Man, 103-70. That’s a bludgeoning’s bludgeoning.
Then consider that was Tuesday night’s score at the Pepsi Center after only three quarters.
The Nuggets obliterated the Dallas Mavericks, who played the second game of a back-to-back set. The final score was 127-91, but the game was over at halftime (65-39).
Denver all-star Carmelo Anthony, who hadn’t played since Jan. 23 because of a sprained ankle, returned and finished with 19 points in 29 minutes. Anthony helped the Nuggets get revenge on the Mavs, who beat them at the Pepsi Center this season. Many in the NBA believe Denver and Dallas will continue to battle for one of the top slots in the Western Conference.
Starting for the injured Kenyon Martin, forward Malik Allen helped set the tone for Denver by splashing his first two jumpers. Allen played 16 minutes and scored six points. Martin has tendinitis in his left knee.
Anthony eased his way into the game, tallying three assists before scoring his first field goal. He let the game come to him, as they say, and soon he had two good looks for 3s, and he hit them both — both in the first quarter.
By halftime Anthony had eight points and four assists, and he finished the game with 8-for-16 shooting. Curiously, he didn’t get to the free-throw line once. Anthony did appear to be winded at times.
Denver center Nene was dominant, scoring 21 points in just 26 minutes and earning much needed rest in the fourth quarter for his ailing foot. All-star guard Chauncey Billups returned after missing Saturday’s game because of his own ankle injury. Billups was 6-for-8 from the field, finishing with 16 points and six assists.
When Arron Afflalo swished a 3 with 8:18 left in the third, Denver led 75-46 and was shooting 58.3 percent from both the field (28-for-48) and from 3-point range (7-for-12). Funny enough, after its next possession, the Mavericks were shooting the exact same percentage from the field and from 3 – 33.3 percent.
