Denver, CO (Betting Express) - Chauncey Billups scored 24 points and dished out 11 assists as part of a balanced attack, and the
Denver Nuggets posted a costly 135-115 win over the
Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center.
Carmelo Anthony provided 21 points, nine assists and six rebounds for the Nuggets, but postgame x-rays revealed he suffered a probable nondisplaced third metacarpal fracture on his right hand in the third quarter. Anthony will see a hand specialist Tuesday and his status will be determined afterwards.
The Nuggets have won four straight and six of seven. Kenyon Martin added 25 points and seven rebounds, while Nene had 18 points and six rebounds in the win.
Linas Kleiza posted 11 points, while J.R. Smith had 10 for Denver, which shot a scintillating 58.1 percent from the field and set a season-high for points in a game.
Danny Granger had a game-high 36 points, while Troy Murphy recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost five of seven. Jarrett Jack contributed 17 points, while Stephen Graham had 16 in the loss.
With Denver leading 97-92 heading into the fourth quarter, Graham cut Indiana's deficit to three before the Nuggets went on a 9-0 run, as Nene's dunk put the hosts up 12 with nine minutes left.
Anthony's layup with 6:43 left put the Nuggets up 117-98, and they cruised the rest of the game.
Nene and Martin combined to score 21 points in the first quarter, and the Nuggets took a 40-28 lead to the second.
The teams combined to score a total of 76 points in the second quarter, with Indiana outscoring Denver by eight to trail, 74-70, at halftime.
Both teams played a close third quarter, and Denver took a 97-92 lead to the fourth.
Game Notes
Indiana guard Marquis Daniels left the game in the first half with a strained left groin and did not return...The Nuggets are 24-12 through 36 games this year, matching the team's best start since 1976-1977, its first year in the NBA...The Pacers shot only 43.6 percent from the field in the loss...Denver dominated the rebounding edge, 49-36...The Nuggets have beaten the Pacers in nine of 13 meetings...Roy Hibbert had 10 points for the Pacers.
