The Nuggets didn’t let the level of competition affect how they played Saturday night. This is news.
The often unpredictable Nuggets did the predictable thing, beating a game but young Orlando Magic team 110-94 to please a sellout crowd of 19,509 at the Pepsi Center. The win helped erase the pain of an 11-point loss Friday at sub-.500 Houston.
“I wish we could go on a little winning streak. We’ve got to take it for what it is right now,” said small forward Carmelo Anthony, who led all scorers with 24 points. “We let one get away from us one night in Houston. Tonight we came back and redeemed ourselves and protected our home court, winning a game we’re supposed to win.”
The Magic (20-39) stayed around for a while, climbing within a point early in the third quarter. But Denver (32-28) outscored its guests 53-38.
Asked about the difference Saturday from his team’s flat-line offensive showing Friday, Ruben Patterson said, “Defense. Ran. Got a lot of dunks. Layups. Carmelo told me he was tired. I told him, ‘You’re too young to be tired.”‘
Nuggets coach George Karl said both teams seemed to search for energy at times, but he was pleased newcomers Patterson and Reggie Evans helped Denver find some. Evans had 12 points and 10 rebounds; Patterson 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists.
General manager Kiki Vandeweghe’s trade deadline move has paid quick dividends. A Nuggets team getting hammered on the boards before their arrival has averaged a plus-nine rebound margin in their four nights in uniform.
“It’s not necessarily how well you play the game, it’s how you play the game that’s important a lot in an 82-game season,” Karl said. “We’ve had too many up-and-down energy games. When Kiki and I evaluated Ruben and Reggie, those guys don’t have many down games. They play the game with a playoff passion almost every night. I think we need everybody to get that spark, to get that spirit, because we could be a real good team if we do get it.”
The Nuggets were indeed a more vibrant team down low, holding Orlando to an opponent-low 26 rebounds. They also saw guard Earl Boykins (21 points) bounce back from recent shaky offensive games. And Karl said he liked his first long taste of playing defensive specialists Patterson and Greg Buckner together.
A bonus to their frontcourt depth is the extra time it might allow Kenyon Martin – who sat after a tendinitis flare-up in his left knee – to rest. The power forward said two voices in his head are telling him different things about how fast to return.
“I’m so bored not playing,” he said. “I want to play. I want to compete. I come back and play a couple games and then the same thing. It might have to be something I might have to consider. I want to play. I hate sitting over there. (But resting) might be the best thing.”
Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com.
