Charlotte, N.C. – Carmelo Anthony set a personal scoring standard in the Nuggets’ 101-85 victory Tuesday at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. But he may have set an even higher standard for himself in the way he got there.
He made 13-of-18 field goals and 15-of-18 free throws, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and added four steals, four assists and two blocked shots. And 42 points, a career best. It was a highly impressive Carmelo Anthony line, miles better even than the one that helped him to 40 points in Miami on Friday, when he shot the ball 30 times, often irresponsibly.
“That line by Carmelo is off the charts,” Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. “I think he covered every digit on the sheet. He played like a superstar.”
The reviews were just as rave from Anthony’s locker room in a game in which Denver (12-10) closed out the game on a 21-3 run after the Bobcats (5-17) led by three early in the fourth quarter.
“He was awesome tonight,” said center Marcus Camby, who helped buoy Denver’s defense late after foul trouble early limited him to a modest four rebounds for the game. “He was aggressive going to the basket. He got himself to the free-throw line, knocked down a lot of free throws and just got his game going. You can see he’s maturing in that aspect of the game. His game is blossoming right now, right at the time when we really need it.”
Coach George Karl said: “I just thought he was great in the second half because I don’t think he forced anything. I thought he was very unselfish. He passed the ball as well as he scored. He didn’t have a lot of shots. He just let the game happen.”
Anthony shrugged and called it “just another game.” He also credited a pregame talk with Karl. The coach implored him to sacrifice more, focus on more than scoring. He has often displayed his talent before, but perhaps never in so coordinated a way.
“I don’t want to make it seem I’m out there shooting wild and crazy shots, shooting it every time I’m getting it,” he said. “So I made an attempt, and I was successful, in passing the ball to my teammates.”
Bobcats forward Emeka Okafor (17 points, 12 rebounds) helped spark a 12-0 run to end the third quarter that threatened to make this game another Denver loss to an inferior opponent. But the Nuggets replied by double-teaming Okafor late as they pulled back away and handed Charlotte its eighth straight loss.
Earl Watson entered the game having logged 19 minutes in December. But with Earl Boykins out hurt, Watson came up big in nearly 23 minutes, with 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. It was a fine audition if he hopes for more time on another team.
“Practice and working out can never simulate game situations, can never simulate playing against other guys and just having things randomly thrown at you,” Watson said. “For me it took a while.”
Anthony had it from start to finish.
“Anytime he can be aggressive and make plays and everybody still stays involved in the offense, we’re going to do well,” guard Andre Miller said. “I don’t think anyone’s complaining about his points.”
Meanwhile, forward Kenyon Martin played almost 27 minutes after sitting the past 2 1/2 games.
He had 13 points on 6-for-14 shooting and five rebounds and said his legs felt fresh after the game and that he hopes to play Thursday at Cleveland.
Staff writer Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
