The Nuggets’ starters were a dangerous crew during the regular season. But in the playoffs, Denver’s first five haven’t been able to come together at the same time.
In the Game 4 overtime loss Monday night at the Pepsi Center, scored 26 points in regulation, but no other starter had more than 12. Anthony added two points in overtime to finish with a playoff career-high 28 points on 8-of-19 shooting, including 12 free throws and five assists.
But his basket in overtime was the only one by a Nuggets starter.
“I don’t know why,” Anthony said of the struggles of the starting five. “I speak for all of … I don’t know what’s going through our heads. It’s just tough.”
Anthony added that the Nuggets are in a rough situation now.
During the regular season, the starters accounted for about 65 points per game.
Although guard scored 31 points in a Game 1 victory, no other starter scored as many as 15. In Game 2, no starter surpassed 12 points. As a group, they shot 17-for-47. And in Game 3, the Nuggets’ starting five had their best game, combining for 24-of-51, but they missed 13-of-28 free throws.
The starters with the biggest spotlights on them were forwards Anthony and .
Anthony had his best game of the series Monday after feeling the heat from San Antonio’s double teams through the first three games. Going into Monday night, he was averaging 14.3 points on 40 percent shooting.
Anthony once again got double- and at times triple-teamed Monday night but got a breather when Bruce Bowen, his main defender, spent long periods on the bench with foul trouble in the second half.
In the first half, Anthony had 15 points on 4-of-10 shooting and made 7-of-8 free throws.
Martin finished with 12 points and six rebounds after he fouled out with 1:37 remaining in regulation. Anthony picked up the slack in the fourth period by scoring eight points, including two free throws that tied the game at 107 and sent it into overtime.
With Martin watching on the bench, the Spurs opened the overtime with a 6-0 run and never gave up the advantage.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5459 or mspears@denverpost.com.
