GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: DENVER (2-1) at NEW YORK (1-1)

NBA: DENVER (2-1) at NEW YORK (1-1)

<h3>Nuggets return to scene of December brawl</h3>

<div class="pre">Denver (2-1) at New York (1-1) 7:30 pm EST</div>

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- When the Denver Nuggets last visited MadisonSquare Garden, the repercussions were felt throughout the NBA.

The Nuggets begin a four-game road trip through the EasternConference when they meet the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

On December 16, 2006, in the final minutes of a 123-100 blowoutwin over New York, Denver coach George Karl elected to keep fourstarters in the game with just over a minute remaining. Duringa break, Knicks coach Isiah Thomas warned Nuggets star forwardCarmelo Anthony that Denver should be wary of driving to thebasket.


Shortly thereafter, then-New York forward Mardy Collins tookex-Denver guard J.R. Smith down by the neck on a drive into thelane, leading to a confrontation between the two. Knicks guardNate Robinson jumped in to pull Smith away but was pushed awayby Anthony, and Robinson and Smith then tumbled into the frontrow of seats while fighting.


As the fireworks looks to be subsiding, Anthony landed a punchthat on Collins that escalated the emotions. All in all, tenplayers were ejected and seven were suspended, including Anthonyfor 15 games.


Less than three days after the incident, the Nuggets traded forPhiladelphia guard Allen Iverson to make up for some of thescoring that was lost when Anthony was suspended. In the 48regular-season games since Denver were able to pair up Anthonyand Iverson for the first time on January 22, the Nuggets are27-21.


The Knicks will be looking to win two of three games to open theseason for the first time since the 2000-01 season - the lastcampaign they were able to manage a winning record.

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

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


DENVER NEW YORK

F Carmelo Anthony F Zach Randolph
F Nene F Quentin Richardson
C Marcus Camby C Eddy Curry
G Allen Iverson G Jamal Crawford
G Linas Kleiza G Stephon Marbury

OFFICIALS: Derrick Stafford
Orlandis Poole
Brian Forte</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">DENVER VS NEW YORK - INACTIVES

DENVER NEW YORK

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
R MORRIS COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">DENVER VS NEW YORK - INACTIVES

DENVER NEW YORK

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
A CARTER HAND INJURY J JAMES KNEE INJURY
C ATKINS GROIN PULL J JEFFRIES KNEE INJURY
M WILKS HAMSTRING INJURY R MORRIS COACH'S DECISION</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 8
NEW YORK 9 8:42 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 17
NEW YORK 14 5:50 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 24
NEW YORK 24 3:05 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 37 37
NEW YORK 32 32 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

DEN - LINAS KLEIZA 12, ALLEN IVERSON 11,
CARMELO ANTHONY 5
NYK - STEPHON MARBURY 8, THREE PLAYERS WITH 5</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 37
NEW YORK 32 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 44
NEW YORK 34 9:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 50
NEW YORK 39 6:09 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 59
NEW YORK 56 2:59 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 65
NEW YORK 60 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 37 28 65
NEW YORK 32 28 60 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 17, CARMELO ANTHONY 14,
LINAS KLEIZA 12
NYK - EDDY CURRY 15, STEPHON MARBURY 12, JAMAL
CRAWFORD 12</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NBA DENVER 66
NEW YORK 60 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
DENVER 37 29 66
NEW YORK 32 28 60 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

DEN - ALLEN IVERSON 17, CARMELO ANTHONY 14,
LINAS KLEIZA 12
NYK - EDDY CURRY 15, STEPHON MARBURY 12, JAMAL
CRAWFORD 12</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 71
NEW YORK 62 9:05 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 81
NEW YORK 76 5:44 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 83
NEW YORK 82 2:46 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: DENVER at NEW YORK

<div class="pre">NBA DENVER 92
NEW YORK 82 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>