SALT LAKE CITY — The season began with such a symbol of hope – Carmelo Anthony soaring over Utah’s Paul Millsap for a statement dunk in the season opener. And it ended in Utah, with Carmelo Anthony walking humbly off the confetti-laden court, lips pursed, what-ifs looming like a cloud.
The season is over. Denver lost, 112-104 at Energy Solutions Arena on Friday, thus losing the first-round series to Utah, 4-2. The Nuggets thought they could win a championship. Instead, they didn’t even advance to the second round.
Down three points to start the fourth, the Nuggets had some good vibes going in the fourth quarter. Melo made a nifty pass for Ty Lawson for a 3. Center Chris Andersen hit a baseline jumper. Lawson, the little guard, drove down the lane and dunked.
But with 6:00 left in the fourth, and Utah up 98-95, Kenyon Martin pushed Deron Williams and Martin earned a technical foul. From that point on, the unraveling began. Billups earned a technical himself a minute later, and Utah went on an 14-9 run to close out the game.
And with 51.1 seconds left, the fans began chanting “Beat L.A.!”
With the loss, questions. Has the window closed on the Chauncey-Melo Nuggets, or do they have one more season in them to win a title? Will the Nuggets endure another season with the mercurial headcase J.R. Smith (a good bargain who can get hot), or will they try to deal him to another believer? Will Rex Chapman and Mark Warkentien, front-office execs with expiring contracts, both be back? Are Kenyon Martin’s knees sturdy enough to give it another go, or will he miss chunks of time next season, too? And, of course, will coach George Karl be able to return from throat and neck cancer and lead his troops once again?
In a phone interview a week ago, Karl could not put a timetable on his return to work: “I’m hanging in there, man. I can’t answer that. I think that’s been speculated too much. When I feel better enough to make a prediction, I will, but right now I don’t feel good about that.”
The Nuggets were floundering in the second quarter, down 53-39, when acting coach Adrian Dantley received a rare technical foul at the 4:13 mark, while barking at officials after a murky offensive foul called on Carmelo Anthony (who finished with 20 points on 6-for-22 shooting).
From that point on, the inexplicable occurred. Joey Graham, who had played just five minutes, went on a Melo-like terror, scoring 10 of Denver’s final 14 points of the quarter, including a corner 3-pointer to cut the lead to three and silence the once-searing crowd. Denver trotted into the locker room down 56-54. Graham scored 18 points in the second quarter.
When the night was over, Graham arguably had the best stat line of any Nugget — 21 points and 10 rebounds in just 25 minutes.
Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups, who exploded for 12 points in Game 5’s third quarter, scored 17 points in the third quarter of Friday’s Game 6, including back-to-back 3s early in the quarter, setting the tone that the Nuggets weren’t going to let the Jazz control the tempo.
But Anthony shot with frightening inconsistency for the first three quarters (3-for-14) but he made up for it with gritty rebounding (nine boards) and getting others involved (four assists).
There was much frustration. With 2:35 in the third quarter, Nuggets guard J.R. Smith was pulled from the game and had a verbal altercation with the coaching staff.
At the 6:00 mark in the fourth, with Denver down three and the team reeling after a Kenyon Martin technical foul, the Nuggets regrouped in the huddle on the bench, while Smith slouched in the last seat on the bench, arms crossed. Smith finally returned with 4:23 left in the game, and Denver down 11.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
By The Denver Post
The Nuggets’ toughest test of these NBA playoffs comes tonight in Salt Lake City when Denver takes on Utah in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series. The Jazz lead 3-2 and can clinch with a victory.
The Denver Post will have live updates throughout the night. Keep checking back:
Chauncey taking over
Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups has 15 points in the third quarter on an array of scoring, from back-to-back 3-pointers, to jumpers to free throws.
Good thing as Carmelo Anthony remains frustrated. He has 14 points, but is only 3-of-14 form the field.
What a run
The Nuggets went on a 15-3 run, including a 13-0 streak to pull within 56-54 at the break. Joey Graham was on fire and had 19 points, 8-of-10 shooting including a 3-pointer.
Graham continued to slice through the Utah defense and scored 11 in a row to cut the deficit to 53-52 with a minute left in the half. Denver trailed 50-35 with 5:43 to play in the second quarter.
Fired up
Joey Graham just picked up the Nuggets’ second technical foul of the second quarter, after acting coach Adrian Dantley was called earlier for complaining.
Graham came back down the floor on the next possession to hit a jumper for his 12th point, cutting the Utah lead to 53-45.
Jazz out quick again
Utah was 10-of-18 in the first quarter to take the commanding 32-23 lead. They were up 11 at one point. Utah had seven assists to the Nuggets’ 3.
Denver was 8-of-19 from the field, including two missed 3-pointers. Carmelo Anthony was 1-for-5 with five points. The other killer, Denver was 7-of-12 at the free-throw line.
There go the Jazz
The Nuggets opened strong with a quick 12-8 lead, but a 14-2 run by Utah has them up 22-14 with 2-1/2 to play in the first.
Utah guard Wes Matthews has 10 points with the 26-16 lead, but now is out with two fouls at 1:29.
Nuggets’ key: Stop the runs
There will likely be a time tonight when the Jazz goes on a run, pushing its lead to, say, eight points. In games here in Salt Lake City — where Utah plays in front of a college-like crowd in a college-designed arena — the Jazz feed off this.
The key tonight is Denver not letting an eight-point deficit turn quickly into an 18-point deficit, because the latter is almost an impossible hole of which to climb out.
“When they are on a run, you need to be a little more focused on executing — and stopping the run, minimizing the run,” Denver’s Chauncey Billups said.
“That’s one thing they’re good at in the building, maximizing the run. For us, we need to do a better job at being smart when they’re on a 6-0 run, knowing that next possession is huge. Getting a good look or getting to the free throw line. Getting to the line is a huge equalizer.”
Plan is picky
Nuggets acting coach Adrian Dantley said his team plans to play a plethora of pick-and-rolls and isolations. The pick-and-rolls because it puts Utah’s big men in a preacarious situation on defense, similar to the hand-cuffing situation fans have seen Denver’s bigs get into during this series.
As for his keys to the game, Dantley said:
“Play hard, play smart, don’t turn the ball over, make the extra pass.”
