GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW ORLEANS (14-7) at DENVER (13-8)

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 96
DENVER 99 2:44 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 99
DENVER 101 0:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS 99
DENVER 105 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW ORLEANS 27 32 22 18 99
DENVER 24 27 26 28 105 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: NOR - CHRIS PAUL 30, DAVID WEST 25, RASUAL
BUTLER 18
DEN - CARMELO ANTHONY 32, ALLEN IVERSON 22,
MARCUS CAMBY 17</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
NEW ORLEANS 99
DENVER 105 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS (99) AT DENVER (105)

NEW ORLEANS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C PAUL G 37:12 12-20 5-6 0 4 4 12 4 1 5 30
J PARGO G 37:45 4-17 1-1 0 2 2 2 4 0 2 10
D WEST F 41:38 12-23 1-1 3 13 16 5 3 5 5 25
R BUTLER F 41:39 6-11 2-3 2 3 5 3 3 0 0 18
T CHANDLER C 30:24 2-4 1-2 6 3 9 0 5 1 3 5
B JACKSON 21:03 3-5 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 1 1 7
H ARMSTRONG 14:09 0-2 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 0 0 0
J WRIGHT 10:24 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2
M ELY 5:46 0-1 2-2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 2

TOTALS 240:00 40-85 12-15 11 30 41 25 28 9 17 99
(.471) (.800) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 18 (0 PTS)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A CARTER G 28:25 6-9 0-0 0 1 1 5 3 1 1 13
A IVERSON G 44:48 8-16 6-6 0 3 3 11 2 2 3 22
K MARTIN F 35:27 4-5 3-5 1 7 8 0 1 2 2 11
C ANTHONY F 40:25 10-28 11-13 4 6 10 1 4 1 5 32
M CAMBY C 37:44 6-13 2-2 4 11 15 4 2 2 0 14
L KLEIZA 16:19 1-4 0-0 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 3
J SMITH 8:08 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 0
Y DIAWARA 6:11 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
E NAJERA 22:33 4-5 0-1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 10

TOTALS 240:00 39-84 22-27 10 33 43 25 19 9 13 105
(.464) (.815) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 13 (0 PTS)

NEW ORLEANS 27 32 22 18 - 99
DENVER 24 27 26 28 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW ORLEANS - R BUTLER 2, D WEST. DENVER - M CAMBY 4,
A CARTER 2, K MARTIN, L KLEIZA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW ORLEANS 7-19 (.368), C PAUL 1-6, J PARGO 1-
3, D WEST 0-2, R BUTLER 4-7, B JACKSON 1-1. DENVER 5-13 (.385), A CARTER 1-
2, A IVERSON 0-2, C ANTHONY 1-1, L KLEIZA 1-4, J SMITH 0-1, Y DIAWARA 0-
1, E NAJERA 2-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - A CARTER, E NAJERA, K MARTIN.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JACK NIES, JOHN GOBEL, RODNEY MOTT.
A - 13,337. T - 2:12.</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS (99)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Paul 37:12 12-20 5-6 0-4 12 4 30
J Pargo 37:45 4-17 1-1 0-2 2 4 10
D West 41:38 12-23 1-1 3-16 5 3 25
R Butler 41:39 6-11 2-3 2-5 3 3 18
T Chandler 30:24 2-4 1-2 6-9 0 5 5
B Jackson 21:03 3-5 0-0 0-2 1 3 7
H Armstrong 14:09 0-2 0-0 0-2 1 3 0
J Wright 10:24 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 2
M Ely 5:46 0-1 2-2 0-1 0 1 2

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-85 12-15 11-41 25 28 99
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.471, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (C Paul 1-6, J Pargo 1-3, D West
0-2, R Butler 4-7, B Jackson 1-1). Team
Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:3 (R Butler 2, D
West). Turnovers:17 (D West 5, C Paul 5, T
Chandler 3, J Pargo 2, B Jackson, M Ely).
Steals: 9 (D West 5, B Jackson, M Ely, C
Paul, T Chandler).


DENVER (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Carter 28:25 6-9 0-0 0-1 5 3 13
A Iverson 44:48 8-16 6-6 0-3 11 2 22
K Martin 35:27 4-5 3-5 1-8 0 1 11
C Anthony 40:25 10-28 11-13 4-10 1 4 32
M Camby 37:44 6-13 2-2 4-15 4 2 14
L Kleiza 16:19 1-4 0-0 0-3 2 3 3
J Smith 8:08 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 2 0
Y Diawara 6:11 0-3 0-0 1-2 1 0 0
E Najera 22:33 4-5 0-1 0-1 0 2 10

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-84 22-27 10-43 25 19 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.464, FT-.815. 3-Point Goals:
5-13, .385 (A Carter 1-2, A Iverson 0-2, C
Anthony 1-1, L Kleiza 1-4, J Smith 0-1, Y
Diawara 0-1, E Najera 2-2). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:8 (M Camby 4, A Carter 2, K
Martin, L Kleiza). Turnovers:13 (C Anthony 5,
A Iverson 3, K Martin 2, J Smith 2, A
Carter). Steals: 9 (M Camby 2, A Iverson 2, K
Martin 2, A Carter, E Najera, C Anthony).

-------------------------------------------
NEW ORLEANS 27 32 22 18 - 99
DENVER 24 27 26 28 - 105
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Denver - 3 (A Carter, 6:41
1st; E Najera, 1:01 2nd; K Martin, 9:40 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 13,337. T: 2:12.
Officials: Jack Nies, John Gobel, Rodney Mott.</div>

 

DENVER (Ticker) -- Allen Iverson deferred to Carmelo Anthony inthe fourth quarter. It couldn't have worked out better for theDenver Nuggets.


Anthony scored 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter andIverson added 22 and 11 assists as the Nuggets held off thered-hot New Orleans Hornets with a 105-99 victory at PepsiCenter on Wednesday night.


Marcus Camby scored 14 points, including a crucial putback inthe final minutes, and grabbed 15 rebounds for Denver, whichoutscored New Orleans, 28-18, in the final period to secure thevictory.


Anthony netted 12 of his team's final 14 points, including athree-point play in transition to make it 104-99 with 38.4seconds left. The All-Star forward capped his output andprovided the final margin with a free throw with 20 ticks left.

The 6-8, 230-pounder shot 10-of-28, including 5-of-8 in thefourth quarter for the Nuggets, who have won three straight andsix of their last seven contests. But it did not look goodearly.


The Hornets led, 81-77, after three quarters thanks to theinside-outside combination of Chris Paul and David West. NewOrleans was 11-0 this season when leading at the end of thethird.


Anthony put an end to that in the final 12 minutes as theNuggets took their biggest lead to that point when his dunk madeit 97-92 with 3:55 left. Iverson created the play with a niftysteal and passed to his superstar teammate on a 3-on-1 fastbreak.


New Orleans tied the game on Paul's 3-pointer with 1:57remaining, but Camby's acrobatic putback with 1:41 left gaveDenver the lead for good.


Iverson was 8-of-16 and Camby finished 6-of-13 for the Nuggets,who shot 47 percent (40-of-85) from the field, including 7-of-19from the arc.


Paul collected 30 points and 12 assists and West added 25 and 16rebounds for the Hornets, who suffered just their second lossin their last seven games.

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS (99) AT DENVER (105)

NEW ORLEANS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C PAUL G 37:12 12-20 5-6 0 4 4 12 4 1 5 30
J PARGO G 37:45 4-17 1-1 0 2 2 2 4 0 2 10
D WEST F 41:38 12-23 1-1 3 13 16 5 3 5 5 25
R BUTLER F 41:39 6-11 2-3 2 3 5 3 3 0 0 18
T CHANDLER C 30:24 2-4 1-2 6 3 9 0 5 1 3 5
B JACKSON 21:03 3-5 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 1 1 7
H ARMSTRONG 14:09 0-2 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 0 0 0
J WRIGHT 10:24 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2
M ELY 5:46 0-1 2-2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 2
M VINICIUS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 40-85 12-15 11 30 41 25 28 9 17 99
(.471) (.800) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 18 (20 PTS)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A CARTER G 28:25 6-9 0-0 0 1 1 5 3 1 1 13
A IVERSON G 44:48 8-16 6-6 0 3 3 11 2 2 3 22
K MARTIN F 35:27 4-5 3-5 1 7 8 0 1 2 2 11
C ANTHONY F 40:25 10-28 11-13 4 6 10 1 4 1 5 32
M CAMBY C 37:44 6-13 2-2 4 11 15 4 2 2 0 14
L KLEIZA 16:19 1-4 0-0 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 3
J SMITH 8:08 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 0
Y DIAWARA 6:11 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
E NAJERA 22:33 4-5 0-1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 10
J MCCOY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B JONES DNP - COACH'S DECISION
V WAFER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 39-84 22-27 10 33 43 25 19 9 13 105
(.464) (.815) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 13 (19 PTS)

NEW ORLEANS 27 32 22 18 - 99
DENVER 24 27 26 28 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW ORLEANS - R BUTLER 2, D WEST. DENVER - M CAMBY 4,
A CARTER 2, K MARTIN, L KLEIZA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW ORLEANS 7-19 (.368), C PAUL 1-6, J PARGO 1-
3, D WEST 0-2, R BUTLER 4-7, B JACKSON 1-1. DENVER 5-13 (.385), A CARTER 1-
2, A IVERSON 0-2, C ANTHONY 1-1, L KLEIZA 1-4, J SMITH 0-1, Y DIAWARA 0-
1, E NAJERA 2-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - A CARTER, E NAJERA, K MARTIN.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JACK NIES, JOHN GOBEL, RODNEY MOTT.
A - 13,337. T - 2:12.</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS (99)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Paul 37:12 12-20 5-6 0-4 12 4 30
J Pargo 37:45 4-17 1-1 0-2 2 4 10
D West 41:38 12-23 1-1 3-16 5 3 25
R Butler 41:39 6-11 2-3 2-5 3 3 18
T Chandler 30:24 2-4 1-2 6-9 0 5 5
B Jackson 21:03 3-5 0-0 0-2 1 3 7
H Armstrong 14:09 0-2 0-0 0-2 1 3 0
J Wright 10:24 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 2
M Ely 5:46 0-1 2-2 0-1 0 1 2
M Vinicius DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-85 12-15 11-41 25 28 99
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.471, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (C Paul 1-6, J Pargo 1-3, D West
0-2, R Butler 4-7, B Jackson 1-1). Team
Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:3 (R Butler 2, D
West). Turnovers:17 (D West 5, C Paul 5, T
Chandler 3, J Pargo 2, B Jackson, M Ely).
Steals: 9 (D West 5, B Jackson, M Ely, C
Paul, T Chandler).


DENVER (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Carter 28:25 6-9 0-0 0-1 5 3 13
A Iverson 44:48 8-16 6-6 0-3 11 2 22
K Martin 35:27 4-5 3-5 1-8 0 1 11
C Anthony 40:25 10-28 11-13 4-10 1 4 32
M Camby 37:44 6-13 2-2 4-15 4 2 14
L Kleiza 16:19 1-4 0-0 0-3 2 3 3
J Smith 8:08 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 2 0
Y Diawara 6:11 0-3 0-0 1-2 1 0 0
E Najera 22:33 4-5 0-1 0-1 0 2 10
J McCoy DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B Jones DNP - COACH'S DECISION
V Wafer DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-84 22-27 10-43 25 19 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.464, FT-.815. 3-Point Goals:
5-13, .385 (A Carter 1-2, A Iverson 0-2, C
Anthony 1-1, L Kleiza 1-4, J Smith 0-1, Y
Diawara 0-1, E Najera 2-2). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:8 (M Camby 4, A Carter 2, K
Martin, L Kleiza). Turnovers:13 (C Anthony 5,
A Iverson 3, K Martin 2, J Smith 2, A
Carter). Steals: 9 (M Camby 2, A Iverson 2, K
Martin 2, A Carter, E Najera, C Anthony).

-------------------------------------------
NEW ORLEANS 27 32 22 18 - 99
DENVER 24 27 26 28 - 105
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Denver - 3 (A Carter, 6:41
1st; E Najera, 1:01 2nd; K Martin, 9:40 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 13,337. T: 2:12.
Officials: Jack Nies, John Gobel, Rodney Mott.</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NBA NEW ORLEANS AT DENVER
NOTE: RESENDING BOX TO CORRECT POINTS OFF TURNOVERS.</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS (99) AT DENVER (105)

NEW ORLEANS

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

C PAUL G 37:12 12-20 5-6 0 4 4 12 4 1 5 30
J PARGO G 37:45 4-17 1-1 0 2 2 2 4 0 2 10
D WEST F 41:38 12-23 1-1 3 13 16 5 3 5 5 25
R BUTLER F 41:39 6-11 2-3 2 3 5 3 3 0 0 18
T CHANDLER C 30:24 2-4 1-2 6 3 9 0 5 1 3 5
B JACKSON 21:03 3-5 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 1 1 7
H ARMSTRONG 14:09 0-2 0-0 0 2 2 1 3 0 0 0
J WRIGHT 10:24 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2
M ELY 5:46 0-1 2-2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 2
M VINICIUS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 40-85 12-15 11 30 41 25 28 9 17 99
(.471) (.800) TEAM REBS: 5 TOTAL TO: 18 (20 PTS)

DENVER

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

A CARTER G 28:25 6-9 0-0 0 1 1 5 3 1 1 13
A IVERSON G 44:48 8-16 6-6 0 3 3 11 2 2 3 22
K MARTIN F 35:27 4-5 3-5 1 7 8 0 1 2 2 11
C ANTHONY F 40:25 10-28 11-13 4 6 10 1 4 1 5 32
M CAMBY C 37:44 6-13 2-2 4 11 15 4 2 2 0 14
L KLEIZA 16:19 1-4 0-0 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 3
J SMITH 8:08 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 0
Y DIAWARA 6:11 0-3 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
E NAJERA 22:33 4-5 0-1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 10
J MCCOY DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B JONES DNP - COACH'S DECISION
V WAFER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 39-84 22-27 10 33 43 25 19 9 13 105
(.464) (.815) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 13 (19 PTS)

NEW ORLEANS 27 32 22 18 - 99
DENVER 24 27 26 28 - 105

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW ORLEANS - R BUTLER 2, D WEST. DENVER - M CAMBY 4,
A CARTER 2, K MARTIN, L KLEIZA.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW ORLEANS 7-19 (.368), C PAUL 1-6, J PARGO 1-
3, D WEST 0-2, R BUTLER 4-7, B JACKSON 1-1. DENVER 5-13 (.385), A CARTER 1-
2, A IVERSON 0-2, C ANTHONY 1-1, L KLEIZA 1-4, J SMITH 0-1, Y DIAWARA 0-
1, E NAJERA 2-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: DENVER - A CARTER, E NAJERA, K MARTIN.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JACK NIES, JOHN GOBEL, RODNEY MOTT.
A - 13,337. T - 2:12.</div>

 

NBA: NEW ORLEANS at DENVER

<div class="pre">NEW ORLEANS (99)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
C Paul 37:12 12-20 5-6 0-4 12 4 30
J Pargo 37:45 4-17 1-1 0-2 2 4 10
D West 41:38 12-23 1-1 3-16 5 3 25
R Butler 41:39 6-11 2-3 2-5 3 3 18
T Chandler 30:24 2-4 1-2 6-9 0 5 5
B Jackson 21:03 3-5 0-0 0-2 1 3 7
H Armstrong 14:09 0-2 0-0 0-2 1 3 0
J Wright 10:24 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 2
M Ely 5:46 0-1 2-2 0-1 0 1 2
M Vinicius DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 40-85 12-15 11-41 25 28 99
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.471, FT-.800. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (C Paul 1-6, J Pargo 1-3, D West
0-2, R Butler 4-7, B Jackson 1-1). Team
Rebounds: 5. Blocked Shots:3 (R Butler 2, D
West). Turnovers:17 (D West 5, C Paul 5, T
Chandler 3, J Pargo 2, B Jackson, M Ely).
Steals: 9 (D West 5, B Jackson, M Ely, C
Paul, T Chandler).


DENVER (105)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Carter 28:25 6-9 0-0 0-1 5 3 13
A Iverson 44:48 8-16 6-6 0-3 11 2 22
K Martin 35:27 4-5 3-5 1-8 0 1 11
C Anthony 40:25 10-28 11-13 4-10 1 4 32
M Camby 37:44 6-13 2-2 4-15 4 2 14
L Kleiza 16:19 1-4 0-0 0-3 2 3 3
J Smith 8:08 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 2 0
Y Diawara 6:11 0-3 0-0 1-2 1 0 0
E Najera 22:33 4-5 0-1 0-1 0 2 10
J McCoy DNP - COACH'S DECISION
B Jones DNP - COACH'S DECISION
V Wafer DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 39-84 22-27 10-43 25 19 105
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.464, FT-.815. 3-Point Goals:
5-13, .385 (A Carter 1-2, A Iverson 0-2, C
Anthony 1-1, L Kleiza 1-4, J Smith 0-1, Y
Diawara 0-1, E Najera 2-2). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:8 (M Camby 4, A Carter 2, K
Martin, L Kleiza). Turnovers:13 (C Anthony 5,
A Iverson 3, K Martin 2, J Smith 2, A
Carter). Steals: 9 (M Camby 2, A Iverson 2, K
Martin 2, A Carter, E Najera, C Anthony).

-------------------------------------------
NEW ORLEANS 27 32 22 18 - 99
DENVER 24 27 26 28 - 105
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Denver - 3 (A Carter, 6:42
1st; E Najera, 1:02 2nd; K Martin, 9:40 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 13,337. T: 2:12.
Officials: Jack Nies, John Gobel, Rodney Mott.</div>

 

DENVER (Ticker) -- Allen Iverson deferred to Carmelo Anthony inthe fourth quarter. It couldn't have worked out better for theDenver Nuggets.


Anthony scored 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter andIverson added 22 and 11 assists as the Nuggets held off thered-hot New Orleans Hornets with a 105-99 victory at PepsiCenter on Wednesday night.


Marcus Camby scored 14 points, including a crucial putback inthe final minutes, and grabbed 15 rebounds for Denver, whichoutscored New Orleans, 28-18, in the final period to secure thevictory.


Anthony netted 12 of his team's final 14 points, including athree-point play in transition to make it 104-99 with 38.4seconds left. The All-Star forward capped his output andprovided the final margin with a free throw with 21 ticks left.

"I was just praying that my shots went in," Anthony said. "Myshot has been off for the last week. I just kept going to theglass and tried to get a little confidence back."


The 6-8, 230-pounder shot 10-of-28, including 5-of-8 in thefourth quarter for the Nuggets, who have won three straight andsix of their last seven contests. But it did not look goodearly.


"This was a tough win for us," Anthony said. "We played greatdefense the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, and that iswhat won this game."


The Hornets led, 81-77, after three quarters thanks to theinside-outside combination of Chris Paul and David West. NewOrleans was 11-0 this season when leading at the end of thethird.


"In the fourth quarter, they really picked up the intensity,"Paul said of the Nuggets. "We matched them to a certain extent,but in the last five minutes we couldn't contain them. Thereis no way a team should shoot that many free throws."

Anthony put an end to that in the final 12 minutes as theNuggets took their biggest lead to that point when his dunk madeit 97-92 with 3:55 left. Iverson created the play with a niftysteal and passed to his superstar teammate on a 3-on-1fast break.


"We did whatever it took to win tonight," Iverson said. "Ourenergy level was high and this was just a great team effort.Everybody on the floor contributed to what we did tonight."

New Orleans tied the game on Paul's 3-pointer with 1:57remaining, but Camby's acrobatic putback with 1:41 left gaveDenver the lead for good.


"We just seemed a little sluggish and we seemed out of gas,"Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "We had two guys boxing out andsomehow Camby tips in the ball. I give them credit for beingmore aggressive."


Iverson was 8-of-16 and Camby finished 6-of-13 for the Nuggets,who shot 47 percent (40-of-85) from the field, including 7-of-19from the arc.


"We weren't playing our game in the first half," Nuggets coachGeorge Karl said. "We were much more aggressive in the fourth.I thought this was one of our best wins of the year."

Paul collected 30 points and 12 assists and West added 25 and 16rebounds for the Hornets, who suffered just their second lossin their last seven games.