(Denver-CO) I knew this game was about as sure of a sports betting lock as they come from about two minutes into the second half. The Nuggets completely blew the Oklahoma City Thunder away tonight, 119-90, by means of a 31-12 third quarter to kick-off their current three game homestand with a much needed win. Kevin Durant scored just 19 points as the Denver defense held him under 20 points for the first time in 2010.
Carmelo Anthony jumped out to a quick start offensively with 15 points in the first quarter. ‘Melo, who took fluids intravenously early today, said he hadn’t felt like himself in the last few days.
The fluids must have worked.
Carmelo finished the first half with 23 points before concluding tonight’s game with 30 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block while playing sparing minutes in the fourth quarter.
The Nuggets led by seven after one quarter of play and extended their lead to 15 points midway through the second quarter after an alley-oop from Anthony Carter to the Birdman and a dunk by Nene. From that point on, the Nuggets only let their lead dip below double figures once before entering halftime up, 61-52, after Russell Westbrook took a defensive rebound 90 feet in the final three seconds to close out the first 24 minutes of action.
It’s at this point that I could start singing the praises of George Karl’s scheme to disrupt Durant by sending various different defensive looks ranging from the strength and size of Kenyon Martin to the speed of Arron Afflalo. But, Karl’s plot to foil one of the best scorers the league has today was just beginning to take form despite Durant scoring 16 points in the first half. In all reality, it wasn’t until the second half that Karl’s plan completely took over.
The Nuggets allowed Durant to covert just 1-4 field goals in the third quarter while limiting the Thunder to their lowest point total in a quarter so far this season (12). Durant, who also committed two turnovers in the third quarter, continued to struggle as Denver poured on 31 points on the other end. Durant finished with just three points in the second half and without him the Cinderella team from OKC lost it’s thunder.
I mentioned in my last recap that this team, when playing as one, is one of the best in the league and no quarter of play in the last handful of games proves my point more than the third quarter against the Thunder. Forget about only allowing twelve points for a minute while focusing on the fact that Denver was 10-23 from the field in the third quarter and ten of those buckets were assisted. That’s Denver basketball at its finest, Nuggets Nation. When guys are sharing the basketball, turning down good shots for better shots, forcing seven turnovers in the third quarter alone, and overall just playing for each other this team is as dangerous as any in the league. The Nuggets, even without the Thunder going completely dead offensively, were out to put a drumming on whoever was going to show up in the third quarter by playing the game the right way.
The Denver lead quickly ballooned to 30 points in the first minute of the fourth quarter and the Nuggets did push things to 40-points, 106-66, before pulling their starters after a 10-0 run..
Nene scored 20 points on 9-13 from the field, Chauncey Billups finished with 13 points and five dimes in only 25 minutes of burn, and J.R. Smith led the Denver reserves with 18 points and two steals.
The Indiana Pacers pay the Nuggets a visit on Friday night before the division rival Portland Trailblazers storm the Pepsi Center on Sunday.
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