In game with no meaning, Nuggets avoid injuries and earn 122-107 win

Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 17, 2007 at midnight

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Melo, A.I. and Nene were present, but the cast of characters should have included Jerry, George (Costanza, not Karl) and Elaine.

It was a game about nothing.

Trying to find inspiration - and stay healthy - in a meaningless contest, the Nuggets did their best to put on a show Monday night as they counted down the days until the playoffs begin.

Allen Iverson scored 25 points and Carmelo Anthony added 21 as the Nuggets fought back ambivalence long enough for a 122-107 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Fan Appreciation Night at the Pepsi Center.

The next time the Nuggets take the court in Denver will be against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference playoffs. The sixth-seeded Nuggets certainly had No. 3 San Antonio on the brain Monday.

"San Antonio's one of the best teams in the NBA. They've been that way for the last couple years," Anthony said. "We're going to go compete, go fight. We're going to try to win the series."

Added Iverson: "People talk about the seedings, but honestly, to win a championship, you're going to have to play the best team in the NBA. We're definitely playing one of the best teams in the league."

In preparing for the best-of-seven series against San Antonio, Denver coach George Karl admitted he would be experimenting with defensive sets against Minnesota.

Covering the pick-and-roll and containing the penetration of San Antonio guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will be focal points against the Spurs.

"I think we changed some things (Monday night) that I was pretty happy with," Karl said. "But Tony Parker wasn't out there running (the Timberwolves), either, so it's going to be a different team."

The Timberwolves, long eliminated from playoff contention, might not have been ideal lab rats, but they allowed the Nuggets to put a feel-good ending to an otherwise pedestrian season on their home floor.

The Nuggets won seven of their final eight home games to finish 23-18 at the Pepsi Center. They also have won nine of 10 heading into Wednesday's season finale against none other than the Spurs.

"We're going into the playoffs playing good basketball, and that's important," Iverson said. "You don't want to go into the playoffs playing bad basketball because nine times out of 10, it's going to continue to carry on. You can't just turn the switch on and off, but if you've been playing with some type of rhythm and some type of confidence, that helps."

Nuggets center Marcus Camby sat out Monday night with a sore right knee and he likely will have company on the bench Wednesday.

Iverson said he would prefer to use the next several days to rest his ailing elbow and fingers, and Anthony also would welcome a break in advance of the playoff grind.

"If (Karl) wants us to get out there for a couple minutes, then so be it," Iverson said. "I really don't see a reason."

Anthony checked out of Monday night's game late in the third quarter after playing 25 minutes. Iverson logged 33 minutes before leaving to a nice ovation with the Nuggets leading by 22 points early in the fourth.

"You're playing against a team that's not playing for anything and we're not playing for anything," Anthony said. "I'm surprised we kept our focus the way we did and won the game like we did."

Playing in front of a spirited Lithuanian contingent of about 50, Nuggets reserve Linas Kleiza had 23 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Forward Nene turned in an efficient performance with 18 points in 23 minutes.

It's now on to San Antonio - first for an exhibition game Wednesday, then for Game 1 of the playoffs, most likely Sunday.

"I think we're all anxious to play San Antonio, which is a good thing," Karl said. "But five days waiting for 'em might not be a good thing."

ETC.: Nuggets swingman Von Wafer, signed to a contract last week, will not make the trip to San Antonio and said he expects to be assigned to the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League. The 14ers start the playoffs Wednesday. "I feel great (about the assignment)," Wafer said. "I need to go play." . . . The Nuggets finished with an average home attendance of 17,230, up a sliver from 17,135 last season. The attendance ranks 17th in the NBA. . . . Anthony Carter, also signed by the Nuggets last week, made his Denver debut. He had two assists and four turnovers in 10 minutes.

		FG	FT	Reb
MINNESOTA	Min	M-A	M-A	O-T	A	PF	Pts
Hassell	30:04	2-7	0-0	1-1	6	2	4
CSmith	39:25	8-15	0-1	2-9	2	4	16
Blount	28:53	8-15	2-2	2-7	1	5	18
RDavis	36:06	4-12	3-4	0-0	11	2	11
Foye	39:54	6-10	4-4	0-9	5	4	19
Reed	25:52	8-14	3-4	1-3	1	5	19
James	13:17	2-6	3-3	0-3	4	1	7
Wright	26:29	5-11	2-4	2-5	2	1	13
Totals	240	43-90	17-22	8-37	32	24	107

Percentages - FG .478, FT .773. Three-point goals - 4-14, .286 (Foye 3-4, Wright 1-5, James 0-1, C. Smith 0-1, R. Davis 0-3). Team rebounds - 12. Team turnovers - 17 (20 pts.). Blocked shots - 4 (Blount, R. Davis, Reed, C. Smith). Turnovers - 17 (Foye 7, Hassell 4, R. Davis 3, Blount 2, Wright). Steals - 10 (C. Smith 5, Wright 2, Blount, R. Davis, Foye). Technicals - None.

		FG	FT	Reb
DENVER	Min	M-A	M-A	O-T	A	PF	Pts
Anthony	25:27	7-16	6-7	3-5	4	1	21
Najera	28:29	3-7	2-2	1-6	1	2	8
Nene	23:04	6-9	6-8	5-10	0	1	18
Iverson	33:07	10-17	4-6	0-1	3	2	25
Blake	33:39	2-6	0-0	0-1	10	3	5
Kleiza	23:15	7-12	8-8	3-10	0	3	23
Evans	19:30	3-4	1-1	1-5	1	2	7
Diawara	23:47	1-3	2-4	0-2	1	2	4
Carter	9:56	0-1	0-0	0-1	2	1	0
Johnson	12:00	1-5	3-4	0-0	1	0	5
Sampson	5:26	0-0	0-0	0-3	1	2	0
JSmith	2:20	2-4	0-0	0-0	0	1	6
Totals	240	42-84	32-40	13-44	24	20	122

Percentages - FG .500, FT .800. Three-point goals - 6-18, .333 (J. Smith 2-4, Anthony 1-1, Iverson 1-2, Blake 1-3, Kleiza 1-5, Johnson 0-3). Team rebounds - 9. Team turnovers - 18 (28 pts). Blocked shots - 10 (Evans 3, Anthony 2, Sampson 2, Johnson, Iverson, Carter). Turnovers - 17 (Carter 4, Iverson 3, Evans 2, Blake 2, Anthony, Kleiza, Najera, Diawara, Sampson, Johnson). Steals - 11 (Najera 3, Iverson 3, Nene 3, Anthony, Evans). Technicals - None.