Carmelo Anthony was, in plain, simple English, le feu, en fuego, o kaji da, pa fyre av. His game spontaneously combusted. In a 10-minute, 55-second stretch of the third quarter Wednesday night, Melo scored 33 points.
The Minnesota Timberwolves had possession of the ball for 4 1/2 minutes of that stretch.
So, Melo Fellow averaged about five points every minute the Nuggets had the ball.
And he has a bad right (shooting arm) elbow.
What did veteran Nuggets trainer Jim Gillen put on the hinge — WD-40? Somebody whack Melo on the other elbow.
Considering that Anthony missed all five of his long jumpers in the first half and scored only nine points on layups, free throws and one runner, and was shooting under 42 percent from the field for the season, the third-quarter performance of the Nuggets’ one-man band was reminiscent of Dave Grohl, who played every instrument on the first Foo Fighters album, and Wilt Chamberlain, who once scored 100 points in a game.
If Melo had duplicated his feat in the other three periods, he would have finished with a swell 132 points.
In person, I’ve witnessed a few incredible shooting stars — Bill Walton’s 44 points on 21-of-22 shooting for UCLA in the 1973 NCAA championship game, Larry Miller scoring an ABA-record 67 points in a 1972 game for Carolina, diminutive Michael Adams going off for 54 in a 1991 game, Alex English busting 51 twice, Michael Jordan in NBA Finals games.
And this, 12-of-15 on field goals — including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers, three 2-point jumpers, a tip-in, two dunks and two layups, plus five free throws.
That’s a whole game for some starters, a whole week for most reserves.
That’s incredible.
Truth is, the shooting may not have been the most impressive statistic of Anthony’s evening. He finished with 11 rebounds to top the Nuggets — and also had a team-high four steals and dished for three assists, with only two turnovers. Minnesota’s four forwards had five fewer points total.
Carmelo’s got game. An entire game.
Once only a scorer, Carmelo is now determined to rebound, give up the ball, sprawl on the floor, defend, move without the ball and listen to the coach in the timeout huddles. The former one-dimensional Anthony has become “for D.”
There’s no quit these days in Anthony or the Nuggets.
They are the No. 2 seed behind the Lakers in the Western Conference, and this is the best Nuggets team I’ve witnessed since the ABA. Too bad there were not more witnesses Wednesday night.
The latest Olympic experience (not to be compared with his first Olympic experience) did wonders for Anthony. He was forced to play a team game — with players all around him who were better all-around than him. He enjoyed getting the medal and the mettle.
After being arrested for driving intoxicated (his latest problem as a professional), being sentenced to probation and being suspended for the first two games this season by the Nuggets, Anthony has been a solid citizen on and off the court. It must be hoped that Carmelo Anthony and Brandon Marshall, both born in 1984 and each with superb efforts this week at home, have come of age.
And, of course, Melo has been assisted (literally) by Chauncey Billups, the new Nuggets’ leader, more Dr. Feelgood than Mr. Big Shot. Billups has made everybody feel good, but Anthony feels way better.
Chauncey is standing up for and to Anthony.
The Iverson-Anthony weird science project, despite all its fine intentions, finally blew up. One had to have the ball, and neither could play without the ball, or would play when the other player or the other team had the ball.
The Nuggets now have The 3Cs — Chauncey and Carmelo and Complementary players. They’re having a ball. Carmelo’s sheepish grin has been transformed into a serious smile. He and George Karl are at peace.
I recommended after last season that Carmelo be traded for Chauncey. I was half right, all wrong. The Nuggets needed Chauncey at point guard, but they also needed Carmelo to become a complete player. And he has, because of Chauncey’s presence. If there were such doings any more, they should room on the road.
Anthony and Billups combined for 69 points against the Tenderwolves. Those were Iverson-Anthony numbers on a great scoring night. Only difference is, these Nuggets came back and won the game.
Carmelo’s scoring average is down, but his rebounds and assists are up.
Much is made of the Nuggets’ 14-4 record with Chaun- cey in the lineup. In the same games, the Nuggets are 9-1 when Melo has scored 21 or more points, 7-0 when he has seven or more rebounds and 6-1 when he has a double-double.
And the Nuggets are 1-0 when Carmelo is on a perfect firestorm.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
