Melo leads Nuggets to 82-73 victory over Magic

[February 12, 2009]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony had 29 points and eight rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets ended a 15-game losing streak in Orlando with an 82-73 win over the Magic on Wednesday night.

Kenyon Martin scored 13 points, Nene added 12 and Chauncey Billups had 11 points for the Nuggets, who hadn't won in Orlando since March 10, 1992.

Dwight Howard had 16 points and Rashard Lewis scored 12 for the Magic, who finished with a season low in points, a season-high 24 turnovers and were held to a season-low 30.4 percent shooting from the floor.

The Nuggets built a 20-point lead early in the third quarter, but then things got testy.

Anthony and J.R. Smith each had technical fouls in the period, and the Magic used a heavy dose of free throws to cut the Nuggets' lead to 63-51 heading into the fourth quarter.

And things would get closer.

Lewis hit a 3-pointer with 2:06 left to tighten Denver's lead to 77-71, and the team's traded baskets before Denver extended clinched it with free throws.

But this one was about defense.

Playing physical and unafraid to foul, the Nuggets had Howard and Orlando frustrated all night. The 3-point shooting Magic were held to 9-for-31 from beyond the arc and struggled again to control the ball without All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson. He tore the labrum in his right shoulder Feb. 2 and is still deciding whether to have season-ending surgery or attempt rehabilitation.

The Magic's previous high in turnovers this season was 19 against Minnesota on Dec. 3, and their previous low shooting percentage was 36.8 percent against Atlanta on Oct. 29.

The game was a sloppy from the start.

The teams combined for 14 turnovers, 14 fouls -- plus a technical against Lewis for arguing a call -- and an airball by Martin in the first quarter. The Magic were 1-for-5 from 3-point range in the period and struggled to get Howard involved early, while the Nuggets were getting to the hoop with ease.

Smith's jumper capped a 16-4 run that helped Denver take a 24-17 lead after the opening quarter. His 3-pointer ended the second quarter with the Nuggets on a 14-4 spurt, going ahead 46-29 at the half and sending the Magic to the locker room with a chorus of boos from the home crowd.

It was the fewest points Orlando scored in a first half as well as in a game all season. The previous lows came in a loss to Boston on Jan. 22, when they managed 36 first-half points and were held to 80 for the game.

Notes: Lewis spoke to the crowd on behalf of the team just before tipoff, thanking fans for their support throughout the first half of the season. ... Nuggets backup center Chris Andersen missed the game with a left wrist injury he suffered a night earlier at Miami, but expects to be ready after the All-Star break. ... The Magic fell to 19-6 against the Western Conference this season, and the Nuggets improved to 14-6 against the East.

[Associated Press; By ANTONIO GONZALEZ]

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