Reply With Quote
TORONTO (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony had 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Nene had a season-high 21 points in the Denver Nuggets' 101-87 rout of the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
Kenyon Martin added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, who have won four straight.
With regular starting center Marcus Camby sidelined by a bruised tailbone, Nene went 9-for-10 from the field in a season-high 40 minutes.
Denver shot 54 percent compared to 38 for Toronto.
Rafer Alston had 25 points for the Raptors, who have lost six straight.
Before the game, the Raptors placed Vince Carter on the injured list with a strained left Achilles' tendon. Carter will miss at least five games.
ADVERTISEMENT
Toronto's starting frontcourt of Loren Woods and Chris Bosh combined for just 10 points and nine rebounds.
Denver never trailed after Nene tied the game at 4 with a dunk in the first quarter. Nene converted two three-point plays and a layup as Denver finished the first half on a 14-4 run for a 19-point lead.
Martin accidentally knocked Anthony and Miller down while making a ferocious dunk in the third quarter. Martin slapped the backboard after the slam, which gave Denver a 25-point lead.
After Martin stole a pass from Alston, Anthony made an alley-oop pass to Martin, whose tip-in gave Denver a 30-point lead -- its biggest lead of the game -- with 3:21 left in the third quarter.
Toronto never got closer than 14 after that.
Notes
Carter's injury postpones Toronto's chances of trading him. Carter has asked to be dealt, and the Raptors have held trade discussions with a number of teams in recent weeks. ... Morris Peterson replaced Carter in the starting lineup. He had 10 points. ... Martin complained to the stats crew that he wasn't given enough rebounds in the first half. Martin, who had five at halftime, said: ``I had six rebounds in the second quarter alone!'' ... Anthony is shooting 55 percent (39-of-71) in his last four games.
