Anthony sparks Nuggets past Heat

Nov 15, 2006, 3:45 GMT

Miami, FL - Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points and had six rebounds, as the Denver Nuggets beat a Shaq-less Miami Heat squad, 112-105.

Anthony shot 13-of-26 from the floor while Andre Miller added a season-high 29 points to go along with 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Nuggets, who have won three straight after starting the season 0-3.

'A week ago the media had us buried, now we're good,' said Denver head coach George Karl. 'I am not going to say that when we lost that third game that I thought we were going to come out here and win, but I didn't think we were that far away from winning.'

The Heat were without Shaquille O'Neal, who sat out the tilt because of a left knee bruise.

'We're at a point where we are trying to create a state of the art thigh pads and knee pads that have a cushion around it that really absorbs,' said Heat head coach Pat Riley of O'Neal's injury. 'Just a regular sponge knee pad doesn't do it anymore.'

Miami did have Dwyane Wade, who netted a season-high 37 points with 11 assists. He was 16-of-17 from the free throw line, while Antoine Walker chipped in 22 points before fouling out.

The Heat lost its second straight game overall and third straight to the Nuggets, who swept the two-game series last season.

'They are a great team with Shaquille and a good team without Shaquille,' said Karl. 'If he wants to stay in Miami when they come to Denver in December that would be good.'

The Nuggets seized control early in the fourth frame, opening up the quarter with a 9-0 run. Reggie Evans started the burst with four straight points, and after a three-pointer by Earl Boykins, a Miller basket gave Denver a 91-83 edge with over eight minutes to go.

Walker later tried to get the Heat going with a three-pointer that made it a 99-92 Heat deficit. However, Miller came right back with a triple of his own to restore Denver's 10-point edge with just over four minutes to play.

'I think we were ahead by one going into the fourth quarter and we missed our first six or seven shots and that was it,' said Riley.

Miami refused to go away and back-to-back treys by Wade and Walker pulled the Heat to within 106-100 with a little over two minutes to go before Walker fouled out on the other end.

That resulted in two made free throws by Boykins with 1:55 left, but Wade responded with two points on a put back off his own miss to make it 108-102. Miller then hit a pair from the charity stripe for an eight-point edge, forcing Miami to call a timeout.

Out of the short break, Wade slipped at the top of the key and lost the ball, allowing Denver to work the ball up the court before slowing down its offense. That forced Udonis Haslem to foul Anthony, who hit both free throws for a 112-102 lead with one minute left, sealing Denver's win.

'I think we can play a lot better than what we're playing,' said Karl. 'I am just waiting for the night, where offensively, we make shots.'

Denver got off to a quick start as Anthony began and ended a 13-0 run with baskets to put the Nuggets up 19-4 with 5:38 left in the first quarter.

The Heat, though, battled back with an 11-3 run that pulled them within 22-15 with 2:59 left in the first.

Miami then took over in the second quarter, netting the stanza's first 10 points to jump ahead, 27-24.

An Anthony jumper later moved Denver in front, 33-30, but the Heat answered with another run. A three-pointer by James Posey tied the contest with 8:03 to go and the Heat scored the next five points to take a 38-33 edge with just under six minutes to go.

Denver countered with seven straight points to take a lead, but Miami fought back to carry a 52-48 edge into the half.

The teams traded baskets through most of the third frame with the Heat leading 83-82 heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Miami hit a season-best 14 three-pointers.

Anthony recorded his fourth straight 30-plus scoring game.

Haslem had 12 points and 10 boards in the loss.

Marcus Camby had 15 points for the Nuggets, while Boykins and Evans each had eight.

Denver has won three straight on the road while the Heat have lost two in a row at home.

© 2006 The Sports Network