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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, March 8, 2010

Anthony propels Nuggets by Blazers


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy elevates over Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo to put up a shot in the first quarter.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | Associated Press

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DENVER — Carmelo Anthony hurt the Portland Trail Blazers with his shooting — and passing.

Anthony scored 30 points — his third consecutive game with at least 30 points — and the Denver Nuggets beat the Trail Blazers, 118-106, last night for their third straight victory.

Anthony also had five of the Nuggets' 31 assists, reflecting the team's determination to incorporate everyone in the offense as a way to help make up for the absences of Kenyon Martin (knee) and Ty Lawson (shoulder).

"I think it's contagious, passing the ball," Anthony said. "With Kenyon being out, of course we miss him, I think that just brings us closer together as a team, especially for me. It's that time of the year I've got to start taking over, not so much scoring with the basketball, but making guys better, like I did tonight."

J.R. Smith added 22 points, Chauncey Billups had 21 points and Nene 14 for the Nuggets, who improved to 28-5 at the Pepsi Center, the third-best home record in the NBA behind Cleveland and the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Fortunately, we scored enough and we stopped enough," Denver coach George Karl said. "I've been saying for two years when we play with intensity defensively and pass the ball offensively, we have a hell of a chance to beat anybody in basketball."

Jerryd Bayless scored 24 points and Andre Miller 19 for the Trail Blazers, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.

CELTICS 86, WIZARDS 83

Ray Allen scored a game-high 25 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 17.1 seconds remaining, as host Boston rallied from a 13-point deficit with 6:11 to play.

"Well, we choked. Six minutes to go and we're up 13 and we start talking to (Kevin) Garnett, start talking trash and everything else," Wizards coach Flip Saunders said. "Got Garnett and those guys juiced up."

Al Thornton had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Andray Blatche added 23 and nine rebounds for Washington.

76ERS 114, RAPTORS 101

Thaddeus Young scored a career-high 32 points, Jrue Holiday had 21 and visiting Philadelphia beat Toronto to snap a five-game losing streak.

"Today was just a great day," Young said. "My teammates were looking for me and they put me in different positions."

Jarrett Jack had 20 points and nine assists for Toronto, which has lost five of six.

PISTONS 110, ROCKETS 107, OT

Tayshaun Prince scored a season-high 29 points and Richard Hamilton added 22 as host Detroit beat Houston in overtime to snap a six-game losing streak.

"Tay was hot, so I just kept feeding him the ball," said Pistons point guard Will Bynum. "It is good to see him playing like that."

Houston got 27 points from Kevin Martin and 25 from Aaron Brooks, but both missed key 3-point attempts in the last 10 seconds of overtime.

THUNDER 108, KINGS 102

Kevin Durant had 27 points and Russell Westbrook scored 13 of his 21 in the fourth quarter as visiting Oklahoma City won for the 14th time in its last 17 games.

"He's so quick, athletic and strong, and has a lot of moves," Durant said of Westbrook, who also had eight rebounds. "He does a great job of getting to the rim."

Tyreke Evans had 24 points and seven assists for Sacramento.

NOTES

Trail Blazers: Center Joel Przybilla, already out for the season, slipped while taking a shower at his home and ruptured the right patella tendon that he tore in December, team officials said yesterday. Portland coach Nate McMillan said Przybilla would undergo surgery in the next few days to repair the tendon for a second time.

Nuggets: Forward Kenyon Martin was ruled out of last night's game against Portland because of continuing left knee soreness that the team has described as chronic patella tendinitis. Martin will consult with doctors today to determine its severity and further treatment options.

Pistons: Point guard Rodney Stuckey is out indefinitely after falling ill on the Pistons bench Friday. He returned to Detroit on Saturday after spending the night at the Cleveland Clinic, and Detroit coach John Kuester said the team expects to know more about Stuckey's status within 48 hours.