Nuggets News

Nuggets focus on rocking the rim
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November 20
Denver Post
 
"The Nuggets ain't bad. Here's a play that sums up why. In Tuesday night's game against Toronto, Carmelo Anthony received a pass on the right wing and cruised by his defender, thanks to a Stonehenge pick set by Renaldo Balkman. A hard, crossover dribble was Melo's key to unlock the key. Once in the lane, he Adrian Peterson-ed a pair of post players, soared toward the rim and then, in one midair motion, yanked the ball down waist-high and flung up a backwards, no-look layup. It's good! And the foul! On this singular play, Melo did everything that's epitomized Denver's success so far. He got into the paint, got the layup to drop, got to the foul line. "They know that I want rim," Nuggets ..."
MRI on Birdman's knee clear of big damage
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November 19
Denver Post
 
"Nuggets forward Chris Andersen underwent an MRI on his right knee Wednesday, and no structural damage was found. He is listed as day-to-day with patella tendinitis. Anderson has been sore, so he underwent the procedure today in Denver. Dr. Steve Traina said the test revealed no structural damage. Guard Anthony Carter is listed as questionable for the Nuggets' game Friday against the Clippers in Los Angeles. A strained left hip kept him out of the past two games. ...Karl said he's starting to settle in with the rotation, both with who is starting and coming off the bench. "Yeah," Karl said. "I think Arron (Afflalo) and Ty have done a great job for guys that we didn't have"
Karl glad to have Carter available
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November 19
Denver Post
 
"Two days before Anthony Carter is to return to the Nuggets' lineup, his coach took a moment to defend the veteran guard. "I'll be honest with you," George Karl said. "I think sometimes the fans have been too hard on A.C. The man has been a big part of what this team has become and is built on. And not to respect what he does is I think fanatically fanlike." Carter has taken heat from Nuggets fans over the past couple of seasons as they clamored for a change at backup point guard, behind starter Chauncey Billups. Ty Lawson, a rookie from North Carolina, has played well for the Nuggets and, at least for the moment, is the 8-3 team's first point guard off the bench. Carter hasn't played in ..."
Too much Carmelo
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November 18
Toronto Sun
 
"One night it's Steve Nash producing game-changing plays and a game-winning shot, the next it's Carmelo Anthony imposing his will. The NBA is as much a game of individualism than team play, a reality that hit the Raptors on consecutive evenings. Not surprisingly, the Raptors lost both times. The latest unfolded last night in the Mile High City, where Anthony was at his best in leading the Nuggets to a 130-112 win. Anthony and Chris Bosh were Olympic teammates and came into the NBA together, but their games are altogether different. Melo's ability to handle the ball, play with his face to the basket or post-up make him one of the game's elite. Bosh was a non-factor for the first time ..."
Bosh held to 13 points as Raptors run out of gas
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November 18
Toronto Star
 columnist Doug Smith
"It was as if an invisible wall was put up and the Raptors ran smack dab into it at halftime here Tuesday night. After matching the Denver Nuggets basket for basket and shot for shot through the first two quarters, the Raptors simply ran out of gas and dropped an 130-112 decision at the Pepsi Center. A delightful first half ended 64-64 thanks to some great offence on both sides but the toll of a road trip and the thin air, coupled with facing a Denver team that hadn't played since Saturday night, did in Toronto."
Graham's wait well worth it
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November 18
Toronto Star
 
"As July morphed into August and September arrived, Joey Graham grew a little bit antsy. He was an NBA free agent in a diminishing market, a four-year veteran without an outstanding resumé, leaving a 33-win team on which he'd played no meaningful role. But the one thing about Graham is that he's never lacked in self-confidence, and while there were doubts about the future, they never really took hold. "It was a little bit frustrating, but I knew I was going to end up somewhere," the ex-Raptor said Tuesday. "I knew I was going to end up on an NBA team because I'm an NBA player." And so he is, a Denver Nugget, a rotation player on a good Western Conference team who finally found a home after ..."
Raptors choke in Denver's thin air
Comment
November 18
Toronto Star
 
"They were beaten and battered and beaten some more, bullied at times, acquiescing at others, and it doesn't take the greatest of minds to see why the Raptors were drilled Tuesday night. The most important numbers, of course, were in the score: Denver 130, Toronto 112. But a further examination of the boxscore tells the story just as well. Points in the paint: Denver 68, Toronto 36. "We had no answer for them," said Raptors coach Jay Triano. "Their bigs dominated us. It was a game of points in the paint and they destroyed us.""
Nuggets would consider Iverson if injuries took toll
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November 18
Denver Post
 
"Coach George Karl suggested Tuesday that if a guard suffers a serious injury, the team would at least consider signing former Nugget Allen Iverson, if he was available. "A.I. for us is an injury discussion," Karl said of the disgruntled Iverson, who parted ways with Memphis after only three games. "I don't think it's an (overall) discussion right now for us. Say that Ty Lawson is out for the season. Speed and quickness is what Lawson gives us, so A.I. would be on the list of speed and quickness." That said, Karl also said he likes his team's current chemistry. Karl always respected Iverson. Though Iverson's defense and passing decisions were sometimes suspect, the fact is Denver managed to ..."
Nuggets rout Raptors with Melo's help
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November 18
Denver Post
 
"With his retired number in the Pepsi Center rafters, Nuggets legend Alex English watched Tuesday night as Carmelo Anthony played like, well, Alex English. "The fact that he can score reminds me of me," said English, a Toronto Raptors assistant coach. "Just watching him, he looks stronger than ever. He looks confident." The Nuggets (8-3) routed the Raptors 130-112 in a shootout reminiscent of English's games during the 1980s. Anthony scored a game-high 32 points while shooting a remarkably efficient 12-for-15 from the field. Did we mention he did so in less than 31 minutes of playing time? And did so after missing the shootaround because of a migraine headache? Yes, Melo was unreal."
Anthony's big night lifts Nuggets past Raptors
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November 18
Denver Post
 
"Alex English. He raised the bar as high as his retired number hangs in the Pepsi Center rafters. The Nuggets' all-time leading scorer - by 5,000-plus points. He scored bunches in bunches. Now an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors, English was at the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night. What he saw was himself. "The fact that he can score reminds me of me," English said of Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. "Just watching him, he looks stronger than ever. He looks confident." The Nuggets (8-3) torched Toronto 130-112 in a shootout reminiscent of English's glory days in the 1980s - "One of those Doug Moe games, huh," suggested Anthony, who scored a game-high 32 points. Back in the 1985-86 season, ..."
Aching Nuggets still have Melo vs. Toronto tonight
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November 17
Denver Post
 
"Carmelo Anthony is expected to play tonight, though the Nuggets forward has a migraine headache and missed Tuesday morning's shootaround at Pepsi Center. "I think he's going to play tonight," coach George Karl said. "I think there's some pretty serious stuff now for migraines, maybe even a shot." The Nuggets (7-3) host the Raptors (5-5) for the only time this season. The scintillating Anthony is tied for second in the NBA with 29.7 points per game. Nuggets reserve guard Anthony Carter (left hip strain) is questionable, while Karl expects his other three banged-up players to play — Kenyon Martin (left patella tendonitis), Chris Andersen (right patella tendonitis) and Ty Lawson (left calf ..."
Nuggets' J.R. Smith looking A-OK ... on defense
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November 17
Denver Post
 
"Statement-making makes "SportsCenter." A teeth-clenching, clutch 3-pointer. A chest-to-face dunk. A shot swat to the second row. But sometimes, a statement is made amid the basketball whirlwind — a statement so strong, yet so brief, even fervent and focused fans miss it. Such was the case Friday night at the Pepsi Center, when Nuggets guard J.R. Smith entered the game against the Lakers and went right at Kobe Bryant — as a defender. "His very first play he fronted Kobe, instead of waiting for Kobe to kick his butt," Nuggets coach George Karl said of Smith, who slithered in front of Bryant and prevented the all-star from receiving the ball in the low post. "(Smith) knew that he would have ..."
Lakers opponents could follow Nuggets' blueprint
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November 15
L.A. Daily News
 
"After a big victory Thursday night over the Phoenix Suns and an even bigger loss Friday to the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers rested Saturday afternoon. There was no practice, no drills, no running. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he would review the video of their 26-point loss to the Nuggets for clues to their many second-half breakdowns. He said it was the wise thing to do before tonight's game against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. "Oh, without a doubt," he said. What can he learn from it? "Just what guys were tentative about, how (the Nuggets') defense kept us from getting the ball into the post position," Jackson said. "These guys have to learn things like that. The defense Denver ..."
Lakers' big man held in check
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November 14
Denver Post
 
"There is no question that much of the Nuggets' success this season hinges on their ability to handle the NBA's best big men. Friday, they faced an enormous challenge in Andrew Bynum, the Los Angeles Lakers' 7-foot center. And though Bynum, who finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, was hard to handle, the Nuggets held their own against him. He was never a difference-maker. The strategy defensively against Bynum was to throw as many big bodies around him as possible. The Nuggets started out with Nene guarding him and moved to Chris Andersen, who made an appearance with four minutes left in the first quarter. "The kid can play," Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin said of Bynum. "He proved that ..."
Nuggets earn playoff payback
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November 14
Denver Post
 
"On three straight possessions, Denver's J.R. Smith splashed two 3s and swooshed down court for a layup, but it was Smith's next play that had coach George Karl clapping furiously like he was about to scream "Tu-lo!" Late in Friday night's third quarter - a third quarter we'll talk about for months - Smith drew a courageous charge deep in the paint, a play that was the quintessence of the quarter. Up just two points at halftime, the Nuggets outscored the defending champion Lakers 29-8 in the third, breezing to a 105-79 victory at the Pepsi Center. "I think it was the best quarter I've seen our team play against a special team, maybe since I've been in Denver," said Karl. "It was intense, ..."
Nuggets' Lawson views Lakers as a main rival
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November 14
L.A. Daily News
 
"True, the Lakers and the Denver Nuggets have a history, but are they truly rivals? If so, it's been one-sided in recent years, with the Lakers demoralizing Denver in a four-game sweep in the opening round of the 2008 playoffs. The series was such a mismatch that Denver's Kenyon Martin admitted the Nuggets quit during Game 3. Then there was last spring's fiesta, when the Lakers took the Nuggets out in six games in the Western Conference finals. The Nuggets might have beaten the Lakers, but threw the ball away in a pair of crucial situations, costing them dearly. Overall, the Lakers are 5-0 in playoff series against the Nuggets and 17-4 in postseason games against them. The Lakers also led ..."
Lakers lose their air of superiority against Denver
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November 14
L.A. Daily News
 
"They were in fine shape. Trailing by only two points at halftime. Working as hard as their opponent and the mile-high altitude would allow. Then it all went haywire for the Lakers during the wrong kind of record-setting second half, which led to a 105-79 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at the Pepsi Center, ending their six-game winning streak. They couldn't shoot straight. They couldn't handle the basketball. They couldn't play adequate defense. In the end, the Lakers got it only half right - the first half. The Lakers were outscored by an astounding 47-23 in the second half, shooting a meager 22.7 percent (10 for 44) and committing 10 turnovers. Their 23 points broke the ..."
Half measures fail miserably for Lakers
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November 14
Los Angeles Times
 
"Phil Jackson might want to rethink this thing. Before Friday's game, long before the Denver Nuggets thumped the Lakers, pounding them in practically every category in front of an amped-up crowd, Jackson said he didn't consider Denver to be a Western Conference rival. Instinctively, he said the Lakers' main rival was . . . Sacramento? Oh, boy. Hold the cowbells, forget all those cow-town jokes Jackson uttered earlier this decade. The Lakers apparently have a new adversary in the West, in case a 105-79 Nuggets victory didn't prove the point at the Pepsi Center. San Antonio is always looming in the background, and the Lakers haven't won in Portland in forever, but recent history suggests the ..."
Lakers' Ron Artest loses Round 1 to Denver's Carmelo Anthony
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November 14
Los Angeles Times
 
"The Lakers signed Ron Artest for very specific reasons: LeBron James, Paul Pierce and Carmelo Anthony. They wanted a strong small forward to take on the NBA's bigger small forwards. Artest seemed like a good fit. Listed at 6 feet 7 and 260 pounds, he outweighed his predecessor, Trevor Ariza, by 50 pounds and brought a reputation as one of the league's top shut-down defenders. Anthony is listed at 230 pounds, James weighs 250 and Pierce is 235 pounds. Fast forward to Friday, and Artest's first test this season against a top veteran forward. Anthony had been off to a solid start for the Denver Nuggets, averaging 30.2 points, fourth in the league before Friday. Against the Lakers, he had 25 ..."
Nuggets are primed to tangle with Lakers
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November 13
Denver Post
 
"Ty Lawson has played as many regular-season games against the Los Angeles Lakers as, well, you have, dear reader. But ask Lawson about the Lakers, and he sounds like, well, you again. Dude wants to beat L.A. "I'm already ready to beat the Lakers - it's a rivalry," the Nuggets' rookie point guard said this week. "We've got to set a tone early. Last year they beat us in the Western Conference finals, so this year, we're going to set the tone that we're not taking it this year - we're going to get this win." If Lawson feels this way, imagine how his teammates feel. The Lakers return to the Pepsi Center tonight for the first time since seizing the Western Conference crown last May, and while ..."
Karl puts some perspective on a.i situation
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November 12
Denver Post
 
"Allen Iverson is facing the sobering reality that he might never be Allen Iverson again. George Karl always speaks highly about the former Nugget, and the Denver coach provided an interesting perspective about what Iverson's going through (relegated to Memphis' bench and pondering retirement). "My experience with A.I. was always good," Karl said. "What happened with him in Detroit and Memphis, what I always worry about is - I know when my (playing) career was over, and I tore my knee up for the third time, I still thought I could play. It took me at least six months to finally admit it. "Going from whatever level - starter to bench, bench to 13th man, it takes some time, because the thing ..."
Lawson quickly making impact
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November 12
Denver Post
 columnist Benjamin Hochman
"Buck O'Neil, the old baseball sage, famously talked about "that sound" - the bone- chilling crack of Babe Ruth's bat, a sound O'Neil experienced just two other times, from Josh Gibson and Bo Jackson. Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin spoke softly Monday about "that speed" - the in-his-prime pace of point guard Jason Kidd, a speed Martin has experienced again this month while trying to keep up with teammate Ty Lawson. "The kid is able to play," Martin said of Denver's rookie guard. "I played with Jason Kidd, man. Moving that ball, it was unbelievable. (Lawson's) strength is getting the ball up the court, getting into the gaps, making plays." With Lawson coming off the bench, and all-star ..."
Sour end to Nugs' trip in Milwaukee
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November 12
Denver Post
 
"From the mountains to the prairies to the ocean to the beer capital (white with foam), the Nuggets' road trip zigzagged America, ending in Milwaukee, where Chauncey Billups digested Wednesday's 108-102 loss like a bratwurst with way too much sauerkraut. Asked about Denver's 3-3 record on the six-game trip, the point guard said: "That's probably really good for a decent team or a team always trying to get in the playoffs, but for us, I don't think it's good enough, to be honest with you. You take it because you don't have any choice, but I was hoping for 4-2 at the worst, maybe 5-1." The Nuggets (6-3) yearn to win the Western Conference, and they head into Friday's game against the ..."
NBA backs officials' buzzer-loser call against Chicago Bulls
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November 12
Chicago Tribune
 
"Seemingly everyone has seen the replay and expressed an opinion about Brad Miller's overturned potential game-winner Tuesday night against the Nuggets except one important principal: Miller. "Haven't watched it," Miller said Wednesday. The NBA league office has -- and backed its officiating crew. "The review was conducted properly and the right call was made," league spokesman Tim Frank said. Video reviews are supposed to be completed within two minutes. But Frank said crew chief Mark Wunderlich asked if more replay angles were available around the 2-minute mark and officials own the authority to extend reviews. During the roughly one-minute extension -- the review lasted just longer than ..."
Good home cookin'
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November 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"Only six games into the National Basketball Association season, the Milwaukee Bucks aren't about to risk pulling any muscles while trying to pat themselves on the back after a victory. Even so, there might be something to be said about the Bucks' ability to hold off the Denver Nuggets, one of the premier teams in the Western Conference, down the stretch for a 108-102 victory Wednesday night at the Bradley Center. The Bucks lost almost all of a 12-point lead they held early in the fourth quarter, but held off the veteran Nuggets in the closing minutes. "There's still a long ways to go," said center Andrew Bogut. "But I think it's a great stepping stone for us to beat a team that was almost ..."
Nuggets win after clock review
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November 11
The Deseret News
 
"Chauncey Billups hit the go-ahead free throw with six-tenths of a second left and Denver beat Chicago 90-89 on Tuesday night after a potential winning jumper by Brad Miller was overturned following a lengthy replay review. Billups was fouled on a drive and then intentionally missed the second free throw after making the first to break the tie. Chicago's Joakim Noah grabbed the rebound. After a timeout, Miller caught the inbounds pass from Kirk Hinrich and, in one motion, buried a jumper from the top of the key. After a review, the officials ruled time had expired, and the Nuggets snapped a two-game losing streak."
Nuggets win photo finish against Bulls
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November 11
Denver Post
 
"In the city that gave us "Dewey defeats Truman" and penciled the Cubs in the 2003 World Series (before, of course, Bartman), here was the scene at the United Center on Tuesday night: the Bulls celebrating like, as Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups said, "they advanced to the Sweet 16" while the PA system played the song "Another One Bites the Dust." Chicago's Brad Miller had splashed an improbable fadeaway basket at the buzzer, which proved to be, indeed, improbable. The Nuggets beat the Bulls 90-89 because Miller's shot wasn't released in time. And the Nuggets, well, they John Dillinger-ed out of town with a road win in their gym bags. "I was just standing around laughing, looking at their ..."
Another first for Nuggets: Arron Afflalo draws start
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November 11
Denver Post
 
"George Karl wasn't kidding. The Nuggets coach promised he would mix and match his lineups in the early weeks of the season, and Tuesday's lineup was his third - and first featuring newcomer Arron Afflalo at shooting guard. It was Afflalo's first start with Denver, in part because Karl wanted an easy transition to get J.R. Smith into the game. With Smith back from a seven-game suspension, Smith, Anthony Carter and Chris Andersen are together again. "Basically I think (Afflalo has) been good and I want to keep my bench from last year together, giving them a comfort zone to play. And I wanted to get J.R. in the game, and that's the best way to get him in the game with guys he's good at ..."
Nuggets win at Chicago on overturned basket at buzzer
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November 11
Denver Post
 
"The three NBA officials huddled over a television, while an arena held its breath. After nearly four minutes, the surprising call was made - the Nuggets had defeated the Bulls 90-89 at the United Center, by a fingertip. It was the basketball equivalent to winning by a nose. Chicago's Brad Miller launched a jumper at the buzzer Tuesday night. The initial ruling was that the basket was good and the Bulls celebrated like they had won a playoff series. Then the officials ruled that the ball hadn't completely left Miller's hands when time expired, and Denver stole a big road victory. So light up a victory cigar. Nuggets coach George Karl surpassed the legendary Red Auerbach for the eighth- most ..."
Bulls go from ecstasy to agony
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November 11
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"For a moment Tuesday night, the United Center erupted in euphoria as it appeared the Bulls extended their comeback and winning streaks with a miracle finish on a Brad Miller prayer at the buzzer. But after a lengthy review, the officials ruled that Miller's shot came after the buzzer. Instead of a dramatic win, the Bulls had a heartbreaking 90-89 loss to the Denver Nuggets. ''It's such a split-second thing with 0.3 seconds,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''I thought it was good. Truly, I haven't even seen the replay. It's irrelevant. The refs have to make the call. I thought it was good initially.'' The officials refused to comment directly to a pool reporter, but crew chief Mark ..."
Game-winning jumper at buzzer waved off as Chicago Bulls lose 90-89
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November 11
Chicago Tribune
 
"Chauncey Billups didn't just sink the game-winning free throw with 0.6 seconds left Tuesday night at the United Center. The Nuggets' guard also offered up a quote-of-the-year candidate when he colorfully dissed the Bulls' reaction to Brad Miller's subsequent game-winning shot attempt, which officials ruled came after the buzzer following a lengthy video review. "I was laughing because they were dancing and jumping around like they had just made the Sweet 16," Billups said. The wild ending to the Nuggets' 90-89 victory prevented the Bulls from winning their first four home games for the first time since the 1997-98 season. It also wasted Joakim Noah's career-high 21 rebounds, Derrick Rose ..."
History with that Melo fellow
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November 11
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
 
"Nobody has to tell Hakim Warrick about the talents possessed by Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony. The Milwaukee Bucks forward was Anthony's teammate during the 2002-'03 college basketball season, when Warrick was a sophomore and Anthony a gifted freshman at Syracuse. Together they led the Orange on an improbable run to the NCAA championship, before Anthony left school after one season to become the third pick in the 2003 NBA draft. On Wednesday night, the 6-foot-9 Warrick and 6-8 Anthony will be on opposite sides as the Bucks and Nuggets play at the Bradley Center. "I knew he was a great offensive player, but I think he's really expanded his game," Warrick said of Anthony's progress ..."
Who's not J.R.? Nuggets sharpshooter Smith going by Earl
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November 10
Denver Post
 
"His name is Earl. Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has made a decision — from now on, he wants to be called by his given name, Earl. His given name is Earl Smith III, but he got "J.R." because people would call him "junior," even though, yeah, he's actually a third-generation Earl. Regardless, the Denver sharpshooter is now Earl Smith III — which should lead to some cutesy puns about "III" and "3-pointers." "I just felt like changing it," Smith said Tuesday morning at the Nuggets shootaround, in preparation for tonight's Nuggets-Bulls game, Smith's first game back from a seven-game suspension. "It's been a long time, and J.R. has no significance to my name. My name is Earl, so I figured - why ..."
Kenyon Martin eager to return from injury
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November 10
Denver Post
 
"Tonight is the fifth game of the Nuggets' road trip, but Kenyon Martin spoke Monday as if it's the fifth game of a playoff series. "I'm going to play, man — no matter how I feel," said Martin, who sustained a left leg bruise on Friday in Miami. "We lost two games in a row. Bottom line, we've got to stop the bleeding. I think my presence on the court will go a long way." The power forward left the Miami loss in the second quarter, and he watched Saturday's loss at Atlanta from the sideline. Barring any setbacks, he will play tonight at Chicago, where the Nuggets (5-2) have lost the past three seasons. "We've got to get back to playing the way we're capable of playing," said Martin, who is ..."
Crowded lineup welcomes back Nuggets' J.R. Smith from suspension
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November 9
Denver Post
 
"The Nuggets lounged at the Four Seasons Hotel after Friday morning's shootaround, but J.R. Smith remained at the cavernous AmericanAirlines Arena, shooting jumper after jumper in the hear-a-pin-drop-quiet gym, while a maintenance man named Michael attended to the other end of the court. The Nuggets played at 7:30 that night. This shootaround was Smith's game. One assistant coach guarded the sweat-drenched Smith and another set picks — all while assistant Tim Grgurich barked gruff coaching commands like Mick in "Rocky." "Go strong with the legs!" Grgurich thundered to Smith. "Stay low! . . . Yes sir, way to go! . . . Keep working baby, keep working!" The shooting guard, suspended for seven ..."
Report: K-Mart has good news MRI
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November 9
Denver Post
 
"the MRI on Kenyon Martin's left leg didn't reveal a fracture, and so he is day to day with a bruised left fibula. The injury occurred during Friday's loss at Miami, and Karl then worried that Martin could be out for a couple of weeks. "I feel better today than I did yesterday," Martin said Saturday. "I've broken the fibula twice in my right leg, and that's the way (the injury first) felt. . . . But I can tolerate playing. I'm not worried, man." With the defeat to the Hawks (5-2), Denver lost its annual game in Atlanta for the third straight season, and it finished 5-2 in the seven games without suspended guard J.R. Smith, who returns Tuesday at Chicago."
Nuggets lose second straight despite 30 from Carmelo Anthony
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November 8
Denver Post
 
"Once a virile NBA center, veteran Jason Collins now has a body suited for a warm-up suit. The Atlanta reserve is listed at 7-feet, 265 pounds, but the guy looks as big as Savannah. Only on rare occasions does he squeeze out of that suit and tread up and down the court, and that's when you know things are going badly for an opponent. Such was the case Saturday night for the Nuggets, who lost 125-100 and inspired Hawks coach Mike Woodson to play his 12th man during garbage time. Denver's Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups combined for 57 points, sure, but the rest of the fellows totaled just 43 in the team's second consecutive loss, both on the road to talented teams. "No one should feel ..."
Hawks roll past Denver behind Crawford's 25
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November 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"The needle that hovered on empty Friday night indicated a full tank 24 hours later. Saturday night at Philips Arena, the Hawks put a walloping on the Denver Nuggets, attacking them from all angles in an eye-opening 125-100 win. It followed a 20-point loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday, which was the end of a stretch of five games in seven days, three of the games on the West Coast, in which the Hawks were 3-2. "It just shows us overcoming adversity and being able to stay with it and dig out through it," said forward Josh Smith, who had a high-performance night with 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, six blocks and just one turnover."
Count Denver's Karl a Joe Johnson fan
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November 8
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
 
"Denver coach George Karl paid Hawks guard Joe Johnson a compliment by adjusting his starting lineup Saturday night to defend the three-time all-star. Karl gave backup Joey Graham his first start of the season to guard Johnson, who entered the game averaging 21.2 points per game. "I love him," Karl said of Johnson. "He's one of my favorite unsung guys. He's efficient, defensive-minded, he loves to play the best guy defensively and likes the ball in his hands offensively. At the end of the game, he's going to be a defensive problem and an offensive problem.""
Offense absent in Nuggets' first loss
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November 7
InDenverTimes.com
 
"The Denver Nuggets lost their first game of the season Friday night, 96-88, to the Miami Heat in Miami. The game was close in the first quarter, with Denver down by only two, but Miami outscored Denver by 10 points in the second quarter, and the Nuggets lost it from there. The Nuggets were down by as much as 29 points at one point in the third quarter but made a late run and finally got to within eight as time ran out. The only productive Nuggets were Carmelo Anthony, who netted 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Arron Afflalo added 18 points on 7-12 shooting and provided the Nuggets with energy and a spark off the bench. The Nuggets overall offense was flat and pathetic. There was ..."
Melo can't do it by himself, Nuggets lose Martin
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November 7
Denver Post
 
"Well into Friday's second quarter, the Nuggets and Heat were knotted in a nice little game — until the Nuggets suddenly went as flat as a Cuban sandwich. It was a deflating performance by the road team, tied at 33-33 with 5:57 left in the second, but down by 28 late in the third. Denver ultimately lost 96-88, and might have lost Kenyon Martin for a little while too. The power forward suffered a lower left leg contusion in the second quarter and did not return to the game. X-rays taken at halftime were inconclusive, and Martin will undergo an MRI today and sit out tonight's game at Atlanta, Denver coach George Karl said. "The feeling I got is, it might be a week or two weeks, but it won't ..."
Team effort helps Miami Heat knock off Nuggets
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November 7
Miami Herald
 
"The pattern right now is that there is no pattern. And that's a good thing for the Heat. One game after Dwyane Wade scored 40 points against the Washington Wizards in a win, the Heat got a balanced offensive effort and matched the physical play of the Denver Nuggets for a 96-88 victory. It was the Heat's first win against Denver since Dec. 2004, breaking an eight-game losing streak, and the loss was the first of the season for the Nuggets, who came into the game leading the league in scoring at 115.4 points a contest. ``We've been balanced, and it has been different guys each time,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Wade managed to lead the Heat in scoring with 22, but it came on an erratic ..."
Balanced attack pushes Heat past Nuggets, to 5-1 record
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November 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Apparently, Friday nights are about erasing the past. A week ago, the Miami Heat snapped a 17-game losing streak in Indiana with a victory at Conseco Fieldhouse. Friday night, the Heat snapped its eight-game losing streak to the Denver Nuggets with a 96-88 victory over Denver at AmericanAirlines Arena. The common theme to the streak busting? A balanced approach. "That's what we've been trying for," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We feel like we're developing balance, and it's been different guys each game, at times. Guys were very unselfish. There wasn't a lot of one-on-one." No, this was not an encore of Dwyane Wade's 40-point binge Wednesday in Washington. This was the Heat's star guard ..."
Nuggets blow away New Jersey Nets in 2nd half en route to 122-94 win
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November 5
New York Daily News
 
"As the Nets struggled through the third quarter Wednesday night against Denver, their play wasn't as inept as in their previous two games. Actually, it was worse. After leading the Nuggets by a point at halftime, the Nets turned in one of the worst defensive quarters in their history, allowing 44 points in the third on their way to a 122-94 loss in front of 15,319 at the Meadowlands. The Nets played as well as they have all season in the first half but still only led by 51-50 at the break. Chauncey Billups then scored the first seven points of the third quarter to get the Nuggets rolling, and they never stopped. Denver made 17 of its 25 shots in the third, including Carmelo Anthony's ..."
On return, Nuggets' Smith will play from the bench
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November 5
Denver Post
 
"When Nuggets guard J.R. Smith returns from suspension on Nov. 10, he will not immediately start, Nuggets coach George Karl said Wednesday. "Right now, I'm not a big believer that starting him is as important as some people are writing," Karl said. Smith, who served the fifth of a seven-game suspension on Wednesday at New Jersey, has traveled with the team on the current six-game road trip. On days with shootarounds he's taken extra practice doing everything from shooting to playing one-on-one with Nuggets coaches."
Nuggets rout Nets to go 5-0
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November 5
Denver Post
 
"The Nuggets used a big second half to pull away from New Jersey and win their fifth straight to open the season, 122-94, on Wednesday night at the Izod Center. Carmelo Anthony had another subpar first half, only to break out in the second. His night was emblematic of the Nuggets as a whole. The team sprang to life after halftime and used a 26-8 run at the beginning of the third quarter to put the game away. Anthony finished with 22 points on 8-of-24 shooting, 7-of-13 in the second half. Kenyon Martin finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Nene contributed 16 and nine boards."
Nuggets rout Pacers to open road trip
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November 4
Denver Post
 
"Talk about misleading starts. The Nuggets popped the seal off their six-game road trip Tuesday night by going 1-for-7 from the field. Then, they blew the doors off the Pacers. The main events are to come on this Eastern Conference road swing, and this was every bit the tuneup that Tuesday's 111-93 final score indicated. The fans at a sparsely populated Conseco Fieldhouse watched a barrage of shots flow in from all angles, while the Pacers struggled most of the night. "Anytime you start with a win, it snowballs the momentum," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I think we had a good defensive feel for the game all night long.""
Indiana loses its way early, can't rally against Denver
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November 4
Indianapolis Star
 
"Fall behind early. Make a run to try to keep things interesting. Run out of a gas at the end. The Indiana Pacers aren't good enough to fall behind by double digits and expect to come back and win, especially against a team that reached the Western Conference finals last season. They found that out Tuesday night when the Denver Nuggets toyed with them for most of their 111-93 victory over Indiana at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Pacers (0-3), who play the New York Knicks tonight, are one of three remaining winless teams (New Jersey, Golden State). "We've got to find a way to get a win," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said. "The first quarter we didn't make shots that we've made the last couple of ..."
Melo ready for rumble with ex-teammate Jones
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November 3
Denver Post
 
"For a few moments before and after tonight's game against Indiana, Dahntay Jones' 4-year-old son will steal the show in the Nuggets locker room, where last season he was a team favorite. During the game, Jones will try to steal the show from Carmelo Anthony. Anthony got a taste of Jones' tactics in two preseason games this season and says he'll be ready for it tonight when the Nuggets begin their six-game road trip at Indiana. Things got a bit heated when the two squared off in Beijing and Taiwan last month. Anthony, who scored 45 points in the second of the two exhibition games against the Pacers, shrugged it off. "It got a little chippy. That's him though," Anthony said. "That's his ..."