FIBA Basketball
USA - Anthony leads the way for Denver
NEW YORK (NBA) - Team USA international Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points to put the Denver Nuggets back in contention in their Western Conference first-round series with a 94-87 win over the Los Angeles Clippers
NEW YORK (NBA) - Team USA international Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points to put the Denver Nuggets back in contention in their Western Conference first-round series with a 94-87 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
In a game in which neither team shone, Anthony was able to make the difference to give Denver a first win in the series after losing the opening two games in Los Angeles.
Denver won despite shooting under 38% (31 of 82) from the field - including 0-of-11 from the arc - and missing 14 free throws.
Mexican forward Eduardo Najera provided the early energy Denver had been lacking in the first two games. The Nuggets scored the final seven points of the first quarter and opened a 24-13 lead.
But they would squander that lead and found themselves in a 70-70 tie entering the final period. But they never trailed thereafter, capitalising on a multitude of mistakes by the Clippers.
Hampered by foul trouble the entire game, the Clippers closed to 89-87 with 2:16 to play with Chris Kaman's only basket of the game.
On the next possession, Anthony overpowered Quinton Ross in the low post for a layup.
Los Angeles did not score again as Shaun Livingston was called for charging and Corey Maggette missed a jumper. Earl Boykins made a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal it.
Maggette scored 23 points, Sam Cassell added 20 and Elton Brand 17 for the Clippers, who shot 40% (29 of 72) and committed 25 turnovers and 40 fouls.
Brand and Livingston fouled out and Kaman, Maggette and Vladimir Radmanovic had five apiece.
The Chicago Bulls took advantage of one of the worst games of Shaquille O'Neal's career to get back into the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Miami Heat with a 109-90 win.
Plagued by fouls and turnovers, O'Neal had one basket through the first three quarters and never was a factor in the game.
Ben Gordon scored 24 points for the seventh-seeded Bulls, who avoided the slow start that cost them in the first two games in Miami and rediscovered the rhythm they displayed during their play-off push at the end of the regular season.
Having been an unstoppable force in the opening two games, O'Neal finished with only eight points, one better than his career play-off low. He made four of eight shots - three in the meaningless final period - and missed all six free throws while committing seven turnovers.
Unable to play through their big man, the Heat fell behind early and never recovered. They shot just 42% (30 of 72) overall and surrendered 61 points in the second half, when they could not match the energy of the Bulls.
Argentina's Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng scored 19 points each, while Kirk Hinrich had 22 points and 11 assists.
Chicago native Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and Jason Williams added 17 for the Heat.
Jermaine O'Neal came up big as the Indiana Pacers took a surprising lead in their series with the third-seeded New Jersey Nets.
O'Neal collected 37 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in a 107-95 victory which piles the pressure on New Jersey.
Anthony Johnson scored a playoff career-high 25 points and handed out eight assists for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who dominated the second half.
The Nets got into foul trouble with Serbia & Montenegro center Nenad Krstic fouling out and Jason Collins and Cliff Robinson also having to sit to avoid the same fate.
O'Neal came out firing, making his first six shots. He finished 12 of 15 from the field and also did it at the defensive end, dominating the paint with his rebounding and shot-blocking.
Stephen Jackson scored 17 points and Peja Stojakovic returned from injury to add 10.
Richard Jefferson scored 25 points for the Nets, while Jason Kidd had 14 points, six assists and six rebounds.
Vince Carter scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half for the Nets, who must win on Saturday in order to avoid a 3-1 deficit - a hole which only seven teams
have climbed out of in NBA history.
PA Sport
In a game in which neither team shone, Anthony was able to make the difference to give Denver a first win in the series after losing the opening two games in Los Angeles.
Denver won despite shooting under 38% (31 of 82) from the field - including 0-of-11 from the arc - and missing 14 free throws.
Mexican forward Eduardo Najera provided the early energy Denver had been lacking in the first two games. The Nuggets scored the final seven points of the first quarter and opened a 24-13 lead.
But they would squander that lead and found themselves in a 70-70 tie entering the final period. But they never trailed thereafter, capitalising on a multitude of mistakes by the Clippers.
Hampered by foul trouble the entire game, the Clippers closed to 89-87 with 2:16 to play with Chris Kaman's only basket of the game.
On the next possession, Anthony overpowered Quinton Ross in the low post for a layup.
Los Angeles did not score again as Shaun Livingston was called for charging and Corey Maggette missed a jumper. Earl Boykins made a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal it.
Maggette scored 23 points, Sam Cassell added 20 and Elton Brand 17 for the Clippers, who shot 40% (29 of 72) and committed 25 turnovers and 40 fouls.
Brand and Livingston fouled out and Kaman, Maggette and Vladimir Radmanovic had five apiece.
The Chicago Bulls took advantage of one of the worst games of Shaquille O'Neal's career to get back into the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Miami Heat with a 109-90 win.
Plagued by fouls and turnovers, O'Neal had one basket through the first three quarters and never was a factor in the game.
Ben Gordon scored 24 points for the seventh-seeded Bulls, who avoided the slow start that cost them in the first two games in Miami and rediscovered the rhythm they displayed during their play-off push at the end of the regular season.
Having been an unstoppable force in the opening two games, O'Neal finished with only eight points, one better than his career play-off low. He made four of eight shots - three in the meaningless final period - and missed all six free throws while committing seven turnovers.
Unable to play through their big man, the Heat fell behind early and never recovered. They shot just 42% (30 of 72) overall and surrendered 61 points in the second half, when they could not match the energy of the Bulls.
Argentina's Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng scored 19 points each, while Kirk Hinrich had 22 points and 11 assists.
Chicago native Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and Jason Williams added 17 for the Heat.
Jermaine O'Neal came up big as the Indiana Pacers took a surprising lead in their series with the third-seeded New Jersey Nets.
O'Neal collected 37 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in a 107-95 victory which piles the pressure on New Jersey.
Anthony Johnson scored a playoff career-high 25 points and handed out eight assists for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who dominated the second half.
The Nets got into foul trouble with Serbia & Montenegro center Nenad Krstic fouling out and Jason Collins and Cliff Robinson also having to sit to avoid the same fate.
O'Neal came out firing, making his first six shots. He finished 12 of 15 from the field and also did it at the defensive end, dominating the paint with his rebounding and shot-blocking.
Stephen Jackson scored 17 points and Peja Stojakovic returned from injury to add 10.
Richard Jefferson scored 25 points for the Nets, while Jason Kidd had 14 points, six assists and six rebounds.
Vince Carter scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half for the Nets, who must win on Saturday in order to avoid a 3-1 deficit - a hole which only seven teams
have climbed out of in NBA history.
PA Sport