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Denver Nuggets News

Clippers sign Kenyon Martin to one-year deal
"The first call Kenyon Martin received came from former Denver Nuggets teammate Chauncey Billups, telling the 6-foot-9 power forward that the Clippers would be a nice fit. Then Clippers All-Star Chris Paul called Martin, reiterating that the Clippers would love to have his services. This all came around the same time Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro and vice president of basketball operations Neil Olshey had met with Martin to express the team's interest. Martin apparently was sold, because on Friday he signed a one-year, mini mid-level contract for $2.5 million to play for the Clippers. Del Negro said Martin will provide the Clippers with quality depth in the frontcourt off the bench to help"
Nuggets fall short to Lakers on missed 3-pointer
"The Pepsi Center held its breath as Al Harrington tried to pull a Carmelo. Harrington had been brilliant for Denver, but he couldn't make a fadeaway, 26-foot 3-point jumper in the finals ticks Friday night, and the Nuggets lost to the Lakers 93-89. (The Lakers made two free throws with 0.2 seconds left.) "A 'stepback' is my favorite shot," said Harrington, who finished with a game-high 24 points. "I felt like it was going to go in." But Harrington wasn't the first option. On the final shot, Denver coach George Karl said: "We were trying to go to Ty (Lawson) in the gap and then try to find the 3 if it was open and find Nene (in the low post) if he was open. For an end-of-the-game situation,"
China fighting decision to let Martin return to NBA
"Chinese Basketball Association officials are fighting FIBA's decision to allow Kenyon Martin to immediately return to the NBA, demanding that Martin be forbidden to play until later this month, sources told Yahoo! Sports. China has forwarded an affidavit to FIBA and the NBA – signed by Martin upon his departure in late December – that stipulates he wouldn't play in the NBA until his Xinjiang Guanghui Flying Tigers' season had ended. China is demanding the contract be honored and Martin have to wait until the Flying Tigers finish their season. The Flying Tigers have six games left and need a winning streak to catapult them into the playoffs. Their final regular-season game is Feb. 16.."
Clippers' four-game winning streak ends with a thud against Nuggets
"A wet blanket dousing a roaring fire — that's one way to describe the Clippers' 112-91 loss to Denver on Thursday. The Clippers had been in the midst of a season-high four-game winning streak, having achieved three of their most impressive wins yet, and their meeting with Denver came on a night of historically good news: Chris Paul and Blake Griffin were named starters for the Western Conference in the NBA All-Star game, becoming the first Clippers to start an All-Star game in 32 years."
Hawks notes: team has interest in Kenyon Martin
"The Hawks met Thursday with a representative of Kenyon Martin, according to a person with knowledge of the team's thinking. The 11-year veteran center is playing in China and can return to the NBA following the season in several weeks."
Nuggets dominate in L.A. as Gallinari, Lawson lead the way
"Lob City was more like a library. In Thursday's fourth quarter, with the Clippers trailing by 20, they tried to pull out all the stops during a timeout — the pump-up music, the T-shirt tosses, the dance team jumping up and down — and the residents of said city were quiet, as if they were studying for finals. How about those Nuggets? Denver had lost two straight, including the first one to these very Clippers on Sunday, but on Thursday they slapped around the home team, 112-91, defeating Chris Paul and Blake Griffin on the day both were named all-star starters."
Harrington hopes Nuggets have a sense of urgency beginning tonight vs. Clippers
"Al Harrington's voice — so deep, so smooth, so serious — makes Barry White sound like Betty White. When Harrington speaks, there's a resonance of importance. So, after the Nuggets lost Sunday's heartbreaker to the Los Angeles Clippers, Harrington's strong voice made his strong words echo. "I still feel," he said from the losing locker room, "that we're the better team." Better than the Clippers? Who have Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler, plus top sixth-man candidate Mo Williams and up-and-coming center DeAndre Jordan?"
Sources: Clippers are willing to offer Kenyon Martin mini mid-level exception of $2.5 million
"Count the Clippers as one of the many teams still trying to get free-agent power forward Kenyon Martin, according to two people not authorized to speak publicly on the situation. Martin recently met with Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro and Neil Olshey, the team's vice president of basketball operations, to gauge his interest in playing for the team, both people said. The Clippers would be willing to offer Martin the mini mid-level exception of $2.5 million, though they haven't made him an offer yet, one person said."
Kenyon Martin deciding which contender to join
"Kenyon Martin is expected to decide by this weekend which NBA team he'll join, league sources told Yahoo! Sports. The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks have expressed interest in signing the veteran forward. Martin signed with Xinjiang Gyang Hui of the Chinese Basketball Association, but has since returned to the United States. He's not eligible to sign with an NBA team until Xinjiang's season ends, which could be as soon as Feb. 16."
Memphis Grizzlies find their grind, put away Denver, 100-97 in OT
"On perhaps the most important sequence of the night, the Grizzlies gave their grit and grind-starved fans a heavy dose. Tony Allen sprung from the court and met Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington at the apex of his shot attempt. Allen came up with an emphatic block and the Nuggets were assessed a 24-second, shot-clock violation late in the overtime period. On the other end of the floor, Mike Conley chased down an offensive rebound and then Allen later extended the possession by also hitting the offensive glass. The basketball eventually found O.J. Mayo for a straight-away 3-pointer that gave the Griz a lead for the first time since late in the first period."
Nuggets let one slip away in overtime loss at Memphis, 100-97
"The Nuggets, George Karl heatedly said, did not lose Tuesday because of missed shots at the buzzer — even though they missed two of them. Andre Miller missed a jumper, sending the game to overtime, and Rudy Fernandez missed a 3, sending the Grizzlies fans home happy. But after the Nuggets' 100-97 loss at Memphis, the Denver coach was steadfast that the lack of a closer — which Denver hasn't had since Carmelo Anthony forced a trade to New York — was not the main reason the Nuggets lost Tuesday. It was, Karl surmised, "fourth or fifth.""
Crystal ball says Denver can contend in NBA playoffs
"Hello from BHizzle! Hope you're doing well in Brooklyn home (did you happen to go to James Buchanan High? Six people got that reference). I chuckled at your "crystal ball" reference, because it reminded me of this scenario from the other day. This person I sort of know excitedly told me a story about how she has psychic powers, which I found fascinating, since she supposedly has these psychic powers -- yet doesn't have the capacity to recall she already told me this stupid story. As for the Nuggets' play in the postseason, well, that's the $65 million question (in reference to the contract extension signed by Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks, leaving the Nuggets with some great young talent,"
Lack of ball control comes back to hurt Nuggets
"Ty Lawson returned to the Nuggets on Tuesday, but coach George Karl was cautious before the game — and it had nothing to do with Lawson's sprained ankle. "The one thing with Ty and Andre (Miller), they create a lot of their offense with defensive steals and they're very good around the ball," Karl said at the shootaround. "We have to protect the ball. If we don't, they'll be in the game and they'll have a chance to beat us. If we have a low turnover game, I think they'll have trouble beating us." Well, after missing three games, Lawson tallied just four assists in Denver's 100-97 overtime loss, while committing five turnovers."
Nuggets' Ty Lawson says he'll play vs. Memphis
"Ty Lawson confirmed today that Chico will play. The Nuggets' Lawson, whose on-court alter-ego is nicknamed Chico, said at shootaround that he'll play in tonight's Nuggets-Grizzlies game here at Memphis. Denver's starting point guard had missed three-straight games due to a sprained ankle. "Especially coming off a loss, I definitely want to get back out here and get on a winning streak," Lawson said, in reference to the Nuggets heartbreaker at home against the Clippers on Sunday."
Ty Lawson's absence hurts Nuggets
"In just over two seasons, Ty Lawson has rocketed from a point guard whom Nuggets coach George Karl was reluctant to play as a rookie to, it appears, being the most indispensable cog on a 14-6 team. Never was that more evident than in Karl's comments Sunday night at the Pepsi Center after the Los Angeles Clippers snapped the Nuggets' six-game win streak. Karl called it "a good loss" to one of the Western Conference's most talented teams. Lawson missed his third consecutive game because of a sprained ankle."
Nuggets' six-game winning streak ended by Clippers
"The postgame L.A. Clippers locker room had an old Nuggets feel to it. There, in the center, was Chauncey Billups, always the man of the moment in the Mile High City. Around him were all of the familiar media faces peppering him with questions about another night, another big shot, another big victory. Only, this time, he left his old team with all the questions while he provided answers Sunday night. In his first game back since being traded, Billups was every bit Mr. Big Shot as he and Chris Paul took over in the fourth quarter to outlast the Nuggets 109-105 at the Pepsi Center."
Nuggets' Lawson still hurting; Miller starts at point
"Nuggets guard Ty Lawson was a late scratch from Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles because of a sprained left ankle that continues to give him problems. Lawson had hoped to play in the pivotal early Western Conference showdown between the second- and third-place teams, and had said he would Saturday afternoon. But after having difficulty in getting some things done on the court, and after going through a pregame workout, he was shelved. Andre Miller started in his place."
Clippers look game for the week with 109-105 victory at Denver
"This is a week that could test the Clippers' resolve, demonstrating whether they are mentally and physically capable of playing five games in seven days and finding success. On the first night of this harrowing march, on a day when Chauncey Billups returned home to face a Denver team that has traded him twice, the Clippers stood tall in pulling out a 109-105 victory Sunday night at the Pepsi Center. They did so because Billups was outstanding in scoring a season-high 32 points, because Chris Paul had 13 of his 25 points and four of his seven assists in the fourth quarter, and because DeAndre Jordan made a clutch late-game free throw to go along with his 13 rebounds, five blocked shots and"
Clippers' Chauncey Billups gets warm welcome in Denver
"Chauncey Billups was back home, back where he went to high school, in the same state where he went to college, at the University of Colorado, back facing the Denver Nuggets team that traded him twice. And he put on a show, scoring a season-high 32 points on 11-for-20 shooting, six for 12 from three-point range. Billups was a part of the Carmelo Anthony trade that sent them to the New York Knicks on Feb. 22, 2011, a deal that the 15-year veteran wasn't too happy about."
Pacers a Hoosier version of the Nuggets
"So the Eastern Conference has a Nuggets team too. With their budding point guard from the 2009 draft, their lack of a superstar and their litany of scorers in the teens, the Indiana Pacers have cooked up ways to win — and win big games. Coach Frank Vogel's squad (be honest, did you even know Frank Vogel was their coach?) has defeated Boston twice, as well as wins against the Hawks, at the Lakers and this past week at Chicago, where the Pacers made a statement, giving the Bulls their first home loss. Asked if he sees comparisons between his Nuggets and the Pacers, Denver coach George Karl said: "Success-wise, I do. I don't think they play as fast as we play. "I think they're a pretty young,"
As Clippers visit Nuggets, finally time to give regards to Billups
"When Masai Ujiri was hired as the Nuggets' executive director of basketball operations in the summer of 2010, his first order of business was to connect with the player who had recently taught the team how to win big. Chauncey Billups. So Ujiri flew to Turkey, where Billups was playing as part of the U.S. team in the FIBA World Championship. "I got the job at that time," Ujiri said. "And he was the first person I went to see." And why not? One leader was going to spend time with another. Billups' return to the Nuggets in 2008 resulted in a run to the Western Conference finals as the former George Washington High and Colorado star provided the team the proper tools for success."
Lawson's bad ankle puts him on sideline
"Nuggets starting point guard Ty Lawson missed Friday night's game against the Raptors because of a sprained ankle, but coach George Karl hopes to have him back for Sunday's meeting with the L.A. Clippers. "I think Ty wants to play," Karl said. "I have a feeling he'll play on Sunday. That's what my gut says." At 15.7 points per game, Lawson is the team's second-leading scorer. He's also second on the team in assists (6.5) and steals (1.53). Lawson was injured in Wednesday's win over Sacramento. He had missed only one game prior to Friday night and started all 17 games in which he's played. Veteran Andre Miller started in his place, and would do so again Sunday if Lawson is still unable to"
Nuggets roll past Toronto for sixth win in a row
"Nuggets coach George Karl likes to break a season down into bite-sized chunks. Win 10 games in a month and its a success. String a season's worth of those kinds of months together and you're likely staring at a top-four spot in the conference by playoff time. The Nuggets opened a big lead then kept Toronto at arm's length to collect a 96-81 win over Toronto on Friday night at the Pepsi Center in a game that was a tad more difficult at the end than the team would have liked. Nevertheless, it was the Nuggets' sixth consecutive victory and 12th win of the month. The last time the Nuggets won 12 games in a month was exactly two years ago, January 2010. And while that season ended like a"
Nuggets' roster depleted, but so deep it's still dangerous
"The Denver Nuggets are deeply dangerous — and dangerously deep. Tonight against Toronto, the Nuggets likely won't have their starting point guard. Or shooting guard. Or backup shooting guard. Yet the Nuggets are potent and unpredictable enough that recent history suggests someone will step in and have a big scoring night. In the past eight games, seven of which were wins, the Nuggets have had six different leading scorers. "This team is hard to guard. You can't predict us," said Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, who is doubtful with a left ankle sprain. "You can't game plan against that, like if you're playing the Miami Heat. It's hard to plan defenses against us.""
Kings' defense vanishes in loss to Nuggets
"It was almost fitting how Denver Nuggets guard Corey Brewer scored the final points for his team. They came on a dunk off a missed free throw. In short, they were an easy two points, and the Kings gave up way too many of those in a 122-93 loss Wednesday night at Power Balance Pavilion."
Denver Nuggets extend contracts of Danilo Gallinari, Kosta Koufos
"There he was this month, his stoic Fellini-film face, his squared shoulders, his feet tap dancing on the hardwood as he stayed torso to torso with LeBron, with Kobe, with Melo. It's unclear whether Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari ever will be a one-name star, but the symbolism of his defensive dedication is clear — he wants to challenge the best. Gallinari, 23, is having a breakout season on both ends of the court. So the Nuggets locked him up Wednesday for the next four seasons. Gallinari's acceptance of a $42 million-plus contract extension shows that the Denver front office believes what coach George Karl has said, that Gallo could be an NBA all-star someday."
Gallinari helps Nuggets rout Kings; Ty Lawson sprains his left ankle
"On a day when the Nuggets took major steps toward solidifying what they feel is a strong, talented young nucleus of players, the need for such depth was underscored. The Nuggets may be without a third young star as point guard Ty Lawson sprained his left ankle midway through the second quarter of a 122-93 destruction of the Kings at the Power Balance Pavilion on Wednesday night. The Nuggets scored a franchise-record 92 points in the paint. "I thought our passing tonight was spectacular," said Nuggets coach George Karl. "We were getting a lot of easy baskets underneath the defense.""
Nuggets, Gallinari agree to 4-year extension for $42 million
"Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari has agreed to a four-year contract extension. The 23-year-old small forward will make close to $42 million in that four year span, a league source told The Denver Post. The deal signifies Denver's dedication to building around a young nucleus, the same nucleus that was handed the keys after Denver traded Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups 13 months ago. "It was easy to say 'Yes' to this contract," Gallinari said at today's Nuggets shootaround. "It's very nice because we've been playing very well. We have a lot of very good young guys, very unselfish players and I'm looking forward to play with this team this year and with a lot of the guys in the next few"
Nuggets not resting on 12-5 record
"For 72 hours, the Nuggets could finally sit back and exhale. Bodies could heal a bit. Weary legs could be rested. After a whirlwind four games in five nights, the Nuggets welcomed a three-day break, which comes to an end today, with open arms. "It's good. It's good," Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo said. "We are a very deep team, and Coach has got a lot of guys in the rotation, but there are nicks and bruises here and there, so everybody appreciates it." Forward Danilo Gallinari agreed. "I was very tired (Sunday) when we came back," he said. "These days are very important for maintenance and taking care of your body and coming back with the right energy for the next game.""
Nuggets hitting slam dunk with bench players
"George Karl and the coaching staff have a plus-minus system they're fond of, which helps rate which combinations of players work well together on the court. Fifty combinations are charted. And? "Our top 50 combinations do not have a minus," Karl said. "There's not one of our top-50 combinations with a minus.""
Nuggets' Gallo is nothing to whine about
"OK, let's dispense with the nonsense about Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari. Please stop with the comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki before somebody strains all credibility or a back muscle. And Gallinari will never be as good a basketball player as Carmelo Anthony. But I'll give you this: Gallo could become better loved than Melo ever was by Denver residents. Starting with Nuggets coach George Karl. "I think you could see Gallo playing in an All-Star Game someday," Karl told me Monday."
Gallinari's game vs. Melo reveals his full potential
"It was just one night — one statement-making, magical, memorable night, but, yes, just one night. Still, there was Denver's Danilo Gallinari, out-Meloing Melo. "It's always great to match up against a superstar," Gallinari said, "because you always want to improve yourself and play against the best — to see what is your limit." The basket-bulldozing Gallinari scored a career-high 37 points in Saturday's double overtime win against the Knicks and Carmelo Anthony, the player and team he was traded for (in part) last February. "Gallo," Nuggets coach George Karl said, "has a quiet confidence to him.""
Nuggets low on shooting guards, so Andre Miller moves there
"The Nuggets were so low on shooting guards Saturday night, they had to play a point guard there. Arron Afflalo (groin) and Rudy Fernandez (Achilles) sat out the game against the Knicks, so Denver coach George Karl inserted veteran playmaker Andre Miller into the starting lineup at shooting guard. Entering the game, Miller was averaging 9.9 points and 6.3 assists. Fernandez played only one half at Washington on Friday before aggravating his heel. Afflalo suffered his injury in the victory over the Wizards, causing him to miss Saturday's game. The Nuggets return to practice Monday and play Wednesday at Sacramento. Afflalo had been struggling to find his shot after missing most of training"
Nuggets defeat Melo, Knicks in double-overtime thriller
"George Karl's office door swung open at 6:05 p.m., and there he was. Melo. He of the Melodrama. The man who forced his way to Manhattan, while shaking up a franchise's roster like he was making a Manhattan. Nearly four hours later, Melo was forcing overtime. Carmelo Anthony swished a turnaround jumper with just 1.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter to tie Saturday night's gargantuan game at Madison Square Garden, Melo's first against the Karl-coached Nuggets. But two overtimes later, Denver had a 119-114 victory thanks in part to a big 3-pointer from its own No. 7, Al Harrington. Saturday's game will be one they'll talk about all season. Melo (25 points, 10-of-30 shooting) sent it to"
Gallinari shines
"This is who the Knicks thought Danilo Gallinari would be. Returning to Madison Square Garden for the first time since February's trade to the Nuggets for Carmelo Anthony, the former Knicks' first-round pick showed all that had once been envisioned of him, leading the Nuggets to a 119-114 double overtime win with a career-high 37 points and 11 rebounds. "Gallo has a quiet confidence to him," Denver coach George Karl said. "I could actually tell he was looking forward to this game. I think he enjoyed playing here, and I think he was somewhat disappointed to be traded, but now it's time to move on and build his career in a positive way in being a Denver Nugget.""
Nene likely to play in matchup vs. Melo
""Probably not" became "probable." On Friday morning, Nuggets coach George Karl said he didn't think Nene would play tonight at New York after Denver's big man rested his lingering left heel strain Friday at Washington. But after Friday night's win, Nene was declared probable for the big game tonight against Carmelo Anthony. Meanwhile, Rudy Fernandez's lingering Achilles strain continues to bother the reserve guard. He sat out Denver's previous two games but returned Friday — only to return to the bench in the second half because of the injury. The team will re-evaluate his foot today to see if he can play. Timofey Mozgov, the Nuggets' starting center, returned to the lineup Friday after"
Harrington lifts Nuggets to 108-104 win at Washington
"He's not from here, he doesn't have some motivating past history with this place and, really, his only tie to the nation's capital is that he resides in said nation. For Al Harrington, the exceptional is inexplicable. But in the past two games he had played in Washington, he shot 5-for-8 from long range in the first game and 6-for-8 from 3-point range in the second. Harrington again went 5-for-8 on 3-pointers Friday night, spearheading the Nuggets to a 108-104 victory. "Yeah, I had no idea. I didn't know I was shooting it that well here," said Harrington, who scored a season-high 29 points, when asked about his recent D.C. performances. "I feel like I can shoot every night like that — it"
Nuggets walk away winners after NY Knicks gut team for Carmelo Anthony
"Garden chairman Jim Dolan can finally look out on his basketball court on Saturday night and see that he's built himself a winner. Unfortunately for Dolan, it won't be the NBA team he owns. In fairness, the Denver Nuggets were a playoff team long before Dolan orchestrated the Carmelo Anthony trade. But since the team's owner ordered Donnie Walsh to gut the Knicks to bring Anthony to the Garden, the Nuggets have continued on an upward trajectory, while the Knicks find themselves these days with 'Melo often grinding the offense to a halt and Amar'e Stoudemire very likely longing for the days he was king of New York."
Nuggets win at Philadelphia in overtime
"The two first went head-to-head in his head. Andre Miller. Jrue Holiday. 76ers executive Ed Stefanski thought it through that June of 2009 — should he try to re-sign the team's 30-something floor general or draft a point guard, potentially Holiday, who'd become the first NBA player born in the 1990s? Philadelphia went young; Miller went to Portland. On Wednesday, Miller and Holiday again went head-to-head. With a little payback in every shot or stutter step, Miller was stupendous in Denver's 108-104 overtime win, sealed when Holiday drove to the lane and, upon being rattled by Miller, picked up his dribble and accidentally passed it to his predecessor."
Nene's numbers add up in victory over the 76ers
"He's having a terrible game! He's having a terrific game! Terrible! Terrific! Such was Wednesday night for Nene. The Nuggets big man was 1-for-6 in the first quarter. But by the 5:30 mark in the third quarter, he had 16 points and eight boards. Things were looking good for the big guy — until he suddenly drew his fourth foul, sending him to the bench. But when the overtime thriller was over — Denver won 108-104 — Nene had finished with some of his best numbers of the season: 20 points, 14 rebounds and three assists."
Sixers fall just short at line in loss to Nuggets
"Two foul shots with four seconds to go in the game — one to tie, the other to win. As far as pressure situations go, Andre Iguodala has been there plenty of times before. Most recently, Iguodala was in a similar situation last March in a game against Sacramento. That time, though, Iguodala had to make two shots to tie the game. He missed them both. Wednesday night at the Wells Fargo Center, Iguodala got the ball at the top of the key with the Sixers trailing the Denver Nuggets by one point with 7.9 seconds remaining and made his move to the basket. It's a play we've seen before with only two outcomes — Iguodala could score or he could get fouled."
Miller's playmaking too much for 76ers
"Really, the 76ers treated Andre Miller as nice as they could during his 2½ seasons. He started every game. He had a nice locker in the corner. The players seemed to like him. Yet something seemed to set Miller off. He had 28 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. So it was only fitting that Miller scored the go-ahead basket with 42.9 seconds left in overtime, then sealed the Sixers' 108-104 loss Wednesday when he intercepted Jrue Holiday's pass with 3.2 seconds left."
Nuggets roll to road win over Milwaukee; Brewer scores 22
"If Corey Brewer? keeps this up, he could become the most popular Florida Gator in Denver. Jokes aside, Brewer erupted Tuesday night in the Nuggets' 105-95 road victory at a sleepy Bradley Center. The reserve forward scored a season-high 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting, while zipping and zig-zagging, shot-blocking and sky-walking. "He brings energy to our team, and usually energy and aggressiveness are positive personalities of a successful team," said Denver coach George Karl?, whose team is 9-5."
Nuggets face five-game road trip and meeting with Carmelo
"For the better part of this young season, home hasn't just been where the heart is for the Nuggets, but where nearly all the games were played. Now comes a five-game road trip starting tonight at Milwaukee — as many road games in one trip as the Nuggets have played so far this season. The split is odd: four in a row (in five days) against the Eastern Conference this week, then a three-day break and the last game Jan. 25 at Sacramento. The highlight of the trip is Saturday's game at New York, the first time the teams have met since the Carmelo Anthony? trade nearly a calendar year ago. Woeful Washington and surprisingly good Philadelphia are the other two opponents on the Eastern swing."
Nuggets lose at home to Utah Jazz
"There are times when too much cool isn't that cool, times where you need to drop the shades and the strut and just get down to the simple task of taking care of business. "I'm kind of fed up about teams coming in here shooting 50 percent, scoring 100 points," Nuggets coach George Karl said Sunday night after watching the Utah Jazz achieve both marks in a 106-96 victory over his team at the Pepsi Center."
Nuggets coach Karl, backup Chris Andersen have "kissed and made up"
"Birdman back on the court after sitting out one game Chris Andersen caught the dreaded DNP-CD (did not play-coach's decision) Friday when the Nuggets played the Miami Heat at the Pepsi Center. Andersen wasn't happy about it and talked to coach George Karl before Sunday's home game against Utah. "I think we kissed and made up," Karl said."
Ty & Chico: Lawson, alter ego playing star roles with Nuggets
"Ty Lawson walks like he's inflated with helium, floating toward an intended destination, as if arrival would be an unexpected bonus. He wanders more than walks. Some call him "Snail." As the new guy at North Carolina, he lounged while chiseled upperclassmen ran a timed sprint at a preseason workout. Then the freshman sauntered to the starting line. "He's got the pants hanging halfway down his butt, his shoes were like untied," said Bobby Frasor?, a former North Carolina teammate. "And then he runs. Everybody was like, 'Whoa.' Super, super fast." Lawson says he has an alter ego: Chico. That's the nickname they gave him in Lithuania during the NBA lockout last year. Ty is the guy who just"
Corey Brewer struggles to find court time in Karl's scheme
"In the past, when Miami came to town, it was an opportunity for Heat guard Dwyane Wade? to get together with his good friend, Carmelo Anthony. Time, and a trade, has changed that dynamic. Now, Wade's trips to Denver are much more business than pleasure. "It's a little different," Wade said. "We played them last year (here) after the trade happened, and it was different. Melo obviously was a great player here in Denver. I lost a lot to him in Denver. So it's kind of good not seeing him on the other side now." "But they've moved on," Wade added. "They have a very good team, very good players, one of the deepest teams in the NBA.""
Nuggets pull away from Miami with a solid victory over an elite team
"Elite status is a door the Nuggets stand in front of this season and desperately hope they have the key to open. And so they claw and scratch and scrape and run (and run and run) themselves ever closer to be considered — truly considered — as a team on the shortlist of those with pressure and expectations to do something great. Friday night was a nice step in that direction. In the only meeting between the teams in this lockout-shortened season, the Nuggets put away the Heat behind Ty Lawson and a strong fourth quarter, walking out with an eye-opening 117-104 victory Friday night at the Pepsi Center. "I think (the win) comes at a good time," coach George Karl? said. "I think the test comes"