NEW ORLEANS — Without all-star Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets survived Atlanta and New Jersey at the Pepsi Center. But Dallas and New Orleans on the road? No Sherpa could get them up these mountains.
Monday night’s 117-93 loss at New Orleans Arena was disheartening for a frustrated Nuggets team. Twenty-four hours before, Denver (26-18) lost at Dallas (31-13), the team with the second-best record in the Western Conference. Then came Monday’s sputtering against the Hornets, the West’s best at 32-12.
“There’s no question that our offense is struggling without him,” Karl said.
Before the game, there was hope. Out on the court, strength coach Steve Hess and assistant athletic trainer Matt Friia worked on Anthony’s left ankle, and then Anthony shot open jumpers and did one-on-one drills against assistant coach Jamahl Mosley.
But as Anthony walked slowly back to the locker room, he said he couldn’t go: “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 All-Star Game.
Before the game, Karl said of Hornets guard Chris Paul: “I don’t think a player has the ball in his hands as much as Chris Paul. He has a more dominant personality than any player in the NBA.”
And Paul brilliantly quarterbacked New Orleans, notching 23 points, 17 assists and nine rebounds.
