Nuggets 118, Nets 87
NEW YORK -- On the strength of a dominant third quarter, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Brooklyn Nets 111-87 Tuesday at Barclays Center to extend their winning streak to seven games.
With Timofey Mozgov (17 points and a career-high 20 rebounds) setting the tone, Denver again received huge contributions from its bench. The Russian center came off the bench to score in double figures for the eighth time.
Forwards Kenneth Faried and Jordan Hamilton scored 15 points apiece for Denver (11-6).
The Nuggets outscored the Nets 31-15 in the third quarter and cruised the rest of the way.
Denver went on a 15-0 run in the third, which included back-to-back alley-oops, the first served up by point guard Ty Lawson (13 points, six assists) to Faried and the second from guard Randy Foye (11 points) to forward Wilson Chandler.
On consecutive 19-foot jumpers by reserve forward Darrell Arthur, who had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, the Nuggets had an 80-60 lead with 2:13 remaining in the third. Guard Tyshawn Taylor (12 points) ended a stretch of 5:40 without a point for the Nets, sinking two free throws with 1:55 left in the third.
Denver, which had six players score in double figures, netted seven straight points to end the third quarter, capped by a 3-pointer by Hamilton to take an 89-65 lead into the final 12 minutes.
Led by guard Joe Johnson, who scored a game-high 22 points, the Nets (5-13) pushed the ball inside to outscore the Nuggets 18-4 in the paint early to take a 24-16 lead midway through the first quarter.
Faried, who had 11 first-half points on 4-of-7 shooting, led Denver back in the second quarter, and the Nuggets took a 58-50 lead into halftime.
Denver outrebounded Brooklyn 31-18 before the break. For the game, the Nuggets posted a 56-37 rebounding edge.
NOTES: Brooklyn F Mirza Teletovic sprained his left hand in the first half. X-rays were negative. ... Nets coach Jason Kidd announced before the game that assistant coach Lawrence Frank was "reassigned" within the organization. Frank will no longer be on the bench or at practice. "It's just different philosophies," Kidd said. "That's all." ... G Paul Pierce (broken right hand) and G Deron Williams (sprained left ankle) were out for the Nets. Pierce, who suffered the injury at Houston on Friday, will be sidelined two to four weeks. ... F Danilo Gallinari (left knee ACL tear) and C JaVale McGee (left tibia stress fracture) were out for Denver. ... The Nuggets continue their six-game road trip Wednesday when they play the Cavaliers in Cleveland. ... The Nets host the New York Knicks on Thursday in their first back-to-back home games of the season. Brooklyn is the last NBA team to play consecutive home games.
