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Iverson nets season high as Nuggets rout Cavaliers

Nov 13, 2007 - 5:45 AM By Blake Redabaugh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Allen Iverson scored a season-high 37 points and dished eight assists and Carmelo Anthony added 22, six and nine rebounds as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 122-100, at the Pepsi Center on Monday night.

The Nuggets took advantage of the fatigued Cavaliers, who played the finale of a season-long six-game road trip. Cleveland also was playing its second game in as many night after posting a 103-95 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Denver, which was coming off a four-game road swing of its own, built a 15-point halftime lead thanks in large part to guard J.R. Smith's shooting in the second quarter.

Smith made all five of his shots, including three from the arc, and finished the period with 14 points.

"We jumped on them from the beginning and that was important," Iverson said. "J.R. sparked us big time coming off the bench." "(Smith and Iverson) didn't steal my spotlight," Anthony said. "They did what they were supposed to do. They came in and took advantage of what Cleveland's defense threw at us."

The Cavaliers showed the side effects of being away from home for nine days as they shot 42 percent (36-of-86) from the field. Superstar LeBron James led Cleveland with 27 points but was just 8-for-14 from the free-throw line.

"(Fatigue) could have played a part, definitely," James said. "It's a tough schedule for us, but it's not much of an excuse. We played well and now we can go back home."

"Fatigue, in my opinion, was not a factor," Cleveland head coach Mike Brown said. "The Nuggets did whatever they wanted to do defensively and offensively against us. Our team didn't get it done tonight."

The Nuggets, who won their fourth straight game against the Cavaliers, broke the game open in the third quarter when Iverson led the team on an 18-2 run to open up the half.

Iverson scored 11 points during the spurt, including two 3-pointers, and capped it off with a bank shot to give Denver a 76-49 lead with 7:10 remaining in the third.

"I just caught a rhythm in the second half," Iverson said. "The basket looked like the ocean, and I was throwing rocks in it. I was just glad I was able to contribute the way I did tonight."

Marcus Camby collected eight points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, who won their third straight game.

Cleveland, which finished its road trip at 3-3, received little production outside of James. Ira Newble chipped in with 17 points and Shannon Brown added 12 for the Cavaliers.