NEW ORLEANS — Trying desperately to shake attacking defenders, Nuggets guard Allen Iverson looked like a little kid chased by, well, a swarm of Hornets. This is what happens when you don’t have Carmelo Anthony.
“It seemed like I was running for my life,” Iverson said Monday night after the Nuggets’ 117-93 loss to New Orleans. “Every time I ran a pick-and-roll or tried to isolate, they sent two guys at me. It was kind of frustrating. It felt like I was in Philly all over again.”
Without the all-star Anthony, Denver’s offense sputtered again. While the resilient Iverson still scored 23 points, sharing game-high honors with the Hornets’ Chris Paul, the Nuggets were rattled offensively. And after the Nuggets played sturdy defense Sunday at Dallas, they played defense Monday like they were wearing cowboy boots.
“(The Hornets) were doing whatever they wanted to do,” Denver guard Anthony Carter said. “And they came up with a lot of loose balls. We came off a very emotional game last night, fought Dallas hard all night. (The Hornets) just came out with more energy.”
Playing without Anthony, the Nuggets survived Atlanta and New Jersey at the Pepsi Center last week. But on the road against Dallas (31-13) and New Orleans (32-12), the No. 3 and No. 1 teams in the Western Conference, Denver’s electric offense short-circuited.
“There’s no question that our offense is struggling without him,” Nuggets coach George Karl said.
Denver trailed 87-68 after three quarters Monday and allowed New Orleans to shoot 50.6 percent for the game.
The Nuggets (26-18) are plagued with injuries and lack backcourt depth. They are putting out feelers about possible help for the backcourt, a source said, but it’s unlikely they will end up with Jason Kidd, the all-star point guard who wants out of New Jersey.
As for Anthony, out with a sprained left ankle, he originally thought he could play Monday. Before the game, there was hope. Out on the court, strength coach Steve Hess and assistant athletic trainer Matt Friia worked out Anthony’s ankle, and then Anthony worked out himself, shooting open jumpers and then in one-on-one drills against assistant coach Jamahl Mosley.
But as Anthony walked slowly back to Denver’s locker room, he said he couldn’t play: “I’m not able to do what I really want to do out there. I’m going to take it day by day.”
And so, Anthony’s first game this year at New Orleans Arena will be the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 17.
Asked if it stinks not having Anthony available to play, Iverson said: “That’s an understatement.”
Karl has been impressed by Paul, the Hornets’ star guard, as have most of the NBA coaches recovering from headaches and nightmares after games against New Orleans.
“I don’t think a player has the ball in his hands as much as Chris Paul,” Karl said. “He has a more dominant personality than any player in the NBA.”
Paul brilliantly guided New Orleans on Monday, notching 17 assists and nine rebounds to go with his 23 points while the crowd of 15,601 chanted “MVP! MVP!”
One hour after the game, a fire alarm suddenly began blaring at the arena. Paul, apparently, hadn’t left the building.
Nuggets Recap
What you might have missed
Denver center Marcus Camby struggled, scoring three points and grabbing five rebounds in nearly 27 minutes. New Orleans center Tyson Chandler, also vying for an All-Star Game roster spot, finished with 10 points and 16 rebounds.
Final thought
The Hornets are really good. Their pick-and- roll game, as Denver coach George Karl points out, is exceptional. The Nuggets were sluggish Monday night and let the Hornets control the pace.
Up next
Wednesday at Memphis, 6 p.m.
By the numbers
.455 Nuggets’ shooting percentage their first 40 games (24-16)
.402 Shooting percentage their past four games without injured star Carmelo Anthony (2-2)
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
