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Nuggets crush Suns in Denver

Jan 12, 2011 - 5:04 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Arron Afflalo finished with a career-high 31 points to go along with nine rebounds, and the Denver Nuggets throttled the Phoenix Suns, 132-98, at the Pepsi Center.

Carmelo Anthony notched a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Ty Lawson and J.R. Smith scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, for Denver, which snapped a three-game skid.

Vince Carter and Steve Nash both finished with 15 points for the Suns, who have dropped three of four and eight of 11 since their six-player trade with Orlando on December 18.

Marcin Gortat, Goran Dragic and Channing Frye each finished with 11 points in the loss.

The Suns shot 63.6 percent in the first quarter, as they took a 32-20 lead after the opening 12 minutes. Denver responded in the second quarter as Anthony and Lawson scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, and the Nuggets took a 64-55 lead into the half.

Phoenix shot just 26.9 percent from the field in the second quarter, and the Nuggets held a 22-6 advantage in points in the paint.

The Nuggets continued their hot shooting in the third quarter as Anthony and Afflalo each added 12 points, en route to a 38-17 scoring advantage. The Nuggets shot an impressive 66.7 percent from the field in the quarter and took a 102-72 lead into the final stanza.

The fourth quarter was all but a formality as Phoenix head coach Alvin Gentry sat all of his starters, and the Nuggets breezed through the final minutes.

Game Notes

Denver is now 1-1 on a four-game homestand that will see visits from Miami and Cleveland...The Nuggets shots 86 percent from the free throw line...Phoenix guard Grant Hill missed the game with a sprained right knee.