Nuggets going strong, continue best start since joining the NBA
Melo goes to the rack against PHX.
After breaking even during a four game road trip, Denver fans jolted the jet-lagged Nuggets awake over three raucous home games. The Nuggets faithful were rewarded with an alert, locked-’n-loaded squad fixated on a home court stand.
Melo and the Nuggets played host to three teams in five days at the Pepsi Center, and would not be bested by any opposition.
On Saturday, December 12th Denver hosted the rising Phoenix Suns, who came to burn the Nuggets’ nets. Instead they froze in the headlights.
After scrambling just to survive the 1st half, Denver found the right juice to fuel their fire and came out rejuvinated in the 2nd half. Chauncey Billups found his range to help Denver fly out of the gates with a 3rd quarter 18-2 run. Kenyon Martin was finally able to find a full size “Hello Kitty” bandage to cover his booboo, and he supported his team with 12 points and 9 boards. Melo did his usual damage to the Suns, cranking out 32 points. With a strong 2nd half game, Denver was able to eclipse the Suns 105-99.
With a days’ rest, the Nuggets were back on the home floor awaiting the roller-coaster team that is the Oklahoma City Thunder. No need for me to tease you with this one; at no point in this game was Denver in any danger of falling to a tender young Thunder squad.
Chris “Birdman” Anderson laid a giant golden egg with his best outing of the year, scoring 15 points and perching above the rim to collect 11 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony again maintained his average, spotting 31 points for the Nuggets as they blew through the Thunder 102-93.
To conclude the 3-day homestand, Denver locked onto the visiting Houston Rockets Wednesday night. With no threat of Ming in the paint and little ‘trace’ of McGrady, the Nuggets big men Nene, Martin and Anderson found plenty of space to work around the rim. While Denver was never really threatened in the game, Houston kept the spread close and managed the occasional tie. However, the Rockets found no answer for the sharp shooting JR “Earl” Smith (21 points) or the maturing Melo (38 points).
It was refreshing to see Nene attack the rim and create contact in the paint; maybe the confidence he needs to be consistently productive finally came through.
Billups left the game in the 3rd quarter due to a groin injury after scoring 15 points.
Houston was hot, coming into Denver on a three-game winning streak, but the Nuggets prevented a Houston problem, beating the Rockets 111-101.
Sitting at 19-7 and gaining altitude atop the Northwest Division, Denver will head back on the road to visit the New Orleans Hornets on December 18th. From there, the Nuggets head slightly north to meet the Grizzlies in Memphis on December 20th.
