Billups helps Nuggets rally past Wolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—Chauncey Billups(notes) scored 25 points and got a huge lift fromrole players Chris Andersen(notes), Nene and J.R. Smith(notes) in the Denver Nuggets’ 110-102victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
Andersen had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Nene had 17 points and nine boardsand Smith scored 15 to shake the Nuggets out a first-half funk and deliver theirfourth straight win.
Al Jefferson(notes) had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who losttheir seventh straight game and 13th in the last 14. Minnesota has won oncesince Feb. 6.
Minnesota Timberwolves' Da… AP – Mar 10, 11:26 pm EST ![]()
Minnesota Timberwolves' Ra… AP – Mar 10, 11:24 pm EST ![]()
Denver Nuggets' Nene, righ… AP – Mar 10, 11:09 pm EST ![]()
Denver Nuggets' Chauncey B… AP – Mar 10, 11:05 pm EST ![]()
Denver Nuggets' Johan Petr… AP – Mar 10, 11:03 pm EST ![]()
Minnesota Timberwolves' Co… AP – Mar 10, 10:58 pm EST ![]()
Minnesota Timberwolves' Ra… AP – Mar 10, 10:47 pm EST ![]()
Denver Nuggets' Carmelo An… AP – Mar 10, 9:02 pm EST ![]()
Denver Nuggets' Johan Petr… AP – Mar 10, 8:58 pm EST ![]()
Denver Nuggets' Carmelo An… AP – Mar 10, 8:53 pm EST ![]()
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Minnesota led for much of the first three quarters, including 63-55 withunder eight minutes left in the third. But the Nuggets responded with a 15-0 runbridging the third and fourth to take control.
Carmelo Anthony(notes) added 19 points, but it was the contributions of hissupporting cast that proved to be the most important for the short-handedNuggets.
With coach George Karl watching from home while he undergoes treatment forneck and throat cancer, the Nuggets started sluggish against another strugglingteam and trailed by eight points with less than eight minutes to play in thethird quarter.
Corey Brewer(notes) scored 21 points, but the Timberwolves shot 39 percent, whichnegated a 53-43 advantage on the boards.
Smith started the comeback for the Nuggets, hitting 3-pointers on threestraight possessions to cut an eight-point deficit to one in the third quarter.Andersen’s two free throws gave the Nuggets a 70-69 lead, their first since theopening quarter.
Neither Billups nor Anthony even attempted a shot in the first 6:30 of thefinal period, but thanks to Nene, Andersen and Smith, the Nuggets added to theirlead.
Smith punctuated the night with a soaring 360-dunk off an alley-oop passfrom Billups, giving Denver a 12-point lead with 4:25 to go.
Karl had surgery on Monday to have a feeding tube inserted into his stomachand more chemotherapy on Tuesday so assistant Adrian Dantley filled in for thesecond time this season. Denver also continues to play without Kenyon Martin(notes)(knee) and Ty Lawson(notes) (shoulder) and have fallen behind the surging DallasMavericks to second place in the West.
The Nuggets have earned a reputation for playing down to their competitionthis season, and they were at it again in the first half against the worst teamin the West. Denver started the night 26-11 against teams at or above .500, butjust 15-10 against teams below .500.
It wasn’t as though the Timberwolves were rolling, either. They shot lessthan 30 percent from the field in the first quarter, but grabbed seven offensiverebounds and 18 overall in the period to take a 23-20 lead. And after committing26 turnovers in a loss to the Mavericks on Monday night, the Wolves turned itover just four times in the first half and led 53-48 at the break.
NOTES: Kevin Love(notes) had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota. Wolves CDarko Milicic(notes) grabbed 12 rebounds. … Brewer extended his franchise record witha 3-pointer in 29 straight games in the first quarter. It’s the third-longestactive streak in the NBA behind Billups (33) and Houston’s Aaron Brooks(notes) (36).… In the “Minnesota Nice” department: A fan held a yellow and blue sign thatread: “Get Well Coach Karl.”
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