Bucks 94 - 105 Nuggets
Final
  for this game

Anthony ejected, but Nuggets win again

Dec 2, 2010 - 6:29 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - The Nuggets are getting used to finishing games without Carmelo Anthony.

Nene scored 24 points, J.R. Smith had 20 with 10 rebounds and Denver rolled to a 105-94 victory over Milwaukee on Wednesday despite Anthony's ejection in the third quarter.

The Nuggets forward scored 14, but was tossed after picking up two technical fouls in a 46-second span near the end of the frame.

It was the second time in four days Denver was forced to finish a game without its star, who took himself out of Sunday's game against Phoenix after playing just 2:48 because of a chest cold.

The Nuggets captured both games, extending their winning streak to five games.

"We were in a good place when 'Melo left and I thought we kept it up and sustained it and finished off a game for the first time in a while," said Denver head coach George Karl.

John Salmons scored 21 to lead Milwaukee, and the Bucks got 17 points from bench player Corey Maggette, but lost for the seventh time in their last eight games.

"We just need to stay together as a team, continue to execute on the things we have to do and just try to get ready for the next game," Maggette said of his team's skid.

Anthony was called for his first technical at 3:26 of the third quarter after he was blocked by Milwaukee's Larry Sanders on a driving layup. Anthony argued that it should have been called goaltending.

He continued the argument and was whistled for his second technical at 2:40, forcing the automatic ejection.

The Nuggets led by three points when Anthony left, and they extended their advantage to eight soon after when Smith's three-pointer made it 75-67. Denver then carried a 76-71 edge into the fourth.

Smith started the final quarter with a running jumper to spark a 7-0 run that put the Nuggets ahead by 12. Milwaukee never got closer than six the rest of the way, while Denver's lead ballooned as high as 16.

Milwaukee had a 22-19 lead after the first quarter and a 50-45 advantage at halftime.

Game Notes

Denver snapped a three-game losing streak to the Bucks, shooting 45 percent from the field. Milwaukee shot just 40 percent...Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut missed his fifth straight game because of back spasms...The Nuggets are 3-0 on their five-game homestand.






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