New Jersey misses nets

Nuggets limit guest to 31 points in first half of win

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Saturday, January 26, 2008

David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Nuggets guard Allen Iverson battles for possession of the ball with Nets guard Vince Carter on Friday night at the Pepsi Center. Iverson scored a game-high 30 points.

David Zalubowski / Associated Press

Nuggets center Marcus Camby reacts after being fouled by Nets center Jason Collins.

Kiki Vandeweghe, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to resurrect a team that has become the New Jersey Nots.

The woeful Nets strolled into the Pepsi Center playing no defense. On Friday night, just to mix things up, they played no offense and lost their eighth straight, 100-85 to the Nuggets.

An interested observer was Vandeweghe, who was Denver's general manager from 2001-06 and last month was named New Jersey's special assistant to the president.

There is a possibility Vande- weghe could become the Nets' general manager.

But from the looks of this outfit recently, Vandeweghe might have to think long and hard about whether he even would take the job.

The Nets (18-25), facing a Nuggets team that was without injured forward Carmelo Anthony for a second straight game because of a sprained ankle, were not only the Nots. They looked tied up in Knots.

The Nuggets led 19-11 after the first quarter, only the second time in team history an opponent has scored that few against them in an opening quarter (Cleveland got 10 on Jan. 21, 1995).

The Nets fell behind by 22 points in the third quarter, although they got five back with 3:46 left in the game before the fuel gauge hit empty.

And it wasn't like the Nuggets (26-16) were tearing it up. They shot a meager 36 percent, even worse than New Jersey's 38.4.

"Some nights, you're not going to be able to throw a rock in the ocean, but when you play defense, you have a chance to win," said Nuggets guard Allen Iverson, who scored a game-high 30 points.

With Anthony out, the Nuggets indeed stepped up on defense. They shot 30.2 percent in the first half but, unbelievably, led 47-31.

"Defensively, it might have been the best half we played in a long time," coach George Karl said of his team allowing a season low for points in any half.

It didn't hurt that Nets guard Vince Carter showed no immediate desire to prove Magic John- son wrong.

On TNT on Thursday, John- son said, "Carter's knees are gone. It's over. (He was a) superstar, (he's) now a regular player."

Carter's retort was going scoreless in the first half on 0- for-4 shooting. He finished 5- for-16 for 13 points.

The Nets used to be good, making the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003 with Kenyon Martin, dealt to Denver in 2004. The rugged forward showed the Nets what they are missing by scoring 20 points.

"He had extra motivation," Nuggets forward Linas Kleiza said.

Kleiza has no known New Jersey ties but still totaled 23 points and 11 rebounds.

"If we had two guys that ran like (Kleiza), we'd be real good," Karl said.

Iverson and forward

Eduardo Najera did what they could despite injuries. Iverson has a sore left wrist and Najera a hyperextended right elbow.

"It's not to the point where I have to sit out a game," Iverson said. "I'm pretty sure it's going to bother me for a while. . . . I was hoping I would get hit on it once or twice, but I didn't get to see how it would respond."

Getting hit, though, is not helping Najera. He continues to aggravate his elbow, and Karl said he might sit him out Sunday at Dallas and Monday at New Orleans.

Karl called it "imperative" to have Najera play the past two home games. But he believes he can play "small ball" in the next two even if Najera isn't ready to declare himself out Sunday against his former team.

"If I fall on it, I might be out for longer or it becomes a bigger problem," Najera said. "I'll rest (today) and see how it feels Sunday."

The Nets are hurting in a different way. They haven't won since Jan. 9.

"There are no fights," forward Richard Jefferson said. "Nobody's trying to call out anybody. We just have to do things better."

Maybe Vandeweghe eventually can turn the Nets around. Before that could happen, though, he would have to accept the mission.

ETC.: Karl, who must have his votes in Monday morning for West All-Star reserves, said he'll vote for Phoenix's Steve Nash. Karl is worried Hornets center Tyson Chandler could get more consideration than Nuggets center Marcus Camby because "Chandler is going to be a marketing favorite" with the game in New Orleans. Karl believes All-Star rosters should be 15, rather than 12. . . . Camby got his 1,000th Denver block Friday. . . . Karl said it's hard to play Steven Hunter because he got injured right after joining the team and now Karl wants to go "with the guys you feel comfortable with."

Nuggets 100, Nets 85

FG FT Reb

N.J. Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts

Jefferson 44:09 7-16 4-6 1-5 2 5 19

SWilliams 14:52 1-7 0-2 1-4 0 1 2

Boone 33:32 6-12 1-3 6-14 0 2 13

Kidd 40:14 5-12 1-1 1-11 10 2 13

VCarter 40:59 5-16 2-4 1-7 7 3 13

Collins 4:34 0-2 0-0 0-1 0 2 0

Wright 25:28 5-10 1-1 1-3 6 5 13

Allen 15:49 2-5 0-0 0-3 0 3 5

MWilliams 10:25 1-3 0-0 0-0 1 1 3

Armstrong 9:58 1-3 1-2 1-2 1 2 4

Totals 240 33-86 10-19 12-50 27 26 85

Percentages - FG .384, FT .526. Three-point goals - 9-17, .529 (Wright 2-3, Kidd 2-5, Allen 1-1, M.Williams 1-1, Armstrong 1-2, V.Carter 1-2, Jefferson 1-3). Team rebounds - 11. Team turnovers - 20 (18 pts.). Blocked shots - 5 (Allen 2, Kidd 2, S.Williams). Turnovers - 18 (Kidd 5, Jefferson 4, M.Williams 4, V.Carter 2, Armstrong, S.Williams, Wright). Steals - 5 (V.Carter 2, Kidd 2, Boone). Technicals - Defensive three second, 1:19 first; Nachbar, 9:58 fourth; Armstrong, 10:59 fourth.

FG FT Reb

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

Kleiza 31:13 7-16 6-6 3-11 2 2 23

Martin 36:25 8-15 4-8 3-7 0 6 20

Camby 38:03 2-10 2-4 4-14 1 1 6

ACarter 38:47 1-8 2-2 0-5 9 4 4

Iverson 42:37 8-21 13-15 0-2 5 0 30

Diawara 10:43 0-3 2-2 0-1 0 1 2

Smith 21:40 1-7 1-2 1-2 3 3 3

Najera 20:32 4-6 3-4 2-9 0 3 12

Totals 240 31-86 33-43 13-51 20 20 100

Percentages - FG .360, FT .767. Three-point goals - 5-23, .217 (Kleiza 3-8, Najera 1-2, Iverson 1-3, Diawara 0-2, A.Carter 0-3, Smith 0-5). Team rebounds - 15. Team turnovers - 10 (7 pts.). Blocked shots - 8 (Camby 4, Martin 2, A.Carter, Kleiza). Turnovers - 8 (Kleiza 3, Martin 2, Camby, Iverson, Smith). Steals - 15 (Najera 5, Iverson 3, Camby 2, A.Carter 2, Kleiza 2, Martin). Technicals - Smith, 2:14 third.

New Jersey 11 20 36 18 - 85

Denver 19 28 26 27 - 100

A - 15,892 (19,155). T - 2:17.

Officials - Mike Callahan, Tony Brothers, Ed Malloy.

tomassonc@RockyMountainNews.com

ANTHONY EYES SUNDAY

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony missed his second straight game Friday because of a sprained left ankle but hopes to return Sunday at Dallas.

"That's what I'm looking for, but I'm not going to push it," said Anthony, who will test his ankle today. "If I feel like I can't make no moves or go left or right, I'm not going to (play)."

Anthony said his ankle is better, and Friday, he was out of his walking boot.

"I didn't want you all on my back like they are about Tom Brady with his walking boot," he said, jokingly.

PLAYOFF WIN WANTED

Coach George Karl is pleased to see the Nuggets have All-Star starters in Anthony and guard Allen Iverson, but he's looking down the road.

"A little bit of establishment of credibility is recognizing your best players are All-Stars," Karl said. "I'd like to move to the next step, which is winning in the playoffs."

Anthony said starting was "one of my goals," and being alongside Iverson will make it feel "like we're back in Denver."

NENE UPDATE

The Nuggets are hearing from medical officials ranges of two weeks to two months regarding when forward Nene, recovering from testicular cancer surgery, might return.

The Nuggets won't have a good idea until observing Nene do some athletic work. That might not be for another week or two.

HE SAID IT

"I keep hearing the rumors that they're going to rebuild and trade him. . . . I hope he doesn't come West, because he can make somebody out here real good."

Karl, on New Jersey guard Jason Kidd.