The Denver Nuggets overcame the absence of Carmelo Anthony to hold off the Phoenix Suns at the Pepsi Center in the highest-scoring game of the season, 138-133. For the majority of the game, only a few points separated the Suns
and the Nuggets. 15,482 cheerful basketball fans witnessed an incredibly tight game.
Prominent Players
The Nuggets had seven players score in double figures. J.R. Smith carried the load, posting a team-high 30 points and 8 rebounds for Nuggets. Chauncey Billups followed him with 25 points grasped by 8 assists and 3 rebounds. Ty
Lawson, Gary Forbes, and Arron Afflalo added 15 points each.
Five Sun’s players scored in double figures, Jason Richardson posted team-high 39 points grasped by 3 assists and 10 rebounds for Suns in the defeat. Steve Nash (17 points), Josh Childress (15 points), Hedo Turkoglu (13 points),
Grant Hill (11 points), and Channing Frye (10 points) joined Richardson in double figures.
First Quarter
In the first quarter, the Nuggets played sloppy basketball, but slowly began to build their lead, taking a 31 - 18 lead into the second.
Phoenix missed its first nine shots of the game and fell into an early 10-0 hole before a defensive three-second technical gave Nash a free throw attempt.
Standing 6 ft 7”, Gary Forbes led the Nuggets by 8 points.
The Nugget's biggest lead of the quarter was nine points.
Second Quarter
In the second quarter, the Suns got it going offensively, scoring 39 points in the second quarter, all the while holding the Nuggets to 37 in the entire half. However, the Nuggets maintained their lead in the first half, 68 – 57.
Anthony left the game feeling ill and at halftime left the arena.
Third Quarter
In the third, the Nuggets continued to up their lead, eventually capping out at 37 points, before the Suns fought hard to make the score a respectable one.
The Nuggets limited the Suns to 32 points in the third quarter and led 105 – 89 heading in to the fourth
Fourth Quarter
The Suns controlled every aspect of this one, limiting turnovers, making shots in the fourth quarter, and putting on a tenacious defense.
Smith missed two free throws with 28.9 seconds left and Nash's three-point play with 22.5 seconds left made it 132-131.
Billups hit two free throws and after Nash missed a wide-open 3-point shot that would have tied it, the Nuggets closed it out from the line, leading with five points.
Turning Point
The Suns struggled during the final round and cut Denver's 19-point lead to one with 22.5 seconds left. At this crucial point, the Nuggets put the ball in the hands of point guard Chauncey Billups, who calmly drained four straight
free throws to keep the Suns from taking the lead.
Quotable
"We didn't guard anybody. You score 133 points and you lose the game, that's ridiculous." – said Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry.
“Nobody remembers guys having big nights and losing games, we’re just giving up too many middle drives, myself included. We know we can score but we can’t just rely on our offense to win games.” Richardson said.
Brainy Move
As Anthony left the court at the intermission, the Nuggets Coach George Karl used a small lineup effectively again, helping to overcome his absence.
Fortuneless Move
Alvin Gentry decided to move Hakim Warrick into the starting lineup for the first time this season. He came into the game averaging 13.1 points but added only eight.
Up Next
With the eleventh victory of the season, Nuggets will take on Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at Pepsi Center, Denver.
The Phoenix Suns look to avoid their third straight loss when they travel to ORACLE Arena, Oakland, to take on the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, December 2, 2010.
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