Denver Nuggets Blog – Page 56 – NBA Blog

Dirk Nowitzki gets triple-double in Mavs win over Nuggets

Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports:

Either the Mavericks figured something out on Monday night, or the Denver Nuggets aren’t the same team they used to be. Or maybe it’s both.

The Western Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed now is there for the Mavericks’ taking after they dissected the Nuggets, 109-93, Monday night.

Dirk Nowitzki dominated with his second career triple-double, and the Mavericks took the season series, 2-1. That means any tie between the teams will go to the Mavericks when it comes to playoff seedings.

The AP reports:

Dirk Nowitzki’s scoring and rebounding are a given. The Dallas Mavericks’ All-Star forward also prides himself on his passing.

Nowitzki had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double, and the Mavericks maintained the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference with a 109-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.

His first 16 double-doubles this season were for points and rebounds. But with the Nuggets throwing double-teams at him, Nowitzki passed to open teammates for easy baskets.

JJ Redick rocks Nuggets

The AP reports:

J.J. Redick had 23 points and career highs of eight assists and seven rebounds in place of an injured Vince Carter, helping the Orlando Magic beat the Denver Nuggets 103-97 on Sunday night.

He was 8-for-15 shooting and played a career-high 46 minutes after Carter sprained his right big toe. The Magic also got a big boost with 19 points from Anderson for their 13th win in the last 15 games.

Redick got another lift at halftime, too, when he saw his former Duke team about to clinch a spot in the Final Four. But he pointed to his minutes — and what he did with them — as his proudest moment of the night.

“I think sometimes as a player when you know you’re not going to come out, you don’t force things and you move the ball and you make the extra pass,” Redick said.

Melo buzzer jumper helps Nuggets beat Raptors

The AP reports:

Carmelo Anthony takes great pleasure in knocking the life out of a crowd.

Anthony buried an 18-foot fadeaway at the buzzer to lead the Denver Nuggets to a come-from-behind 97-96 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

“I think hitting one on the road, you get that much more joy out of it,” said Anthony. “That much more satisfaction. You’ve got 20 thousand people against you and you can make a shot to silence them? That feels good.” …

Anthony scored 25 points and Nene added 20 for the Nuggets (48-25), who avoided their first four-game losing streak since February 2007. Billups chipped in with 18 points despite going just 4 for 18 from the field.

Chris Bosh had 18 points and 12 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan added 15 points in a rare reserve role, and Bargnani had 14 points and 15 rebounds for Toronto.

Danilo Gallinari getting noticed

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reports:

Danilo Gallinari made a believer out of Tracy McGrady and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony after the 6-foot-10 forward scored 17 of his team-high 28 points in the third quarter of Tuesday’s win over the Nuggets. Gallinari asked to guard Anthony, and in the decisive third quarter, the two players traded shots and words in a classic duel that had the Garden buzzing.

“That was like, ‘(forget) everybody else, it’s me and you,’ ” McGrady said. “I haven’t seen (Hedo) Turkoglu and Dirk (Nowitzki) do that. They play within the team concept. That was ‘get me the ball and everybody move out of the way.’ I was enjoying it.”

Gallinari has always been one of the Knicks’ more physically and mentally tough players. He’ll play through pain, he’s not afraid to take big shots and he won’t back down from a challenge. In December, after the Clippers’ Baron Davis hit Gallinari with an elbow, Gallinari returned the favor after grabbing a rebound. Davis looked stunned.

Rumors Talk: Blatche blowing it

Since the Washington Wizards scrapped their team, two main things have happened that I can think of. First, Josh Howard’s season ended due to injury. And second, big-man Andray Blatche emerged as a legit talent. His stats in the last month or so are inflated because he tends to get the ball a heck of a lot, but still, he’s doing great.

But as you read on the rumors page today, he messed up yesterday, arguing with Flip Saunders and then reportedly refusing to play the rest of the game. By doing this, Blatche sent a message to the masses that he has maturity issues to work on. Hopefully he does the right thing, says sorry to his coach and team, and moves on positively from there. But the Wizards really don’t need any more nonsense from any players.

The Knicks don’t need Raja Bell at all this season. It’s pointless to add him. Bell should probably just hang out someplace cool, regain full health, and focus on joining a championship contender next season.

I definitely hope Don Nelson goes on to coach the Warriors in summer league play, as he reportedly plans. The more head coaches involved in those games, the better. It’ll just raise the level of everything and make the games that much better.

Madison Square Garden’s atmosphere is electric and amazing, even in losing seasons. Can’t wait to see what it’s like when they have an actual good team out there.

The Nuggets without Kenyon Martin probably aren’t a championship contender. He’s certainly not their best player, but they drop a half-rung down the ladder without him.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas returned to the Cavaliers! In equally shocking news, I ate food today, and will likely do so again tomorrow.

I laughed when hearing that Nets CEO Brett Yormark snapped at a fan. I have no followup comment. That’s just friggin funny on its own. Anyway, Yormark is a respected guy. He’s fine. Just a rough day. Or season. But the Nets should give that fan a signed jersey and a free basketball or something. Or a date with a Nets dancer.

On second thought, I’ll take the Nets dancer date. The fan can have the jersey.

Talk to you tomorrow.

This feature is an editorialized take on the day’s hot NBA rumors stories.

Danilo Gallinari asked to guard best opposing scorer

Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks will play host to the Denver Nuggets. And at the small forward spot, it’s about to be ON!

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports:

Danilo Gallinari asks to guard Carmelo Anthony

How else to describe the decision to have Danilo Gallinari guard Denver’s Carmelo Anthony Tuesday at the Garden? Anthony already has hung 50 points on the Knicks this season – more than LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant or any other NBA player.

Here’s the kicker: Not exactly known as a defender, Gallinari asked for the assignment.

“I like to play against the best because that’s the only way to improve,” he said Monday after practice in Greenburgh. “It’s a part of learning. It’s a part of trying to understand where I am and what I have to do get to that level and what they have more than me. I like the challenge.”

Bucks end Nuggets 7-game home winning streak

The AP reports:

The fans sure expected a bleary-eyed, weary-legged Milwaukee Bucks team to show up at the Pepsi Center, where the Denver Nuggets were 30-5.

Chauncey Billups swears he knew better, even though he and his Denver teammates were powerless to do anything about it in a 102-97 loss Saturday night to the Bucks, who didn’t arrive in their hotel rooms until 3 a.m. following a double-overtime win in Sacramento…

The surging Bucks secured their signature road victory even though point guard Brandon Jennings (nine points) and center Andrew Bogut (two points, three rebounds) had nights to forget.

Carlos Delfino scored 26 points, John Salmons added 21, Ersan Ilyasova pitched in 14 points and 10 rebounds and Luke Ridnour hit 5 of 8 shots for 11 points.

George Karl has cancer

Denver Nuggets Head Coach George Karl announced today that he has been diagnosed with squamous cell head/neck cancer.

While receiving treatment, Karl expects to miss periodic practices and games. He is optimistic he will make a full recovery.

“The support I’ve received from my family, the Nuggets organization and my friends in the basketball community already has been incredible,” Karl said.

Karl, 58, is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2005.

“George has been in contact with the organization in recent weeks regarding his health condition,” Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke said. “We will continue to support our head coach in any way we can. Our thoughts are with him and his family as he focuses on getting healthy.”

Out of respect for Karl and his family, the Nuggets will have no further comment.

George Karl to keep coaching while undergoing chemotherapy

David Aldridge of NBA.com reports:

Denver Nuggets coach George Karl is expected to miss several games during the rest of the regular season while he undergoes chemotherapy treatments to deal with a recurrence of cancer, the 58-year-old told NBA.com Tuesday afternoon.

Karl will not take a formal leave of absence during his treatments, which have already begun, but will obviously not be able to be on the bench all the time during the treatment schedule.

Karl is a prostate cancer survivor, having undergone successful surgery in 2005 after his initial diagnosis. But the cancer that has been discovered this time is not in the same area, according to sources. Karl knew the diagnosis last week, before coaching the Western Conference All-Star team in Dallas.

Karl is hoping to just miss nine games while he undergoes the chemotherapy treatments. He will coach the Nuggets for the next three weeks while the treatments continue, but will then take selected games off in March and April. The Nuggets return from the All-Star break on Thursday with a game at Cleveland, and play at Washington Friday before returning home for a Sunday afternoon game against Boston.

Nuggets sign George Karl to contract extension

The Nuggets and head coach George Karl have agreed to a contract extension through the 2010-11 NBA season, the team announced today.

As per team policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. We’ll post info on it tonight.

Since taking over as Nuggets coach on Jan. 27, 2005, Karl has guided Denver to the playoffs in each of the past five years, including a trip to the 2009 Western Conference finals.

At 35-18, the Nuggets currently are second in the West, earning Karl the honor of coaching the Western Conference team at the NBA All-Star Game Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

“We are pleased with the progress the Nuggets have made over the last five years. George has played a pivotal role in our success. His extension is well-deserved,” Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke said. “George and our entire organization remain focused on one goal: Bringing an NBA championship to Denver.”

Now in his 22nd season as an NBA head coach, Karl has taken his teams to the playoffs 18 times, and he has not had a losing season since 1987-88. His 260 victories with the Nuggets rank second in franchise history (Doug Moe, 432), while his .618 winning percentage is unmatched.

“I’ve always said Denver is the only place I want to coach,” Karl said. “Mr. Kroenke’s leadership and his commitment to my staff, players and Nuggets fans are second to none. I have a great deal of respect for Stan, personally and professionally. I look forward to working with him as we pursue our common goal of winning an NBA title.”

Overall, Karl has as a career regular-season record of 968-660 with Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle, Milwaukee and Denver. His victories rank seventh in NBA history.