Toronto – The Nuggets were missing their starting frontcourt and still easily beat the Toronto Raptors.
Andre Miller scored 23 points, and the Nuggets overcame the loss of Carmelo Anthony to beat the Raptors 108-97 on Friday night.
Anthony didn’t return after leaving the game in the third quarter with a strained left hamstring. He went to the dressing room and later tried riding a stationary bike.
His hamstring flared up after Thursday night’s victory in Philadelphia, but he said he’ll play Sunday in Boston.
“I couldn’t sleep last night due to the pain. I tried to go out there and play tonight, but by the third quarter it started tightening up on me,” Anthony said.
The Nuggets already were missing center Marcus Camby – who dressed but didn’t play because of a strained Achilles. Forward Kenyon Martin missed his fourth straight game with tendinitis in his left knee.
“It was time for us to step up. We played team basketball,” said Reggie Evans, who was scoreless but grabbed 20 rebounds in 39 minutes.
Evans is the first player with 20 rebounds in a scoreless game since Dennis Rodman did it for Chicago on Dec. 15, 1997, against Phoenix.
Earl Boykins had 18 points and Greg Buckner added 17 for the Nuggets.
Denver compensated for the loss of its frontcourt by going 10-for-19 from beyond the 3-point arc. Buckner made five 3-pointers and Boykins made four.
Mike James led Toronto with 26 points, but fouled out with 4:16 left.
Morris Peterson added 20 points and Chris Bosh had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost nine of 10.
Boykins had 13 points in the second half and Buckner had 12 – making up for the loss of Anthony – who left with 8:09 left in the third.
The Nuggets are 19-4 when Boykins scores at least 15 points.
