Nuggets Run Past Wolves
January 4, 2008

Before many of the 13,536 spectators had found their seats at the Target Center, the Denver Nuggets had raced to a 12-0 lead over the impotent Minnesota Timberwolves. For the game, that was it. End of story. Case closed. Game over. A wincing press-box veteran suggested calling the NBA office and asking David Stern to step in and do something to stop the carnage.

Anthony Carter, one of a group of former Timberwolves who have gone on to success elsewhere, was one of Denver’s shining stars Friday. Carter hit his first four shots and finished with a season-high 11 assists and 16 points on 7-for-9 shooting. The veteran guard ignited Denver’s fast start by pushing the ball up the court and was a big reason the Nuggets outscored Minnesota 24-4 on the fast break.

A laconic George Karl, Denver’s coach, described the game as follows: “We got off to a good start and never lost the lead.”

Allen Iverson scored 33 points, Carmelo Anthony added 26, and the Nuggets waltzed past Timberwolves 118-107. Denver penetrated the paint often, finishing with 64 points inside. Still, the Wolves managed to cut the deficit to three at 83-80 with 1:36 left in the third quarter. But consecutive baskets from the superstar Iverson, who had 11 points in the final quarter, squashed any hopes for a Wolves comeback. At times, Minnesota’s Marko Jaric was assigned to guard Iverson. This is similar to asking a horse to win a dance competition with Fred Astaire. It simply wasn’t fair.

The Nuggets, however, aren’t exactly defensive wizards themselves. Throughout franchise history (including the American Basketball Association), Denver has maintained a run-and-gun philosophy. In his post-game remarks, Karl was asked by Rocky Mountain reporters about an “improved” Denver defense. They should have learned by now that searching for signs of an improved Nuggets defense is like looking for a polar bear in a blizzard – if it’s there, it’s barely visible.

Denver plays best when the team is in possession of the ball. On Friday, after scoring plays, the Nuggets were observed savoring the moment with a laugh among themselves. Certain Timberwolves benchwarmers, on the other hand, were seen relaxing and waving to members of the crowd.

In the meantime, the Wolves continue to search for the team’s fifth win. Minnesota’s current record is four wins, 28 losses. It is well to note that Denver is only a decade away from its worst team, the 1997-98 Nuggets. That team went 4-42 before defeating Boston on February 10, 1998. Denver that year finished with 11 wins and 71 losses.

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