A split seemed probable.
But this way?
Denver and Golden State, two similar squads, played consecutive games Friday and Sunday, but each team won on the road, the Warriors winning 105-95 on Sunday at the Pepsi Center.
Here’s a main reason why: Denver shot a season-low 34.5 percent from the field. The previous season-low was 35.4 at Houston on Nov. 24.
After three quarters, the Warriors led 75-73, but by the 9:23 mark in the fourth, they were leading by 10. The Nuggets chipped away, but were back down 10 with 2:38 left, and the Pepsi Center fans flooded toward the exits.
Because the blazing Portland Trail Blazers won Sunday, their 13th consecutive win, Denver and Portland are 18-12, thus tied for first in the Northwest Division. The Warriors, who started the season 0-6, are 18-13.
Denver guard Allen Iverson closed out his dazzling December with a whimper. He entered the night with 31.1 points per game during the month, but he scored just 13 on Sunday, tying a season low.
In his previous game, Friday at Golden State, Iverson scored 39 points on 12-for-21 shooting. Sunday, he was 2-for-12.
Golden State’s Baron Davis scored a game-high 28 points on 10-for-11 shooting, along with eight assists.
Meanwhile, Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin didn’t get the birthday gift he wanted. He spent his 30th birthday on the bench, bothered by a lingering hamstring injury.
