Dallas – The Nuggets were too generous to Dallas and not generous enough among themselves in an entirely avoidable 83-80 loss Tuesday night that saw them blow a 19-point second-half lead at the American Airlines Center.
Denver (3-5) scored the first 15 points of the third quarter and led 64-45 by Mavericks coach Avery Johnson’s third timeout of the period. But just as suddenly, Dallas (5-2) responded with a 34-10 run to take a five-point lead and never trailed again.
The Nuggets’ last good chance to tie or win while down 81-80 came and went when Carmelo Anthony drove the baseline into a triple team. DeSagana Diop capped a career night by swatting Anthony’s layup with 2.9 seconds to go. Diop finished with career highs of 16 rebounds and six blocked shots, while Dirk Nowitzki did the work on the other end, scoring 19 of his 35 points in the final 20 minutes.
“I was guarded by one guy at first,” Anthony said of his last try. “Then once I got in the air, it was two (more), Dirk and DeSagana. Wasn’t nothing I could do at that point. I missed the shot.”
Calling his confidence as high as it has been in his pro career, the often-forgotten Diop said of the play, “I knew he was not going to pass it. When he gets that far under, he’s going to shoot every time.”
Anthony hardly lost the game by himself. Every Nugget had a hand in blowing the lead, and the team missed five other chances to tie or win while down one. Denver had a final chance after two Darrell Armstrong free throws put Dallas up three with 0.5 of a second left, but DerMarr Johnson’s 3-pointer at the buzzer missed.
Coach George Karl said Anthony’s late mistake was indicative of his team’s inability to pass in a game in which it had 16 assists on 32 field goals.
“Carmelo’s got to understand that if he’s playing one-on-one, we want him to shoot the ball,” Karl said. “But if they play him with three, we probably want him to pass the ball. That’s probably my responsibility as much as anybody’s.”
The coach credited Diop’s work but said his team helped make him look good. He would not single out any player.
“When defenses pack it in and take away you, give it to the teammate that’s open,” Karl said. “I’ve got to put the guys on the court that are going to make the shot, but when you’re inconsistent in giving it to the teammate that’s open, it puts me in a bind. I don’t know what to do. Should I run a different offense? It’s confusing.”
No Nugget had more than two assists except Andre Miller, who had five. Anthony shot a rough 9-for-22 to lead his team with 24 points.
The Mavericks went without regulars Jerry Stackhouse (right knee) and Keith Van Horn (dislocated right middle finger) in coming back.
But the Nuggets lost a key cog when soreness in Kenyon Martin’s left knee kept him out the final three quarters. He finished with two points and three rebounds in eight minutes. Trainer Jim Gillen said Martin did not warm up his knee enough Tuesday and he is questionable to play the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets tonight.
Staff writer Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
