Anthony leads Denver in blowout of Clippers

Earl Smith added 23 points for the red-hot Nuggets, who won their fifth straight game and snapped a four-game skid against the Clippers. Andre Miller chipped in with 14 points and 10 assists for Denver.

Corey Maggette paced for the struggling Clippers, who have yet to win on the road this season and dropped their fourth straight contest, with 22 points and 12 boards. Elton Brand tallied 16 points and nine rebounds while Cuttino Mobley had 13 points.

Denver entered the second half with a precarious three point edge and took control of the contest with a dominating third quarter.

The Nuggets came out of the locker room with a 13-4 burst, capped by an Anthony jumper with 7:46 left in the quarter to make it a 65-53 game. Nearly five minutes later, Anthony’s driving finger roll gave the Nuggets their largest lead in the quarter, 79-61.

Denver outscored the Clippers 35-21 in the frame to take a comfortable 87-70 lead into the final frame.

Los Angeles never really threatened in the final stanza as the Nuggets coasted to the finish line.

The Nuggets raced out to a 28-17 lead after the first 12 minutes but the Clippers cut the advantage to just three, 52-49, at intermission.

Game Notes

This was the second meeting of the season between the clubs. On November 2nd, veteran Sam Cassell scored 35 points and hit the winning free throws with 12 seconds left to lead the Clippers over Denver, 96-95, at the Staples Center. Cassell only had two points in this game...The Nuggets are 4-2 at home this season...The Clippers are a woeful 0-5 on the road this season.