OK, this is more like it.
After three infuriating efforts by the Nuggets, they returned to their division-leading form Wednesday night with a 110-109 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at the Pepsi Center.
After scoring a season-low three points Monday night against the Boston Celtics, Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups poured in a game-high 33 points while the Hawks (32-25) were without two key starters — Mike Bibby (illness) and Josh Smith (family issues). Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points.
Denver (38-20) trailed 51-45 with four minutes left in the first half in what seemed like, again, another futile effort from the home team. But suddenly, Anthony and Billups simultaneously started playing like they were Anthony and Billups. Anthony hit a 3-pointer and then a midrange 2-pointer. Billups splashed a 3-pointer of his own. And when Anthony hit a 3-pointer with 15.4 seconds left in the second quarter, Denver completed its 15-2 run and took a seven-point lead into halftime.
Fans were still strolling back to their seats with fresh beers when the Nuggets went on a 9-0 run to start the third quarter.
As for Anthony, you could tell he was feeling it because he was unafraid to shoot a long 2-pointer (a low-percentage shot) over Atlanta defenders such as 6-foot-9 Marvin Williams and make it.
