Billups spoils spirited effort from depleted Warriors
Chauncey Billups & Monta Ellis were locked in an epic point guard duel up through the final minute of overtime Wednesday night at Oakland’s Oracle Arena. The cagey veteran versus the quick, versatile 24-year old Golden State quarterback.
In the end, Chauncey calmly put down OT threes and buried clutch free throws. Ellis’ would-be tying FT clanged off the rim with half a minute to play, and the Nuggets rolled through the injury-depleted Warriors despite a shaky night from Carmelo Anthony.
After a questionable last-second foul gave JR Smith three free throws and the Nuggets a narrow win earlier this month in Denver, Golden State must be wondering what they need to do to beat Billups & the boys. The Nuggets trailed much of this game, finally surpassing the Warriors late in the fourth quarter. A 105-105 mark at the end regulation led to Billups’ overtime heroics.
This California win was a big one for the road-wary Nuggets, who had lost seven of their last eight games away from Pepsi Center. Denver also stayed two steps ahead of the Portland Trailblazers in the tense Northwest Division.
Ellis, in his fourth season, almost edged the experienced Billups. The two players’ state lines were eerily similar.
 |
 |
||||
|
|
