|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) – Because of a sprained left ankle, Raef LaFrentz
wasn't expected to play much. And based on recent history, Robert
Pack wasn't expected to play more than a handful of minutes.
Despite those expectations, LaFrentz and Pack both saw extensive
duty Sunday night to help the Denver Nuggets hammer the New Jersey
Nets 98-84.
Raef LaFrentz had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Pack ignited a
23-0 second-quarter run with 10 assists in that period alone.
"My ankle hurt pretty much the whole game and was biting me a
little when I jumped," said LaFrentz, who missed Friday's game
against Boston. "But for the most part I was able to knock down
some shots, and it didn't really affect me too much."
Nuggets coach Dan Issel, who decided LaFrentz would play after
the Sunday morning shootaround, said the Nets' strategy was to
leave LaFrentz open for much of the game.
"They were doubling Antonio (McDyess) early and daring Raef to
beat them," Issel said. "After that first 3-pointer that he
missed, I didn't know if he was going to make a basket the whole
game. But he quickly found his rhythm. That's what you have to do
when a defense opens up a player. That player has to step up."
Issel said Pack, who has complained about his recent lack of
playing time, "did a terrific job of pushing the basketball.
That's what he does best, and when he does it, he's awfully tough
to stop."
Pack said he only wanted to a chance to get some quality
minutes.
"That's all I wanted, an opportunity to help the team," he
said.
The Nuggets' second-period flurry produced a 12-point lead which
they padded to 21 in the third quarter, and New Jersey got no
closer than 11 after that.
McDyess had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Kevin Willis came
off the bench to score 13 points and grab 11 rebounds. Pack
finished with 15 points and 11 assists.
The Nets, who lost their fifth straight game and ninth of their
last 11, were led by Kenyon Martin with 17 points. Keith Van Horn
and Sherman Douglas each had 14.
New Jersey was without point guard Stephon Marbury, who has a
strained right hip.
"Their second unit came in and really upped the pace in the
second quarter," Nets coach Byron Scott said. "They just jumped
on us. They got the ball to Pack, and he just pushed it. Their guys
just sprinted up and down the floor, and we couldn't buy a basket.
It was disheartening to sit and have to watch it."
Denver shot 56 percent compared to New Jersey's 38 percent.
Van Horn had nine points and Lucious Harris eight in the first
quarter as the Nets shot 60 percent in taking a 31-22 lead at the
end of the period. Van Horn hit 6-of-6 free throws during New
Jersey's 10-2 run that produced a 23-14 advantage.
The Nets shot only 2-of-21 from the floor in the first 10
minutes of the second quarter, however, and Denver capitalized with
its 23-0 flurry to open up a 45-33 lead. Willis scored 10 points
during that surge, and Ryan Bowen capped it with a reverse layup at
the end of a fast break.
Van Exel's short jumper pushed Denver's lead to 17, 52-35, with
2:02 left in the half.
New Jersey shot only 5-of-26 in the quarter, and two of the
baskets came on goaltending calls.
Denver, which shot 67 percent in the quarter in outscoring New
Jersey 31-10, led 53-41 at intermission.
Denver also shot 67 percent in the third period, pushing its
lead to 69-48 on Pack's fast-break layup.
Martin's four straight points early in the final quarter helped
cut the deficit to 80-69, but Denver went back up by 21 four
minutes later.
Game notes
LaFrentz has had four straight double-doubles. ... Nets
center Evan Eschmeyer did not play in the second half after
straining his right knee. ... Denver won despite shooting a
season-low 41 percent (7-for-17) from the line. ... The Nets have
lost six straight road games and are 1-12 on the road against
Western Conference teams. ... Denver begins a six-game road trip in
Minnesota on Friday.
 Send this story to a friend
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Lakers 95
Orlando 90
Indiana 101
Sacramento 95
Minnesota 91
Cleveland 76
Milwaukee 100
Detroit 96
Seattle 104
Golden State 99
Utah 111
LA Clippers 96
Denver 98
New Jersey 84
|
