WASHINGTON — In a game that devolved into a Denver dunk contest, the Nuggets welcomed back starters Kenyon Martin and Chauncey Billups and showed no compunction about beating up on a beaten-down opponent in a 124-103 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.
Carmelo Anthony delivered 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists — and created or finished some scintillating slams that had teammates leaping off their sideline seats for chest bumps. It was a fitting way to celebrate the best 50-game record (34-16) for the Nuggets since they joined the NBA in 1976.
Billups came back from a sprained right ankle to score 16 points against a Wizards team that dressed only nine players because of injury and illness and fell to an NBA-worst 10-40.
Martin, returning after missing two games with strep throat, had his share of highlight-worthy dunks, too, and finished with 11 points.
The trio of Anthony, Billups and Martin sat out the entire fourth quarter. Which made perfect sense, given that the score was 102-70 after three and the Nuggets were coasting to their fourth consecutive victory.
The fans were booing pretty loudly by then, although unlike Washington’s previous home game — Wednesday’s 27-point loss to New Jersey — there were no chants of “Eddie Jordan,” the coach fired by the Wizards after a 1-10 start.
The Nuggets led by as many as 36 points and improved to 20-1 this season against teams with losing records.
