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Slow start, leaky defense for Nuggets in first defeat

By Lou Babiarz, Special to the Rocky

Published October 19, 2008 at 8:09 p.m.

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The Nuggets' Linas Kleiza, who scored 13 points, 11 on free throws, moves the ball past Minnesota's Craig Smith on Sunday.

Photo by Tom Stromme / Associated Press

The Nuggets' Linas Kleiza, who scored 13 points, 11 on free throws, moves the ball past Minnesota's Craig Smith on Sunday.

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With his attention keenly trained on the television showing Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Nuggets coach George Karl wasn't dwelling on his team's first preseason loss, a 111-107 setback to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

"We played a close game. We could have won it," Karl said with a shrug. "We would have called more timeouts and played the game a little differently at the end of the game if it was regular season."

But it was a preseason game in Bismarck, N.D., and Karl wasn't about to lose any sleep about the Nuggets falling to 4-1. Especially not with Allen Iverson, who missed the game with a sprained ankle, out of the lineup.

Anthony Carter led the Nuggets with 17 points and seven assists. Carmelo Anthony chipped in 15 points and J.R. Smith added 14.

Still, the Nuggets starters were outplayed as Minnesota jumped out to a 31-18 lead.

"In general, I thought Kenyon (Martin) and Nene and Melo had good games, not special games," Karl said.

Linas Kleiza came off the bench and spurred a Denver comeback by getting to the line 10 times in the second quarter. He finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

But even though the reserves trimmed most of the deficit, Karl was not particularly impressed with their performance.

"I thought most of the training camp our bench has given us a nice lift, and tonight they did not give us the lift they've been giving us," he said.

Randy Foye had 12 points, 15 assists and two turnovers for the Timberwolves.

"That's the best I've ever seen Randy Foye play," Karl said. "I thought he did a great job. I've never seen him distribute it and make good decisions like that."

Ryan Gomes scored 20 for the Timberwolves, while Mike Miller - who hails from nearby Mitchell, S.D. - tossed in 17 on 8-for-10 shooting.

But the biggest ovation of the night went to a player who scored just three points.

Blake Ahearn won the D-League rookie of the year award last season playing in Bismarck for the Dakota Wizards.

Ahearn, who is fighting for a job as Minnesota's third point guard, drained a three-pointer with 30.7 seconds to go, giving the Wolves a 107-106 lead.

Coach Randy Wittman had drawn up the play for Ahearn.

"Smart coach, I guess . . . ," Ahearn said with a laugh. "I was glad I was able to get in and show something for the fans."

NO DEFENSE: The Nuggets allowed the Wolves to shoot 52.6 percent (40-for-76) from the floor. That showing irked Karl.

"We've been playing very good defense for most of training camp," he said. "This is probably our worst defensive game.

"Some of it was because of our shot selection, and some of it was because Minnesota played a very good game."

BENCH WARMERS: Veteran Juwan Howard, trying to earn a second stint with the Nuggets, did not play Sunday.

Instead, Chris Andersen and Renaldo Balkman played more than 20 minutes each, contributing six and four points, respectively.

Timberwolves 111, Nuggets 107

DENVER (107) - Anthony 6-13 3-3 15, Martin 6-9 0-0 12, Nene 4-6 2-3 10, Carter 7-13 3-4 17, J.Smith 6-9 0-0 14, Jones 2-5 0-0 4, Parker 3-4 0-2 9, Kleiza 1-8 11-12 13, Andersen 0-3 6-8 6, Balkman 2-6 0-0 4, Patterson 1-1 1-2 3, Fazekas 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 38-79 26-34 107.

MINNESOTA (111) - Gomes 8-13 1-1 20, Madsen 1-2 0-0 2, Jefferson 7-16 1-2 15, Foye 2-5 8-8 12, Miller 8-10 0-0 17, Brewer 2-9 4-6 8, C.Smith 4-6 5-7 13, Telfair 3-4 0-0 7, Love 2-3 1-2 5, Carney 1-5 1-2 3, Richard 1-1 0-0 2, Ollie 0-0 4-4 4, Ahearn 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 40-76 25-32 111.

Denver27 24 32 24 - 107

Minnesota34 23 26 28 - 111

Three-point goals - Denver 5-13 (Parker 3-3, J.Smith 2-5, Balkman 0-1, Kleiza 0-4), Minnesota 6-15 (Gomes 3-5, Telfair 1-1, Ahearn 1-2, Miller 1-3, Brewer 0-1, Foye 0-1, Carney 0-2). Fouled out - Balkman, Love. Rebounds - Denver 43 (Kleiza 6), Minnesota 49 (Jefferson 8). Assists - Denver 23 (Anthony, Carter 7), Minnesota 27 (Foye 15). Total fouls - Denver 23, Minnesota 22. A - 6,081 (10,000).