Anthony leads Nuggets past Grizzlies and Mayo

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer Nov 2, 12:19 am EST

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DENVER (AP)—After a taste of playoff success, Carmelo Anthony(notes) has a voracious appetite for more.

He’s polished up his game and is averaging 37.6 points in the Denver Nuggets’ 3-0 start after leading the NBA with a 23.6 average in the preseason.

The Nuggets outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies in a 133-123 shootout Sunday night because Anthony extended his torrid start with 42 points, negating a career-best 40-point night from O.J. Mayo(notes).

For this ascendancy in his game, credit Anthony’s accomplishment last spring, when he directed the Nuggets to playoff series wins over New Orleans and Dallas after five straight first-round exits.

His game has only gotten better since leading Denver to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games.

While everyone around him is talking about a scoring title or an MVP trophy being in the cards for him this season, Anthony is focused like a laser on only one goal.

“I told you all before training camp started I felt better than I ever felt coming into a season,” Anthony said after posting consecutive 40-plus-point games for the first time in his six seasons in the NBA. “My stamina feels great. And I just feel good all around, my confidence is up. You know, I’ve got one thing ahead of me, which is that gold ball.”

And thanks to that taste of playoff fulfillment, ‘Melo is more masterful than ever.

Instead of setting up on the block and posting up like he used to, Anthony is getting to the rim from the perimeter when he’s not swishing jumpers, and that’s made him much harder to defend.

“I think ‘Melo’s awareness to how he’s being covered is the best it’s ever been,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “I think it’s his ability to move around and be placed in different positions and his efficiency is pretty incredible right now, from jump shots to post-ups to penetrations to good passing decisions.”

Stymied by Anthony’s answer to their every run, the Grizzlies, who got double-figure scoring from all five starters, couldn’t capitalize on their collective hot hand to pull off a rare win in the Mile High City, where they’ve lost 15 of 16 since the franchise moved to Memphis.

Denver led 67-66 at halftime, then created some cushion in the third quarter behind Anthony’s sweet jumpers and dominant drives. But the Grizzlies didn’t go down quietly, keeping up with the Nuggets until the very end.

“I thought we were in good shape at halftime,” Mayo said. “But in the third quarter it seemed like they scored for 10 or 12 straight minutes.”

And it seemed like all the buckets were ‘Melo’s.

The Grizzlies shot 58 percent from the floor after a sizzling 77-percent first quarter, when they made 16 of their first 19 baskets, many of them dunks or high-percentage shots at the rim.

“The game was difficult for me to feel good about,” Karl said. “Because we felt confident we could outscore them, we refused to make the commitment (on defense). Fortunately, they were right, fortunately we could score more points than them. It’s a dangerous way to play.”

With Anthony playing this well, they got away with it.

“We’ve just got to get him the ball and get out of his way,” suggested point guard Anthony Carter(notes). “He’s making his pass, he’s making his shots. He’s not forcing too many shots. He’s just playing all-around. He’s got assists and rebounds. Whenever push comes to shove, we’ve just got to get the ball to him and get out the way.”

Chauncey Billups(notes) said it’s not just Anthony’s shot that’s so impressive right now.

“He’s just so focused. He’s riding a high wave right now and we’re kind of getting on his back,” Billups said. “He’s playing great basketball. He’s scoring a lot of points, but he’s playing great basketball. He’s making the right decisions when they double or they come across the lane. His energy level’s up, he’s vocal out there, he’s just focused.”

NOTES: Allen Iverson(notes) (hamstring) is expected to make his season debut for the Grizzles on Monday night at Sacramento. … Mayo’s previous career high was 33 points, which he accomplished twice as a rookie last season.

Updated Nov 2, 12:19 am EST
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28 Comments

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  1. LaLa
    28. Posted by LaLa Tue Nov 3 3:25pm EST

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    Go Nuggets-YEAH!!!!!
  2. None
    27. Posted by None Tue Nov 3 3:20pm EST

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    Man there are Kobe nut huggers everywhere it's disgusting, Melo is finally starting to get those Kobe calls this year, watch out cause if the league gives Melo half of the respect they give to Kobe and Lebron it's over for real, and Artest nothing man Kobe is one of the most unnoticed dirtiest players in the league, if Melo could score against Kobe he will be fine against Artest!
  3. ohmaigawh89!
    26. Posted by ohmaigawh89! Mon Nov 2 5:40pm EST

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    best in the league? have you heard of a player named kobe? they played the grizz and gave up that many points...great defense! wait til' ron ron goes up against melo..we'll see if he'll put up 40..30..or maybe even 20...lakers 2010!
  4. SINISTER6000DJM
    23. Posted by SINISTER6000DJM Mon Nov 2 3:34pm EST

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    MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!= Carmelo Anthony#15
  5. <i>the_satchman</i>
    22. Posted by the_satchman Mon Nov 2 1:16pm EST

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    Go Cavs!
  6. DJ Nos
    21. Posted by DJ Nos Mon Nov 2 12:36pm EST

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    They call us Thuggets but @#$% it, they hate because our gold is shiney, Champs 2010 I love it, its our @#$%in time G's!! We got it this season. Nuggets are the only team in the West that can dethrown the Lakers. They may have Artest now to "lockdown" Melo. But once JR is back, with the way Melo is passing the ball there is no stopping us! 2010 IS OURS!
  7. Jordan
    20. Posted by Jordan Mon Nov 2 12:25pm EST

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    kobe is a @#$%in beast my @#$% dropped 41 and oj dropped 40 watz up u @#$% boyz
  8. MidasWelby
    19. Posted by MidasWelby Mon Nov 2 10:50am EST

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    Wow, what a shootout! 100 more points scored than the Blazers-Thunder game
  9. Barney the Purple Dinosaur
    18. Posted by Barney the Purple Dinosaur Mon Nov 2 9:42am EST

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    Must be something in the water (air?) in Denver - the Nuggets turnaround happened last season when we got Chauncy back home where he belongs. But the Rockies, Broncos and Avs have all been surprises to the national media. It's a good year to be a Denver sports fan.

    (No comments about the Ravens game, please -- I'll gladly take 6-1 when many pundits predicted the Broncos to go 4-12 or 5-11 for the season)
  10. Mark H
    17. Posted by Mark H Mon Nov 2 9:41am EST

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    Go wizards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  11. tony s
    16. Posted by tony s Mon Nov 2 7:51am EST

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    It's a win but wasn't there anyone on the team that could guard oj.. nug's came close last season & everyone is saying it was a fluke. when it come to the end i believe it will be the nug's who dethrone l.a. they not only have a second generation bad boy in chauncey, they are bad boy's them selves. they just have to learn how to put all that emotion into the game instead of freaking out. this is it, nug fans. they can & will take it all the way to the finals. go nugget's, the west coast bad boy's!
  12. Saisen
    15. Posted by Saisen Mon Nov 2 6:31am EST

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    That's what I'm talking about..

    Nice one "MELO Man".

    Just play hard MELO and I believe that you can get a GOLD BALL.

    NBA Trophy.

    We are always here to support you MELO and the Denver Nuggets..

    Saisen Jandoc - Carmelo Anthony's No. 1 FAN of all Time.
    Mindanao, Philippines
  13. 吴流利
    14. Posted by 吴流利 Mon Nov 2 5:40am EST

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    cavalier‘s QQ group number 39478774 39478774
  14. <i>darrius112233</i>
    12. Posted by darrius112233 Mon Nov 2 1:32am EST

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    My 2 year old brother could have seen all this bad calls they called on the griz for example i for got who had the ball but someone had the ball and went in for layup and got hard foul but the denver official said travel denver ball....thats why i think they should make basketball like football you have a red flag throw it to challenge the call or take a big cut out of the official paycheck and give them a warning!!!!!!
  15. <i>shampton11</i>
    11. Posted by shampton11 Mon Nov 2 12:28am EST

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    NBA officals are either told who to throw the game for, or very bad at their job. the NBA better do away with replays on T V or they are going to lose their fan base. Way to many bad calls that a obvious to us that watch the game.
  16. HAWKS_09 CHAMPS
    10. Posted by HAWKS_09 CHAMPS Sun Nov 1 11:42pm EST

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    Yankees all day!!! i know rollins feelin real stupid right now
  17. NBAdraftRoom.com
    9. Posted by NBAdraftRoom.com Sun Nov 1 11:23pm EST

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    that cat is focused!
  18. ImBockaeMonkae
    8. Posted by ImBockaeMonkae Sun Nov 1 11:22pm EST

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    OJ Mayo= Next kObe
  19. <i>seekr34</i>
    7. Posted by seekr34 Sun Nov 1 11:13pm EST

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    Henry, true, they still have their weaknesses and all their wins been close games. At least they are winning though. The first two wins been against Utah and Portland which is good. The top 3 teams in their divison have always been Denver, Portland and Utah, and not always in that order. So they are starting off well is is a big plus. Just hope Melo can keep it up and stay healthy this season.
  20. Floyd B
    6. Posted by Floyd B Sun Nov 1 11:06pm EST

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    The officals took the Grizz out of the game in the second quarter with some terrible calls! Looks like they are on the take again! This smells so bad for the NBA and David Stern. What a JOKE!
  21. Steven
    5. Posted by Steven Sun Nov 1 11:03pm EST

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    50 cent loves gossip girl and he watches every eposide of it.
  22. kyle
    4. Posted by kyle Sun Nov 1 11:01pm EST

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    Just WOW, Melo is simply amazing. Not only is he scoring tons of points, he is being extremely efficient. NBA, watch out! If he continues to play this well and keeps improving on other parts of his game, he will be the best player in the league.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Memphis
O.J. Mayo O.J. Mayo
17-25,  40 Pts
5 Rebs, 4 Assists
 Denver
C. Anthony Carmelo Anthony
15-26,  42 Pts
7 Rebs, 5 Assists

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