Not in Our House! Nuggets Beat Spurs

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets are off to a good start in 2008. With stellar defensive efforts from Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, and Nene, the Nuggets pulled out a, 80-77, win against the Spurs that was the result of superior execution in the game's final two minutes.

In the first half, the Nuggets were enforcing their will on the Spurs and jumped out to an early 16-point lead, 33-17, with seven minutes to play in the second quarter. Denver was playing San Antonio’s game and beating the reigning NBA champs handily, but unfortunately would go through a lackadaisical stretch to finish the half only up two, 42-40. Kenyon Martin was leading the charge defensively with four blocks while limiting Tim Duncan to a mere nine points at halftime, and offensively the Nuggets were led by Allen Iverson’s 12 points and three assists.

In the third period, Denver continued to play at San Antonio’s pace, but did so in a fashion that proved to me this year’s team is far more adaptable than those of the past. Denver only scored 18 points in the quarter and in year’s past probably would have allowed something like 30 to their opposition, but the Nuggets defense held strong and only allowed the Spurs 19 points thus preserving the slimmest margin of advantage for the Nuggets to work with in the fourth quarter.

And in the fourth, I couldn’t have been happier with the Nuggets composure and execution.

The final quarter was tight and with only two minutes remaining the Spurs were looking as if they were going to once again stymie the Nuggets per usual with a, 77-73, lead. But before I recreate what was to unfold, let us rewind the clock for a moment and look at the most critical decision of the game. With just under four minutes remaining, George Karl made the game-winning decision to substitute Anthony Carter for Chucky Atkins. Chucky may have came off the bench in the first half and made a couple of buckets, but in all honesty he was killing the Nuggets with bad shots and even worse defense on Tony Parker. Atkins just isn’t 100% and, at this point, when given the opportunity to play he hurts the Denver Nuggets because his offense isn’t up to game speed and his defense was never the reason why Nuggets brass acquired him. Regardless, the substitution was made and Anthony didn’t waste much time making George Karl look brilliant.

Now, with less than two minutes remaining the Spurs were clamping down on Allen Iverson around the perimeter and double-teaming Carmelo Anthony in the post. After AI dribbled down most of the shot clock and dished to Marcus Camby in the high post, Marcus passed the ball from the left elbow to a wide open Anthony Carter who hit a clutch three-pointer on the wing to bring the Nuggets within one. The Spurs brought the ball right down the floor and put the game in the hands of Tim Duncan, but once again it was Anthony Carter coming up huge with a steal from the blind side to give the Nuggets a chance to reclaim the lead. The Nuggets then calmly brought the ball up the floor down by one and after another series similar to the one finishing with Anthony Carter hitting the three it was Carter faking the three this time to open up a penetrate and dish situation to a wide open Kenyon Martin for the bunny to put the Nuggets up for good, 78-77!

Carter may have been the cool hand that commandeered the Nuggets to victory tonight, but without Kenyon Martin’s game winning bucket and career-high seven blocks (including the game-preserving block on Tony Parker's last effort baseline drive) the Nuggets aren’t even in this game with a chance to win down the stretch. Marcus Camby added four blocks and 18 rebounds and Nene also swatted three shots while grabbing six rebounds, but what has to excite Nuggets fans is how Denver was able to beat the Spurs in a game that was played at San Antonio’s tempo.

Carmelo just missed another double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds while Allen Iverson paced Denver offensively with a game-high 29 points and just one turnover. As a team, the healthy Nuggets frontline out rebounded the Spurs, 48-35, (as I predicted in my preview) and the Denver block party of 14 swats dwarfed the three rejections the Spurs tallied.

Up next for the Nuggets is a tricky game up in Minnesota against the Timberwolves tomorrow night. It would appear to be the type of game that you pencil in a win before hand, but trust me; Minnesota (despite being one of the worst teams in the league statistically) hasn’t forgotten all the reasons why this used to be big division rivalry game. The Nuggets will need the same type of execution displayed tonight against the Spurs if they are to continue to carry this momentum through the next stretch of three games in four days.

Go Nuggets!