Denver Nuggets Team Report - December 28

(Basketball News) - The Denver Nuggets made some big noise on Tuesday, as they fired head coach Jeff Bzdelik. The Nuggets, who won 43 games last season and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Minnesota, are just 13-15 on the season.

Assistant coach Michael Cooper will take over the team on an interim basis.

Denver’s recent woes continued on Monday night, as it fell 104-101 to the Golden State Warriors at The Arena in Oakland.

Andre Miller recorded 21 points and 14 assists for the Nuggets, who played without injured stars Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin. Nene added 19 points and Marcus Camby compiled 16 points and 12 boards in Denver’s sixth straight defeat.

Anthony missed his fifth straight outing with a sprained ankle, while Martin sat out after straining his back in Sunday’s loss to Dallas.

The Warriors used a 13-0 run to climb out of a seven-point deficit with eight minutes left. A layup by Mickael Pietrus near the midway point of the fourth quarter tied the contest at 87-87 and Troy Murphy scored on the next trip down the court to send Golden State in front.

Jason Richardson then netted back-to-back baskets for a 93-87 advantage with under four minutes to go.

Golden State held a seven-point cushion, 102-95, with 25 seconds left, but Rodney White hit two three-pointers around a made free throw by Derek Fisher to pull Denver within 103-101 with four seconds on the clock. The Nuggets then immediately fouled Clifford Robinson, who hit one of two foul shots for the final margin. Earl Boykins’ desperation heave at the buzzer fell off the mark.

Denver entered the night 10-1 after leading after three quarters, while the Warriors were 0-13 when behind at that point.

Nikoloz Tskitishvili, who entered the contest with just 15 points on the season, scored 12 in the loss.

The Nuggets have the next three days off before hosting Philadelphia on New Year’s Eve.