GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW ORLEANS (2-0) at DENVER (2-0)

NBA: NEW ORLEANS (2-0) at DENVER (2-0)

<h3>Paul, Hornets travel to face Iverson, Nuggets</h3>

<div class="pre">New Orleans (2-0) at Denver (2-0) 8:00 pm EDT</div>

DENVER (Ticker) -- The New Orleans Hornets and the Denver Nuggetsare off to hot starts, thanks in large part to the success oftheir perimeter players.


The Hornets will try to keep their shooting strokes sharp whenthey visit the Nuggets on Sunday.


New Orleans has gotten impressive play in its first two gamesfrom point guard Chris Paul. A career 43.6 percent shooter,Paul has connected on 64 percent of his attempts in the season'sfirst two games, totaling 41 points to go along with 18assists.


Paul has been aided by the return of sharpshooter PejaStojakovic, who missed all but 13 games last season due to aback injury. The veteran forward has knocked down four3-pointers in each of the first two games.


The Hornets connected on 11 shots from the arc in Friday's113-93 victory over Portland.


Denver has surged to a 2-0 start on the broad shoulders ofsuperstar duo Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony. Iversonstruggled with his shooting touch in the opener - a 120-103victory over Seattle - but compensated with his abilities as adistributor to finish with 25 points and 14 assists.

Anthony, who had 32 points against the SuperSonics, keyed theNuggets' 99-91 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Fridaywith 11 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter.


Denver has been able to get out and run in the open floorbecause of the inside play of center Marcus Camby, who isaveraging 18 rebounds a game in the early going.


The Nuggets split the four-game season series with New Orleanslast season.

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS AT DENVER - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


NEW ORLEANS DENVER

F Peja Stojakovic F Kenyon Martin
F David West F Carmelo Anthony
C Tyson Chandler C Marcus Camby
G Morris Peterson G Allen Iverson
G Chris Paul G Yakhouba Diawara

OFFICIALS: Ron Garretson
Leon Wood
Mark Ayotte</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 2
DENVER 2 8:44 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 4
DENVER 7 5:59 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 8
DENVER 17 2:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 14
DENVER 21 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 14 14
DENVER 21 21 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

NOR - BOBBY JACKSON 3, CHRIS PAUL 3, PEJA
STOJAKOVIC 2
DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 7, CARMELO ANTHONY 7,
KENYON MARTIN 4</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 21
DENVER 29 8:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 31
DENVER 34 5:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 41
DENVER 40 2:54 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 48
DENVER 49 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 14 34 48
DENVER 21 28 49 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

NOR - BOBBY JACKSON 10, DAVID WEST 10, CHRIS
PAUL 8
DEN - CARMELO ANTHONY 13, ALLEN IVERSON 12,
NENE 7</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 57
DENVER 52 8:53 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 65
DENVER 60 5:35 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 71
DENVER 62 2:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 73
DENVER 69 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 14 34 25 73
DENVER 21 28 20 69 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

NOR - MORRIS PETERSON 12, TYSON CHANDLER 12,
DAVID WEST 12
DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 18, CARMELO ANTHONY 16,
KENYON MARTIN 9</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 81
DENVER 71 8:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 86
DENVER 75 5:52 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 89
DENVER 82 2:30 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>