This month can be a space-creator for the Nuggets.
There are 10 home games out of 14. If the Nuggets take care of business, it can set up a nice cushion for February, when the team has eight of its 12 games on the road.
The Nuggets got off to a shaky start Saturday night, blowing a 26-point lead against the New Orleans Hornets at the Pepsi Center. But they regained control and eventually took a nice first step with a 105-100 win, which increased the Nuggets’ Northwest Division lead to two games over Portland and 3 1/2 over Utah. It was the first of seven straight home games for the Nuggets.
“(It can) put us in great position if we can have a great homestand,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “I think we can substantially assert ourselves as a contender to win the division.”
Then Karl hedged.
“But it’s still very early in the season,” Karl said. “I think it’s another 20-25 games before I think you’re going to actually know. In a way it looks already like you have a nine-team Western Conference nightmare that could be very similar to last year to where 50 (wins) might not be enough.”
The Nuggets won despite themselves Saturday. They carried an 18-point lead into halftime, and stretched that advantage to 26 in the third quarter. Then the wheels fell off.
The Hornets ran a lackluster Nuggets team senseless in the second half, outscoring the Nuggets 49-22 from 4:59 of the third quarter to 1:10 of the fourth. When James Posey hit a 3-pointer at 1:10, the Hornets had their first lead of the game at 100-99.
But then the Nuggets’ defense stiffened. It held the Hornets to 0-for-3 from the field with two turnovers to end the game. The Nuggets scored six straight points to seal the contest. Carmelo Anthony’s driving layup with 56.5 seconds left was technically the game-winning shot, but four consecutive free throws by Chauncey Billups kept the Hornets at bay.
“We blew a lead tonight, but we won,” Anthony said. “We knew the Hornets wasn’t going to fold like that. They’re a good team. We knew (Hornets guard) Chris Paul was going to try to lead his troops out there, making shots in the second half. It seemed like at one point they scored every time down the court.”
J.R. Smith was big in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 17 points, which kept the Nuggets from completely collapsing.
“Shots just really fell, finally,” Smith said. “I just started really getting a rhythm out there.”
Six Nuggets were in double figures, led by Anthony’s 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Smith’s 17 points were accompanied by 14 apiece from Billups and Nene. Denver survived 30 points and 11 assists from Paul.
Karl took the glass half-full approach to his team’s effort, which netted its third straight win and sixth in eight games.
“The last three games were great wins, especially (against New Orleans), when you can beat a great team without playing your ‘A’ game,” Karl said. “Film will probably show some negative stuff. I personally think it helps with the rest of the homestand.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
Nuggets Recap
What you might have missed
Nene picked up two fouls in the first 1:45 of the game. . . . Chris Paul had seven turnovers to go along with his 11 assists. . . . Rapper Vanilla Ice performed at halftime. . . . Hilton Armstrong’s 11 first-quarter points was six more than his average for the season. . . . Former coach Doug Moe was in attendance.
Final thought
The Nuggets must learn to play consistent basketball, but showed resolve in winning against New Orleans.
Up next
vs. Indiana, Monday, 7 p.m.
Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
