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Iverson shows winning touch with game on line

On-target jumper in last second lifts Denver to victory

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 5, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

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Carmelo Anthony, who led the Nuggets with 28 points, drives around Travis Outlaw during Denver's overtime victory.

Photo by Sam Forencich / Nbae Via Getty Images

Carmelo Anthony, who led the Nuggets with 28 points, drives around Travis Outlaw during Denver's overtime victory.

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PORTLAND, Ore. — Allen Iverson didn’t make a lot of shots. Just the important ones.

Iverson drilled a 14-foot fadeaway jumper with 0.9 seconds left to give the Nuggets a 105-103 overtime win over Portland on Monday night at the Rose Garden.

“My whole thing was just to try to run it down and get the last shot with like two seconds left,” Iverson said. “I think I shot it just before then. ... I got a real good look at the basket.”

Iverson shot just 10-of-28 for 25 points. But he made the shots that counted, hitting a key three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation and a desperation three-pointer at the end of the third quarter that gave the Nuggets much-needed momentum.

Forward Carmelo Anthony, playing just his second game after missing five with a sprained left ankle, led the Nuggets with 28 points and pulled down 15 rebounds. After the game, Anthony had his right shoulder and both knees wrapped in ice.

“I’ve never seen a guy get beat up as he did,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “He didn’t get fouls and he didn’t get to the free-throw line (7-of-7).”

But in the end, the victory made up for all his aches.

“For us to come in and win on the road is a big win,” Anthony said.

The victory kept the Nuggets (29-18) a game behind Utah (31-18) in the Northwest Division and moved them two games ahead of Portland (27-20). It also prevented the Trail Blazers from winning the season series. The teams finished tied 2-2.

Guard Brandon Roy led the Trail Blazers with 26 points. He missed a desperation long jumper at the overtime buzzer after Iverson’s fadeway had put the Nuggets up for good at 105-103.

“It’s tough when you lose on a buzzer killer,” Roy said. “That’s what makes (the Nuggets) tough.”

The Nuggets have been winning these types of games all season.

“One of our problems is a sense of urgency,” Iverson said. “It takes for us to get down, and, if we don’t turn it up, we’re going to lose the basketball game.”

The Nuggets had a sense of urgency at the start, taking a 37-20 lead in the second quarter. But Portland, which missed its first 11 shots and didn’t get its first field goal until 4:45 was left in the first quarter, stormed back to close the deficit to 50-44 at halftime.

The Nuggets then fell behind by seven in the third quarter before regaining their sense of urgency. Trailing 78-72, Anthony made a layup, was fouled and converted a three-point play with 1.9 seconds left in the quarter.

Iverson then intercepted an inbound pass and drilled a 32-foot three-pointer at the quarter buzzer to tie the score 78-78, a shot Karl said got Iverson, who had only six points in the first half, going.

“I obviously felt a lot better because I couldn’t hit anything before that,” Iverson said.

The game went back and forth in the fourth quarter, with Portland having a chance to take control. But forward Travis Outlaw was called for a charge on Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera with 58 seconds left and Portland leading 99-97.

Iverson then drilled a three-pointer with 39.8 seconds left to put the Nuggets up 100-99. It had a chance to be the winner until forward Kenyon Martin was called for fouling Outlaw on a jumper with 2.9 seconds left.

“I thought they got a cheap call,” Karl said.

Fortunately for the Nuggets, Outlaw missed the first free throw before hitting the second. Iverson then missed a three-pointer at the buzzer, one of the few big shots he didn’t hit.

Anthony, who got a technical late in regulation for arguing a call, believed he got a bad whistle in overtime when he was said to have hit Martell Webster on a three-point attempt with 3:36 left. But Webster made just one free throw to tie the score 101-101.

Center Steven Hunter started his second straight game for the Nuggets in place of Marcus Camby, sidelined with a bruised left knee. But the Nuggets got Najera back after he missed a game because of a right lower rib contusion and muscle strain. And the late charge he drew proved pivotal.

Karl lauded a number of Denver’s defensive plays down the stretch. He was complimentary of a play in the waning seconds of overtime that could also have been looked at as a youthful mistake by the Trail Blazers.

With the score tied 103-103, Jarrett Jack made a steal with 21.9 seconds left. Instead of playing for the last shot, though, Jack forced the ball down the court and turned it over to Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza with 15.9 seconds remaining.

That set the stage for Iverson’s final late jumper. Most of his shots on the night weren’t pretty, but that one was.

Nuggets 105, Trail Blazers 103, OT

FG FT Reb

DENVER Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Anthony 47:15 10-27 7-7 7-15 5 5 28

Martin 42:01 6-10 1-2 4-11 1 2 13

Hunter 8:56 1-5 0-0 3-3 0 1 2

Iverson 49:30 10-28 2-2 2-6 8 3 25

Carter 29:31 1-3 2-2 1-7 5 3 4

Diawara 3:11 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 0

Najera 39:49 3-7 2-2 2-5 2 2 8

Kleiza 30:39 6-11 1-2 1-3 0 2 15

Smith 14:08 4-7 1-1 1-3 1 0 10

Totals 265 41-99 16-18 21-53 22 20 105

Percentages - FG .414, FT .889. Three-point goals - 7-19, .368 (Iverson 3-6, Kleiza 2-4, Anthony 1-2, Smith 1-2, Carter 0-1, Diawara 0-1, Najera 0-3). Team rebounds - 5. Team turnovers - 16 (14 pts.). Blocked shots - 4 (Martin 2, Hunter, Najera). Turnovers - 16 (Anthony 5, Iverson 5, Carter 2, Kleiza 2, Martin, Najera). Steals - 11 (Carter 4, Iverson 3, Kleiza, Martin, Najera, Smith). Technicals - Anthony, 5:41 fourth.

FG FT Reb

PORTLAND Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Webster 36:06 5-8 4-7 1-5 1 2 17

Aldridge 39:51 2-9 0-0 5-12 2 2 4

Przybilla 16:35 1-4 0-0 4-5 1 2 2

Roy 48:25 10-24 6-8 4-7 8 2 26

Blake 29:52 4-13 0-0 1-2 9 0 11

Frye 21:16 4-7 2-2 0-1 0 3 10

Jack 34:28 6-13 2-2 1-9 9 2 17

Outlaw 34:40 6-13 4-6 2-10 1 3 16

Rodriguez 3:47 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Totals 265 38-92 18-25 18-51 31 16 103

Percentages - FG .413, FT .720. Three-point goals - 9-22, .409 (Jack 3-5, Webster 3-6, Blake 3-8, Outlaw 0-1, Rodriguez 0-1, Roy 0-1). Team rebounds - 12. Team turnovers - 18 (16 pts.). Blocked shots - 10 (Aldridge 4, Przybilla 2, Frye, Outlaw, Roy, Webster). Turnovers - 17 (Jack 7, Outlaw 4, Aldridge, Blake, Frye, Rodriguez, Roy, Webster). Steals - 10 (Jack 3, Blake 2, Outlaw 2, Roy 2, Webster). Technicals - None.

Denver 20 30 28 22 5 - 105

Portland 14 30 34 22 3 - 103

A - 20,320 (19,980). T - 2:26. Officials - Steve Javie, Bennie Adams, Jack Nies.

NUMBERS GAME

38.5 percent three-point shooting by Eduardo Najera (30-of-78), best on the Nuggets. Najera shot 1-of-12 (8.3 percent) last season.

CAMBY'S MINUTES

With Marcus Camby having missed two straight games with a bruised left knee, Nuggets coach George Karl wonders if the center is playing too much. Camby says that's not the case.

"My first thought is we might be playing him too many minutes," Karl said of Camby, whose 35.1 average is on pace to be a career high. "I think it's more of a wear and tear (of) an older player."

Camby, 33, says his time is fine. "I banged my knee," he said. "I don't think that's the cause of too many minutes."

Camby was hurt Jan. 25 and didn't initially miss time, but he said the "wear and tear" of playing on the injury eventually caught up to him. Camby wants to play Wednesday against Utah, but it's still too early to know.

"Just because it's an important game, we don't want to get crazy and put him out for a longer period," Karl said of Camby being out Monday.

GOOD KNIGHT

Karl was surprised by the resignation of Texas Tech coach Bob Knight.

"Shocking. Disturbing," Karl said. "I hope everything's OK. I hope it's his decision and not a health situation. . . . He's been an incredible coach and somebody we've all stolen and learned from."

HE SAID IT

"They're one of these young teams that plays old. That's one of the kindest compliments I can give because most young players today take a little bit longer to get old."

Karl, on the Trail Blazers.

Chris Tomasson

Comments

  • February 5, 2008

    1:38 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HumnHilitFlm writes:

    What a thrilling up and down game. Absolutely exhausting. The Nuggets played as hard as they have all season.

    Melo faltered offensively down the stretch, but was huge on the glass all night. AI was horrible early, but poured it on late.

    Najera was amazing pushing through the pain of bruised ribs as he threw his body around all game long.

    Also, it is pretty amazing to me how close Portland is to being an elite team already. They are going to be fascinating to watch over the next two to ten seasons.

    http://www.pickaxeandroll.com

  • February 5, 2008

    10:05 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    Great game to watch! Thrilling right down to the final shot. It was well worth staying up late for and dragging today at work. haha! Iverson was brilliant down the stretch.

    Has anyone else noticed that Melo was getting mugged all night and not getting calls. And AI got shoved out of bounds a few times and landed on his head. No Calls?!?!?! Those refs sucked and they were pulling for Portland as anyone who was watching could tell. Let's get some refs that actually call a fair game. Haven't seen one for quite a while now.

  • February 5, 2008

    noon

    Suggest removal

    Shaupeen writes:

    The more I watch and listen to A. I., the more impressed I become (and I liked the guy to begin with!) He is amazing on the court--even when his shot goes cold like last night. But off the court, his interviews are great! He is a self-less, team-first kind of player. He could score 35, but the first words out of his mouth would be about his inability to pass the ball better! Thank you Allen, for being a team player in a an age that doesn't really encourage that.

    Nuggets, please keep him in Denver.

  • February 5, 2008

    3:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    basketballgirl writes:

    Wow what a great game! A great team effort.

    Yes I agree, Melo was getting hammered, absolutely fouled all night and not one. What a shame because he worked very hard for those 26 pts.

    Way to go Melo, AI and Team. You did it again!

  • February 5, 2008

    3:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    fishtanksamurai writes:

    The officiating was extremely suspect! If we lose that's fine, as long as it's fair, but what I saw last night was beyond the pale. You think the NBA would be very diligent with regards to the officiating this year, since they already have one ref under indictment for game tampering.