(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)(Boulder-CO) It took three Nugget starters recording double-doubles, but the Nuggets weren’t going to fall for any parlor tricks by the Orlando Magic. The Nuggets beat the Eastern Conference’s best road team, 113-103, and as I previewed, did so in a tight game by out blocking, out stealing, and creating more turnovers than the Magic.
The Nuggets and Magic were air tight throughout the first half, and if it weren’t for a Keyon Dooling buzzer beater from 30 feet the game would have entered intermission tied at 53 a piece. Nene was a game time scratch citing an, “indefinite leave due to a personal medical issue” as the reason for his inability to play. And as a result of the shorthanded frontcourt of Denver, Dwight Howard was all over the Nuggets interior defense and scored 13 points while grabbing nine rebounds. He even scored a basket for the Nuggets after nearly stealing a pass and batting the ball back into the Nuggets goal for the easiest two points Kenyon Martin ever scored in his NBA career. For the Nuggets, the main source of energy in the first half came from Linas Kleiza. LK scored 13 points in the second quarter including ten straight points spanning over three minutes in the second period.
It was more back and forth in the third period with the Magic keeping the Nuggets at bay by a handful of points throughout. The Nuggets were able to bring the game within two points to finish out the third, but it wasn’t until Linas Kleiza hit a 17-foot jump shot at the nine minute mark in the fourth quarter that the Nuggets were able to bring the game to a tie at 90 points a piece. From there it was time for Anthony Carter to step up his offensive impact and AC scored 14 of the Nuggets final 19 points to close the show on the Magic.
The Nuggets were led by Carmelo Anthony’s double-double of 32 points and eleven rebounds. Denver also received double-double efforts from Anthony Carter and Allen Iverson. Each guard scored 21 points with AI dishing 13 assists and AC flipping eleven dimes, respectively. Marcus Camby just missed a double-double with a team-high twelve rebounds and eight points while Linas Kleiza was the only player to score coming off the bench with 18 points and five rebounds.
But the real reason why the Nuggets won this game was because they picked up the intensity on the defensive end in the fourth quarter limiting the Magic to only 17 points thanks to numerous clutch steals and blocked shots. Denver was able to out block the Magic 7-4 overall while coming up with three steals in the final three minutes to extend their lead to ten points by game’s end. And with tonight's win, the Nuggets are now 22-13 overall and back in a tie for first place in the Northwest Divison with the Portland Trailblazers. Good night, Nuggets Nation and your welcome!
Go Nuggets!
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