Recap: Denver vs. New Orleans
Sports Network | November 28, 2008
Denver, CO (Sports Network) - James Posey sealed the game on a three-pointer with 19.1 seconds left and the Hornets hit their foul shots down the stretch as New Orleans posted a 105-101 triumph over the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center in a Thanksgiving night affair.
Chris Paul had 22 points and 10 assists as the Hornets won their fourth in a row. New Orleans is now 2-0 on a three-game road swing and finishes off the trip with a visit to Portland on Friday.
In the opener of the trip on Monday, Paul posted his second consecutive triple-double but failed to become the first player to record three straight triple-doubles since Jason Kidd did it from January 4-8 of last season.
Rasual Butler netted 19 points and Peja Stojakovic 17 with each hitting four three-pointers
J.R. Smith poured in a game-high 32 points on 13-of-21 shooting, hitting on 5- of-9 three-pointers, with five boards and four helpers to lead the Nuggets, who came into this game with wins in six of their last seven games, including Wednesday's thrilling 106-105 victory over the Clippers.
Carmelo Anthony logged 24 points and six rebounds while Chauncey Billups had 12 points and five assists in the loss.
With the game tied at 92-92 with just over two minutes left, Stojakovic nailed a three-ball and Kenyon Martin kicked the scorer's table in frustration, garnering a technical, which Stojakovic sank for a four-point lead.
Anthony then hit for a pair of free throws but a David West tip-in on the other end restored the lead. Anthony was fouled again attempting a three and hit only two tries but Nene grabbed the board and whizzed a no-look, behind the back pass to Anthony in the lane for a dunk, tying that game at 98-98 with 37.6 seconds left.
With time running down, Posey calmly drained a three form the right side, forcing Denver to foul -- and the Hornets went 4-for-4 from the line to seal the game.
New Orleans led 32-22 after one quarter but Denver cut the deficit to 52-46 at the half. The Hornets entered the final quarter up 76-69.
The Nuggets, who are 5-2 at the Pepsi Center this season, have lost three of their last four games with New Orleans. The Hornets are 5-2 away from the Big Easy this year...Before Kidd, Grant Hill, last recorded three straight triple- doubles on April 11-14, 1997 with Detroit.
