The Denver Nuggets have recalled rookie forward Quincy Miller from the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today.

Miller, 6-9, 210, joined the Energy on Nov. 13. He started two of three games and averaged 14.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 29.0 minutes.

Selected by the Nuggets with the 38th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, Miller joined the Nuggets after being named the 2011-12 Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year in his only season at Baylor University.

He averaged 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds for Denver at the 2012 NBA Summer League but has not appeared in an NBA game.

By the time Dwight Howard stepped back and oh-so-coolly hit just the second 3-pointer of his entire career in the closing seconds, it didn’t even seem weird to the Los Angeles Lakers.

With so many unlikely numbers in improbable places on that bulging scoresheet, what was one last long-distance shot for a team that finally discovered its elusive rhythm?

Antawn Jamison scored 33 points while leading an outstanding game by the Lakers’ reserves, and Howard had 28 points and 20 rebounds before hitting Los Angeles’ 17th 3-pointer to close a 122-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.

Jodie Meeks scored 21 points on a career high-tying seven 3-pointers for the Lakers, who improved to 3-3 under Mike D’Antoni while playing at the furious tempo favored by their new coach…

Kobe Bryant had 14 points and eight assists for the Lakers, who moved the ball to the tune of 33 assists while making 54 percent of their shots. They also tied the club record for 3-pointers in a regulation game, getting five from Jamison in the first 30-point game by a Lakers reserve since Shaquille O’Neal did it in 1998.

Jamison, the high-scoring veteran who signed with Los Angeles for a shot at a title, found the shooting stroke he has lacked for much of the season so far, going 13 for 19 and grabbing 12 rebounds while taking more shots than Bryant or Howard…

Los Angeles led 71-57 at halftime, making 60 percent of its shots in an impressive stretch of offensive basketball.

– Reported by Greg Beacham of the Associated Press

If there were ever a time to praise the benefits of replay, Warriors coach Mark Jackson found it.

Andre Iguodala’s 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded was waived off, and Golden State held on for a wild 106-105 win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night after four replay reviews over the final 3.4 seconds.

Iguodala received a cross-court inbounds pass and connected from the left wing with a hand in his face, and Denver players celebrated by running off the court toward their locker room. But the Warriors stayed put and waited on yet another review by officials at the scorer’s table - then began their own cheers at raucous Oracle Arena when officials ruled the shot came just an instant after time expired…

David Lee hit a layup with 2:12 left on the way to a season-high 31 points on 13-of-15 shooting for the Warriors, who earned a hard-fought first win of the season against the Nuggets in the third meeting between the teams in a 20-day span.

Klay Thompson scored 21 points and Stephen Curry had 20 points and a season-best 10 assists as Golden State (9-6) won for the fourth time in five games and moved three games above .500 for the first time since it was 7-4 early in the 2010-11 season. The Warriors also have nine wins in their first 16 games for the first time since 2006-07.

Iguodala finished with 22 points, Danilo Gallinari added 20 points and nine rebounds and Ty Lawson 17 points and nine assists for the Nuggets, who escaped with a double-overtime victory here Nov. 10 before beating Golden State at home last Friday.

– Reported by Janie McCauley of the Associated Press

The Denver Nuggets have promoted Pete D’Alessandro to Vice President of Basketball Operations and Mike Bratz to Director of Player Personnel, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today.

D’Alessandro is in his third season with the Nuggets after joining the team in 2010 as advisor to the executive vice president of basketball operations. From 2004-08, he served as director of basketball operations and assistant general manager for the Golden State Warriors.

Bratz joined the Nuggets as the team’s scouting director in 2009. Prior to coming to Denver, he spent nine years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, serving as director of basketball operations and director of player personnel.

Bratz also spent nine years in the NBA, playing for Phoenix, Cleveland, San Antonio, Chicago, Golden State and Sacramento. In addition, he was an assistant coach with the Cavaliers in 2002-03 and 2005.

Danilo Gallinari had suffered through an inconsistent shooting touch early this season, but he got untracked to help Denver end the Memphis Grizzlies’ eight-game winning streak.

Gallinari scored a season-high 26 points, including a 3-pointer with 13 seconds left, and the Nuggets handed the Grizzlies only their second loss of the season with a 97-92 victory Monday night.

Gallinari entered the game shooting 34 percent from the field and 21 percent from outside the arc. He finished the night 7 of 15 from the field and 2 of 6 from long range. Gallinari’s late 3-pointer came as Memphis had surrendered a lead in the final minutes. The shot from the wing, set up by a pass from point guard Ty Lawson, put the Nuggets up 96-92…

JaVale McGee provided a second-half lift for Denver and finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Kenneth Faried added 13 points and grabbed 13 boards to help the Nuggets outrebound Memphis 47-33…

Rudy Gay scored 22 points, Marc Gasol added 16 and Randolph had 12 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.

– Reported by Clay Bailey of the Associated Press

LeBron James had 27 points and 12 assists, and the short-handed Miami Heat ended a decade-long drought in Denver with a 98-93 win over the Nuggets on Thursday night.

Shane Battier added 18 points - all on 3-pointers - in the Heat’s first win at Denver since Jan. 29, 2002, a streak of 10 straight losses. Every other NBA team has won at the Pepsi Center during that span.

The Heat nearly blew a 19-point second-half lead but held on despite being without Dwyane Wade (foot) and Mario Chalmers, who went to the bench after just 7 1/2 minutes with a strained right triceps.

Andre Miller had 19 points and Kenneth Faried led the Nuggets with 16 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Ty Lawson, who is averaging 13.5 points, didn’t score.

Lawson would have given Denver its first lead of the night with 5:35 remaining, but his basket was waived off when he was whistled for an offensive foul for running over Battier…

JaVale McGee had 18 points, including a hook shot after getting the inbounds with just 0.4 seconds left on the shot clock that made it 79-74, and the Nuggets chipped away until Andre Miller’s three-point play pulled Denver to 85-84.

– Reported by Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press

The Miami Heat’s LeBron James and the Denver Nuggets’ Kenneth Faried were today named Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 11.

James guided the Heat to a 3-1 week with averages of 21.0 points on .569 shooting from the field, a conference-best 11.0 rebounds (tied with the Brooklyn Nets’ Kris Humphries), and 6.0 assists. James grabbed his 5,000th career rebound on Nov. 9 during Miami’s 95-89 win over Atlanta. James posted a point-rebound double-double in all four of Miami’s contests on the week and handed out six or more assists in three-of-four games.

Faried helped the Nuggets to a 4-0 week, posting three point-rebound double-doubles in the process. Faried averaged 16.8 points on .563 shooting from the field to go alongside 12.8 rebounds (second in the conference to Memphis’ Zach Randolph’s 14.3 rpg), 1.8 blocks and 1.0 steals. Faried tallied 18 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and two steals during a 107-101 victory at Golden State to close the week.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were New York’s Carmelo Anthony, Memphis’ Zach Randolph, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka, Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday and Charlotte’s Kemba Walker.

The Denver Nuggets have signed point guard Ty Lawson to a multiyear contract extension, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today. According to the Denver Post, it is a four-year extension worth $48 million.

“We felt Ty was ready to take on a lot of responsibility last season and he proved he could handle it,” Ujiri said. “He is maturing as a leader on the court and in the locker room, so it was an easy decision for us to sign him to an extension.”

Lawson, 24, excelled in his first full season as a starter in 2011-12, averaging career-highs in nearly every statistical category, including points (16.4), assists (6.6), rebounds (3.7) and steals (1.34).

He shot .488 from the field, recorded nine double-doubles and led Denver in scoring a team-best 19 times.

Lawson, 5-11, 195, also performed well in the playoffs, averaging 19 points and six assists during the Nuggets’ seven-game series against the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Nuggets facing elimination in Game 6, he scored a playoff career-high 32 points on 13-of-18 shooting to help the Nuggets extend the series.

“We are thrilled to have reached an agreement on a contractual extension with Ty,” Nuggets president Josh Kroenke said. “This new contract is a reflection of his hard work and dedication throughout the past three seasons with our organization. Ty is a dynamic player, a wonderful person, and someone we expect to lead us into the future.”

Lawson, the 18th overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, has steadily improved in each of his three seasons since being acquired by the Nuggets in a draft-night trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves on July 25, 2009.

He averaged 8.3 points and 3.1 assists as a rookie in 2009-10 and 11.7 points and 4.6 assists in 2010-11.

Given more responsibility last season, Lawson emerged as a reliable floor leader and scorer. During a three-game stretch immediately after the All-Star break, he averaged 20.7 points, 11.7 assists, 7.0 rebounds and 1.33 steals and was named Western Conference Player of the Week.

He became the first Nuggets player to average at least 20 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds over three games since Fat Lever in April 1989.

Lawson continued to produce as the Nuggets battled for a playoff spot late in the season. He scored 22 points and added a career-high 15 assists on March 2 at Houston and struck for 29 points and 10 assists in a playoff-clinching victory at Phoenix on April 21.

A year earlier, Lawson became the first NBA player to make his first 10 three-point attempts when he caught fire against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 9, 2011, at Pepsi Center. He finished 10-of-11 from long range en route to a career-high 37 points.

The Denver Nuggets are getting closer to making a deal with guard Ty Lawson on a contract extension before Wednesday’s deadline for 2009 Draft picks, according to a league source.

There is not a deal in place, but with the clock ticking, hopes are increasing that a deal can be made. The Nuggets and Lawson have been working on an extension for the past few weeks, and the fourth-year guard has been one of the few members of his Draft class that was given a decent chance to get something done. Lawson, who will turn 25 later this week, has become one of the league’s most dynamic point guards. He averaged 16.4 points and 6.6 assists last season, and his PER of 19.43 rated ninth among point guards. With Lawson pushing the ball, Denver became a lethal transition team and the Nuggets have hopes they can be even more efficient after acquiring forward Andre Iguodala from Philadelphia in August as part of the four-team trade that sent center Andrew Bynum from the Lakers to the 76ers.

– Reported by David Aldridge of TNT/NBA.com

The Denver Nuggets have waived G Anthony Carter and G Ben Uzoh, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today. The moves bring Denver’s roster to the NBA-maximum 15 players.

Carter, 6-1, 190, averaged 4.3 points, 5.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds in three preseason games with the Nuggets.

Uzoh, 6-3, 205, appeared in one preseason game for Denver; he scored two points and handed out three assists in 20 minutes against the Golden State Warriors.

The 6-foot-8, 228-pound Faried appears to have all the attributes to become one of the NBA’s best overall rebounders. Maybe of his generation. Consider that he set the NCAA career record for rebounds at Morehead State. Then, he didn’t have a summer league or a normal-length training camp due to the lockout a year ago, so he missed weeks of training from Denver’s coaches about the NBA nuances of board-crashing. Oh, and he didn’t play much in the first third of the season as he tried to catch up.

So now, the 22-year old Faried is coming off a productive summer and flourishing during the preseason, soaring and scoring.

“High energy and has a big-time motor, which you can’t teach, and he has skill to go with it,” said Warriors coach Mark Jackson, who watched Faried torch his team for 27 points and 17 boards — in just 24 minutes, last spring. “He’s a weapon that George uses extremely well. He’s definitely a guy who you want to match his motor, or you’re going to have a problem all night long.

– Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

After a couple hours of Denver’s first practice of camp, the practice-ending scrimmage was, sure enough, tied. The coaches knew there’s a long camp ahead, but some of the players, perpetually competitive, wanted to keep playing…

Center JaVale McGee got sick during the practice and didn’t finish the day. Forward Wilson Chandler and guard Julyan Stone, each coming off a hip injury, practiced lightly and didn’t compete in scrimmage play.

Denver’s first preseason game is Saturday in Las Vegas against the Clippers.

– Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

The Denver Nuggets will open training camp with 17 players after signing G Anthony Carter and G Ben Uzoh, Nuggets Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri announced today.

Carter, 6-1, 190, is a 13-year NBA veteran who previously spent four-plus years with Denver from 2006-11. He has appeared in 218 games for the Nuggets, averaging 5.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Carter, 37, reached the postseason each of his four full seasons with Denver and appeared in all 16 of their games during the Western Conference Finals run in 2009. He played for the Toronto Raptors during the 2011-12 campaign, where he averaged 2.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 24 games.

Uzoh, 6-3, 205, attended the University of Tulsa before playing in the NBA and NBA D-League over the past two seasons. He owns career averages of 4.0 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 60 career games with New Jersey (2010-11), Cleveland (2011-12) and Toronto (2011-12).

Uzoh, 24, has appeared in 24 career games in the D-League (four with Springfield and 20 with Rio Grande Valley), averaging 15.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.50 steals.

The Denver Nuggets have signed second-round draft pick Quincy Miller to a multiyear contract, executive vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri announced today.

Miller, 6-9, 210, was the 38th overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft after being named the 2011-12 Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year at Baylor University. He averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in 37 games while helping the Bears reach the Elite Eight at the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Miller, 19, played for Denver at the 2012 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in five games.

With Miller’s addition, the Nuggets now have 15 players on their roster.

And so, the Nuggets center is spending some of his summer at the home of Hakeem, which for McGee is, pun intended, a dream.

“It’s definitely an honor to be working with him,” McGee said.

McGee has spent a couple of weeks on Olajuwon’s ranch near Houston, where Denver teammate Kenneth Faried is expected to work out as well this month.

Olajuwon has become sort of a hoops whisperer, teaching his intricate moves to some of the NBA’s best bigs, including Dwight Howard and Amar’e Stoudemire.

“No question, I see him as another star,” Olajuwon said to the Fox affiliate in Houston about McGee. “That guy should dominate the league.

– Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

The team held an introductory news conference Thursday for the former 76er acquired by Denver this month. The 28-year-old Iguodala is under contract for 2012-13 (around $14.7 million) and has a player option for 2013-14. But both he and Denver executive Masai Ujiri said they want to negotiate a long-term contract in the coming season, in efforts to lock down the shooting guard like he locks down helpless ball-handlers.

“We are definitely looking ahead, looking to see how we can go forward so this isn’t a quick stop for me,” said the 6-foot-6 Iguodala, who averages 15.3 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists for his career. “Knowing that this is a great organization, I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from a lot of different guys, former players, current players, even other trainers about the organization, (telling me) this would be a great place for me to have some great years — and possibly ending my career here.”

– Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

Afflalo will be competing for the starting shooting guard with veteran J.J. Redick. He has become one of the league’s steadier defenders, a role he embraced in Denver.

He said last season, “I developed more confidence (offensively), hit some big shots. It’s an opportunity for me to continue to grow.”

Afflalo, originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2007, averaged 15.2 points and 2.4 assists last season.

– Reported by Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel

The teams owned by the Kroenke family, including the Nuggets, are donating $100,000 to benefit the victims of the two tragedies that have struck Colorado this summer – the July 20 theater shootings and the rampant wildfires.

“On behalf of the Kroenke family and KSE, we would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to all of those affected by these tragedies,” said KSE President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Martin in a statement. “We feel privileged to be part of this wonderful community and it is our responsibility to help in this time of need.”

In the Pepsi Center regular-season openers of the Nuggets and Avalanche, KSE will honor the victims, the victims’ families and first responders.

– Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

The Nuggets, you may have heard, like to run. They push the basketball in transition at every opportunity. Iguodala should fit right in with his rebounding, speed and hustle. Sebastian Pruiti is a D-League assistant coach and blogs about intricate basketball stats. He wrote that 18.1 percent of Denver’s possessions last season were in transition, tops in the league and that Denver had the third-highest offensive efficiency in transition. Iguodala gets out on the break and gets the ball in the basket. In situations in which he wasn’t handling the ball in transition, he shot 79.2 percent last season.

JaVale McGee knows the guy’s game. The Nuggets center, acquired from the Washington Wizards last season, had often battled Iguodala in the Eastern Conference.

“He’s just a real good addition to the team — and he’s definitely a defensive threat,” McGee said. “And he’s very athletic. It’s good to have more defensive-minded people on the team, because you can score a lot of points but you have to also be able to defend.”

– Reported by Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post

The Orlando Magic have acquired six players and five future draft picks in a four-team, 12-player trade, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Orlando acquired guard Aaron Afflalo (ah-FLAH-low) and forward Al Harrington from Denver, forward Maurice Harkless and center Nikola Vucevic (KNEE-coal-uh VOOCH-uh-vitch) from Philadelphia, as well as forward Josh McRoberts and guard/forward Christian Eyenga (eye-EN-gah) from the Los Angeles Lakers.

In addition, the Magic have also acquired five additional draft picks over the next five years.  Orlando receives: a second round pick from Denver in 2013, a first round pick from either Denver or New York in 2014, a conditional first round pick from Philadelphia and a conditional second round pick from the L.A. Lakers in 2015, and a conditional first round pick from the L.A. Lakers in 2017.

The Magic have traded center Dwight Howard, guard Chris Duhon and forward Earl Clark to the L.A. Lakers, while sending guard Jason Richardson to Philadelphia.  As part of the deal, Philadelphia has acquired center Andrew Bynum, while Denver has acquired guard/forward Andre Iguodala.

“A primary goal for our basketball team is to achieve sustainability while maintaining a long-term vision. We feel this deal puts us in a position to begin building in that direction,” said Hennigan.  “In addition to the six players joining our team, we will be in a position to maximize our salary cap flexibility in the near future, as well as utilize the multiple draft picks we have acquired going forward.”

“Dwight Howard accomplished tremendous success on and off the court during his eight years in Orlando,” said Hennigan.  “We wish him, Chris (Duhon), Earl (Clark) and Jason (Richardson) all the best in the future.”

Afflalo (6’5”, 215, 10/15/85) played and started in 62 games last season with Denver, averaging a career-high 15.2 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 2.4 apg. in 33.6 minpg.  He shot .471 (329-699) from the field, .398 (88-221) from three-point range and .798 (197-247) from the free throw line.  Afflalo ranked 24th in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage and 39th in scoring.  He led (or tied) the team in scoring 11 times, in rebounding twice and in assists once.  Afflalo scored a career-high 32 points on Mar. 5 vs. Sacramento.  He also played and started in seven playoff games, averaging 10.9 ppg., 3.6 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 32.7 minpg.

Harrington (6’9”, 245, 2/17/80) played in 64 games last season (one start) with Denver, averaging 14.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 27.5 minpg.  He scored in double figures 53 times, and had 10 games with 20-or-more points, including a season-high 31 points on Feb. 20 vs. Minnesota.  Harrington also appeared in seven playoff outings, averaging 9.7 ppg. and 4.3 rpg. in 23.3 minpg.

Harkless (6’8”, 210, 5/11/93) was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by Philadelphia.  He played and started all 32 games as a freshman last season with St. John’s University, averaging 15.5 ppg., 8.6 rpg., 1.5 apg., 1.59 stlpg. and 1.41 blkpg.  Harkless ranked second in the nation in rebounding among freshmen and sixth in scoring.  He was named the 2011-12 Big East Conference Rookie of the Year.

Vucevic (7’0”, 240, 10/24/90) played in 51 games (15 starts) during his rookie campaign last season with Philadelphia, averaging 5.5 ppg. and 4.8 rpg. in 15.9 minpg.  He ranked among all NBA rookies in rebounding (t-sixth), blocked shots (t-sixth) and field goal percentage (.450, eighth).  Vucevic led (or tied) the Sixers in scoring four times and in rebounding nine times.  He also played in one playoff outing.

McRoberts (6’10”, 240, 2/28/87) played in 50 games last season (six starts) with the Lakers, averaging 2.8 ppg., 3.4 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 14.4 minpg.  He scored a season-high 16 points on Apr. 26 @ Sacramento.  McRoberts also played in six playoff contests.

Eyenga (6’5”, 210, 6/22/89) played in seven combined games last season with both Cleveland and the Lakers, averaging 2.4 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 14.7 minpg.  He was acquired by Los Angeles along with Ramon Sessions in exchange for Luke Walton, Jason Kapono, a future first round pick and other considerations on Mar. 15.  Eyenga also played in three playoff contests.

Howard appeared in 621 career regular season games with Orlando from 2004-12, averaging 18.4 ppg., 13.0 rpg., 1.5 apg., 2.16 blkpg. and 1.01 stlpg. in 36.2 minpg.  He was named to the All-NBA First Team five times (2007-12), was a six-time NBA All-Star (2007-12) and was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2009-11).

Clark played in 78 regular season games during his two seasons with Orlando (2010-12), averaging 3.3 ppg. and 2.7 rpg. in 12.2 minpg.

Duhon played in 114 regular season games during his two seasons with Orlando (2010-12), averaging 3.2 ppg., 2.4 apg. and 1.4 rpg. in 17.5 minpg.

Richardson played and started in 109 regular season games during his two seasons with Orlando (2010-12), averaging 12.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.09 stlpg. in 32.2 minpg.  He also shot .377 (229-608) from three-point range.

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