Nuggets 127, Cavaliers 99
The Denver Nuggets scored a season-high 80 points in the first half, including baskets on 11 consecutive possessions in the second quarter, to pound the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-99 on Saturday.
The Nuggets have now won three straight, while the woeful Cavs have lost 13 in a row and 23 of their last 24 games.
Nene had 22 points and seven rebounds, Chauncey Billups had 21 points and eight assists, and Arron Afflalo notched 17 points as the Nuggets continue to ignore the Carmelo Anthony trade rumors. Anthony finished with a quiet 12 points in 27 minutes.
The Nuggets shot better on 3-pointers (62 percent) than they did from the floor (58 percent). They scored 46 points in the second quarter – the Cavs scored just 49 in the first half – to take a 31-point lead entering the third.
Ramon Sessions had 21 points and nine assists, and Antawn Jamison had 17 points for the Cavs, who were down to just seven healthy players by the end of the game. Ryan Hollins left the team to return to Los Angeles for a death in the family, while point guard Mo Williams exited five minutes into the game with a recurring left hip flexor strain.