Turning Point of the Game
Ty Lawson hit a 63-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter, had a steal and a layup and hit a 3-pointer to give Denver an 89-80 lead with 8:51 to go in the game.
Breath-Taking Play
Griffin had 16 points and 11 rebounds to stretch his double-double streak to seven games. He is averaging 29.8 points and 12.3 rebounds in his last six games.
Nasty Performance
Nuggets forward Al Harrington’s performance in the game was not up to mark. He missed all four of his shots and scored just three points overall. He is averaging 5 points over his last three games.
Important Figures of the Game
It was the Nuggets’ 12th win of the season and sixth in a row.
The win was the 998th of Nuggets' Coach George Karl's career. He is seventh on the all-time wins list and fourth among active coaches.
The Clippers were 20 for 29 from the foul line.
Chris Kaman of the Clippers returned to the lineup after missing 11 games and contributed 10 points and 6 rebounds.
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