Boykins helps Nuggets overcome suspensions, down Wizards

Boykins, who went 14-of-15 from the foul line, wasn’t the only player with a big offensive performance for the Nuggets, winners of two straight. Andre Miller had 27 points and Marcus Camby was dominant inside with 25 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Denver will play deep into January without the league’s leading scorer, as Carmelo Anthony was hit with a 15-game suspension in the wake of Saturday night’s ugly brawl in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ 123-100 victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Three of the seven players suspended were from the Nuggets. J.R. Smith, who was taken down on a breakaway layup attempt, was hit with a 10-game suspension and Nene was suspended one game for leaving the bench during the altercation.

Anthony and Smith are the Nuggets’ top two scorers, combining to average better than 48 points per game.

Commissioner David Stern levied a fine of $500,000 against each team, but neither coach was suspended.

Nuggets coach George Karl unleashed a verbal tirade at Knicks coach Isiah Thomas on Monday. Thomas told Anthony not to go into the lane late in the fourth quarter with the Nuggets holding an insurmountable lead. Karl noted that Thomas’ actions were premeditated, but despite the brawl, neither coach was suspended.

Caron Butler had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Washington, which was coming off Sunday night’s 147-141 road overtime win over the Lakers. Gilbert Arenas, who had a franchise-record 60 points in that game, ended with 23 points, eight boards and seven assists against the Nuggets, but shot just 10-of-30 from the field.

The Nuggets led by 20 after one quarter, but the Wizards hung tough and fought back to get within two at 93-91 with under six minutes left following a basket from Arenas. However, Denver scored the next nine points, with Boykins’ three capping the spurt, and the Wizards didn’t threaten the rest of the way.

Linas Kleiza had 10 points for Denver, which went 34-of-44 from the foul line.

Antawn Jamison had 21 points and nine boards for Washington.

The Nuggets scored the first six points and led 36-16 after 12 minutes. It was 65-43 at the half and 85-73 going into the fourth.

Game Notes

Anthony isn’t eligible to return for the Nuggets until a January 20 game at Houston...DeShawn Stevenson had 16 points for Washington.