CASPER
New member
Carmelo Anthony scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Denver Nuggets rebound from a tough week to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 109-92 on Thursday night.
Nene added 22 points and Chauncey Billups had 21 for the Nuggets, who won for only the second time in seven games. Denver dropped from second to fifth in the Western Conference playoff race during the slump.
Andre Miller scored 24 points to lead Portland, which had won its previous four games, including a victory over New York on Wednesday that clinched a playoff spot for the Trail Blazers.
Martell Webster added 17 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 16 for the Blazers, who lost for the 13th time in their last 14 games in Denver. Portland's only win in that span came on Dec. 16, 2007.
Brandon Roy's 3-pointer with 3:31 left in the third quarter pulled the Trail Blazers, who trailed by one at the break, to 74-72. But the Nuggets scored 13 of the next 17 points, capped by Billups' 3-pointer, to take an 87-76 lead into the final period.
With Anthony beginning the fourth with successive baskets, the second followed by a free throw to complete a three-point play, the Nuggets built a 92-78 cushion with 9:23 remaining, their biggest lead to that point. The Trail Blazers pulled to 94-86 on a pair of free throws by Roy with 6:32 left before the Nuggets pulled away again.
Nene added 22 points and Chauncey Billups had 21 for the Nuggets, who won for only the second time in seven games. Denver dropped from second to fifth in the Western Conference playoff race during the slump.
Andre Miller scored 24 points to lead Portland, which had won its previous four games, including a victory over New York on Wednesday that clinched a playoff spot for the Trail Blazers.
Martell Webster added 17 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 16 for the Blazers, who lost for the 13th time in their last 14 games in Denver. Portland's only win in that span came on Dec. 16, 2007.
Brandon Roy's 3-pointer with 3:31 left in the third quarter pulled the Trail Blazers, who trailed by one at the break, to 74-72. But the Nuggets scored 13 of the next 17 points, capped by Billups' 3-pointer, to take an 87-76 lead into the final period.
With Anthony beginning the fourth with successive baskets, the second followed by a free throw to complete a three-point play, the Nuggets built a 92-78 cushion with 9:23 remaining, their biggest lead to that point. The Trail Blazers pulled to 94-86 on a pair of free throws by Roy with 6:32 left before the Nuggets pulled away again.
