Chauncey Billups scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 91-81 win over the San Antonio Spurs. The Nuggets have won seven of eight games since acquiring Billups in a trade with the Detroit Pistons two weeks ago, and his midas touch appears to show no sign of waning for Denver as he put in another super show.
Billups, an All-Star and NBA champion, dished out six assists and Carmelo Anthony added 21 points and nine rebounds as Denver (8-4) ended a three-game win streak for the Spurs (5-6) with an impressive showing. "I have a lot of pride with Denver," the Denver native Billups said. "Being able to now have that 'Denver' across my chest just makes me feel good." Filling the distribution role Denver had previously lacked with the attack-minded Allen Iverson, Billups has been the perfect fit for the Nuggets averaging 18.7 points and 5.8 assists since joining the team.
He scored seven points during an 11-1 run in the third quarter that gave the Nuggets a commanding 75-54 advantage over the Spurs, which ultimately clinched the game in their favour as they cruised through the final quarter. Playing without injured guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, San Antonio struggled to a statistic of 38 per cent shooting from the field including just 2-for-17 from the three-point line.
The rookie point guard George Hill led the Spurs with 20 points and Tim Duncan was held to just 12 points and 11 rebounds as he had a quiet day at the office. Nuggets power forward Kenyon Martin recorded 18 points and seven rebounds in a strong game that included top notch defence against Duncan - something that Martin took great pride in. "I never let him do what he wants," Martin said. "I never have, never will."
San Antonio have struggled offensively as of late, averaging just 84 points per contest since Parker was injured on Nov 7. The Spurs went more than four minutes without a field goal in the second quarter of the match and they fell behind 50-40 at half-time. "It's a long season," Hill said as he looked to explain his side's below-par showing. "We're not expecting to play our best basketball right now."
* Reuters
