Nuggets rout Pacers to remain unbeaten

[November 04, 2009]  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and Chauncey Billups added 24 to help Denver beat the Indiana Pacers 111-93 on Tuesday night, lifting the Nuggets to their best start in 24 years.

Anthony, who was averaging 38 points, shot just 6-for-17 from the field but made 11 of 14 free throws. Nene added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets (4-0), who are off to their best start since the 1985-86 season.

Former Denver guard Dahntay Jones led the Pacers with 20 points, and Danny Granger added 18 for Indiana (0-3).

Pacers forward Troy Murphy bruised his lower back when he fell hard to the floor in the first quarter and did not return. He was second in the league in rebounding and third in 3-point percentage last season.

Indiana has lost all its games by double digits.

Denver made 8 of 15 3-pointers on Tuesday while Indiana made just 3 of 22.

The Nuggets led 30-13 at the end of the first quarter, even though Anthony shot 1-for-7. The Nuggets led 55-39 at halftime.

Indiana cut Denver's lead to 59-50 on a layup by Jones, but Billups responded with a 3-pointer. Later in the quarter, when the Pacers again started building momentum, Billups hit another three. Anthony followed that with a breakaway dunk to make it 71-55. Anthony and Billups combined for 23 points in the quarter, and Denver led 83-71 at the end of the period.

Denver pulled away in the fourth quarter and led by as many as 25 points. Indiana's only lead was 6-5 in the first quarter.

NOTES: A banner celebrating Mel Simon will be raised at Conseco Fieldhouse before Friday's game against Washington. The team's co-owner died in September. ... The Pacers and Nuggets played two preseason games in Asia this year. ... Indiana shot 24 percent in the first quarter against Miami on Friday, then 22 percent in the opening quarter on Tuesday. ... Indiana's Mike Dunleavy (knee), Tyler Hansbrough (shin) and Jeff Foster (ankle), all sat out with injuries.

[Associated Press; By CLIFF BRUNT]

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