Offensive gurus on TNT Thursday

Three of the NBA’s top offensive teams will be in action tonight on TNT as part of the network’s Thursday night double-header. The Cleveland Cavaliers host the Denver Nuggets (8 p.m. ET), followed by the Detroit Pistons visiting the Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET). Denver’s mission, should it choose to accept it, is to somehow contain the NBA’s most potent weapon: LeBron James. James accounts for nearly 30 percent of his team’s points and has scored at least 40 in three of the last four games. James is averaging a league-high 29.8 points, 8.4 rebounds (25th in the NBA) and 6.9 assists (7th), and is the only player to rank in the top 25 in each category. Denver is the league’s lone team with nine players averaging at least 7.5 points. Chauncey Billups is averaging 15.7 points and 6.0 assists, while leading Denver to a 3-0 record in his three appearances as a Nugget. The 4-3 Nuggets rank seventh overall in scoring (100.1 ppg), while the 5-2 Cavaliers are 10th (99.5 ppg) … The Warriors, who paced the league in scoring last season (111 ppg), rank third thus far at 102.6 ppg. The 5-2 Pistons will need to focus on keeping the 3-5 Warriors out of the middle and off the glass. Golden State ranks first in the league in offensive rebounds (14.4 orpg), third in points in the paint with 47.3 per game and fourth in second chance points with 17.1 per contest. Detroit’s Allen Iverson needs 41 points to tie Elgin Baylor for 19th on the all-time scoring list (23,149) and 69 to tie Adrian Dantley for 18th (23,177).

–NBA News

Nov 11: Nuggets 88, Bobcats 80

The AP reports: Carmelo Anthony scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half, while Billups directed a steady offense and had a key three-point play late in the Nuggets’ 88-80 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night that left Denver 3-0 with their new guard in the lineup… Billups had 16 points and five assists, and provided the veteran leadership down the stretch that helped squash Charlotte’s comeback… Jason Richardson scored 23 points and Adam Morrison added 16, but the Bobcats settled for 27 3-point attempts as they struggled to get it inside despite Denver’s depleted front line… Sean May started the fourth quarter and missed a jumper 13 seconds later. He went to the bench with no points or rebounds two minutes later and didn’t return.

Stuckey tested for dizziness

Detroit Pistons’ guard Rodney Stuckey did not travel with the team to Sacramento today. He remained in Detroit for precautionary, follow-up testing after experiencing symptoms of light-headed and dizziness in Sunday night’s game versus Boston. He is listed as day-to-day.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Maybe he got dizzy watching Allen Iverson run in circles.

Nuggets waive Antonio McDyess

The Denver Nuggets have waived F Antonio McDyess, team Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced today.

It was a buyout. McDyess will take less money than he was actually owed, in return for the right to sign elsewhere. Though, if he wants to go back to the Detroit Pistons, he has to wait 30 days.

McDyess was acquired by the Nuggets from Detroit on Nov. 3 along with G Chauncey Billups and C Cheikh Samb in exchange for G Allen Iverson.  McDyess did not appear in any games for Denver.

Nov 9: Nuggets 100, Grizzlies 90

The AP reports: Chauncey Billups is learning on the job. Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets keep winning. Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points, Billups had 16 points and 10 assists and the Nuggets beat the Memphis Grizzlies 100-90 on Sunday night… The Nuggets had 22 turnovers, but they played tough defense in the second half, holding Memphis to 36 points and 28 percent shooting. They shut down rookie guard O.J. Mayo, who scored a season-high 31 but managed only five after halftime… Nene had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, who had six players score in double figures.

Nov 7: Nuggets 108, Mavs 105

The AP reports: The hometown kid had quite the homecoming—with a little help from Carmelo Anthony. Chauncey Billups made a triumphant return to the Nuggets with 15 points, Anthony scored 28 and Denver beat the Dallas Mavericks 108-105 on Friday night… Jason Kidd finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Mavericks… Gerald Green scored all of his 13 points in the final period, Dirk Nowitzki finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Brandon Bass had 12 points and 10 boards.

Kenyon Martin foundation forms

NBA Star Kenyon Martin announced today the establishment of The Kenyon Martin Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.

The Foundation will focus on providing life-changing opportunities to underserved youth throughout the country, with an emphasis on assisting families without father figures in Denver, Dallas, and Cincinnati.

Martin has a long history of distinguished charitable involvement.  He has served as an honorary Ambassador for the March of Dimes’ Colorado Chapter and is currently a Board Member of the American Institute for Stuttering. He has also lent his support to the numerous charitable endeavors of his teammates and other notable figures both here and abroad.

“I was given an opportunity to earn a wonderful living doing what I love, playing basketball,” Martin observed “I hope to give other children opportunities to do what they love as well. My goal is to do what I can to help them realize their dreams and let them know that no matter where you come from you can always succeed.”

“I applaud Kenyon’s sense of responsibility and obligation to others, in using the hard-earned lessons he learned during his own difficult childhood to help a new generation of kids,” commented Marc Pollick, President of The Giving Back Fund.  “He exemplifies the maxim ‘to whom much is given, much is expected…’“

The Denver Nuggets’ power forward Kenyon Martin was raised in Oak Cliff, Texas, attended college in Cincinnati, and currently resides in Dallas during the off-season.

Nov 5: Warriors 111, Nuggets 101

The AP reports: Stephen Jackson had 29 points and seven assists and Golden State overcame a poor first quarter and some sloppy second-half play to beat the Denver Nuggets 111-101 on Wednesday night… Carmelo Anthony had 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Nuggets, who couldn’t do enough on offense without departed playmaker Allen Iverson despite jumping out to a quick 17-4 lead behind seven points from Dahntay Jones… Nene added 19 points and 15 rebounds in Denver’s first game since dealing Iverson to Detroit on Monday for Chauncey Billups… Kelenna Azubuike added 22 points and eight rebounds off the bench and reserve Brandan Wright scored 14 of his career-high 18 points in the first half to keep Golden State close. He also had a career-best 13 rebounds and three blocks. The Warriors were within 59-58 at the break.